QuikTrip c-stores again on Forbes’ top biz

Convenience store chain QuikTrip (QT) has been included once again on Forbes’ America’s Largest Private Companies, according to Tulsa World.

Despite declining gas prices, the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based c-store chain generated annual revenues of $10.96 billion clinching top 28 of the Forbes' list this year, one spot below from its previous year's No. 27 ranking.

“Staying at virtually the same place tells us that our overall sales are continuing to grow,” said QT spokesman Mike Thornbrugh.

Thornbrugh further explained that the strong performance of the company can be attributed to an increasing number of QuikTrip stores, transition of old stores to newer and larger ‘Generation 3’ c-stores, and continued growth of QT Kitchen fresh-food offerings.

Aside from QuikTrip, eight more companies in the convenience store and gas station industry have also made it to the list--Tennessee-based Pilot Flying J ranks the highest at top 8 with $31 billion in annual revenues, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores (no. 14, $22.2bn), Cumberland Gulf Group (no. 18, $16.5bn), Wawa (no. 34, $11bn), RaceTrac Petroleum (no. 38, $9bn), Sheetz (no. 59, $63bn), Holiday Companies (no. 106, $4bn), and Kum & Go (no. 163, $2.8bn).

Food and tobacco corporation Cargill is America’s largest private company with $120.4bn in annual revenues and 153,000 employees.