In my previous posts about Kwik Trip, I reminisced about their roots, when I used to do some business with them and they only had a couple stores in LaCrosse, WI. Today, there are over 400 stores, and 12,000 employees. If you live in the Upper Midwest, there’s a store near you. What makes Kwik Trip unique and a master of its segment is that it has developed its own brand names over the years, and thus is able to assure quality and keep prices low. It’s a business maneuver 7-Eleven has started to copy recently with their own in-house brands.
KwikTrip was also one of the first to include healthy options in their take away food choices (also now being copied by 7-Eleven), and their ‘morning bar’ for variety of coffee and pastries is unequaled in the industry.
One thing new I noticed on my recent trip was the installation of a counter dedicated to fresh, vacuum packed meats – there is a small selection of roasts, steaks, dinner sausages and hot dogs, some from some of Wisconsin’s leading brands, like Klement’s, and some with a Kwik Trip label. For instance, they had a package of eight natural casing wieners for $2.99, and that’s at least 50% less than other brands in grocery stores. Kwik Trip (packaged) wieners are made by Bakalars Sausage in LaCrosse (plant picture below); the reason I distinguished the description with “packaged” is because their hot sausage/dog roller grill feature products from Johnsonville, Ball Park, and others.
I understand the company treats employees well, too. Great products, prices, and management. Kwik Trip gets my c-store dollar when I’m in the area.
Fresh Meat Display
Bakalars Sausage LaCrosse WI