Kwik Trip to buy PDQ food stores, add jobs, renovations

Site staff by Site Contributor

PDQ stores

PDQ stores



Kwik Trip has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of PDQ Food Stores.

PDQ is an employee-owned company based in Middleton that owns 34 company-operated convenience stores in southern Wisconsin. The announcement was made Wednesday morning in a press release.

“This acquisition allows Kwik Trip to expand its presence in a market that is important to its overall retail growth strategy,” a press release said. “The PDQ management and employees have built an excellent brand over their 65 years in business and are well known for their excellent customer service and convenience.”

Kwik Trip spokesperson John McHugh said the company will invest $30 million to $40 million in the PDQ stores to bring them up to Kwik Trip standards.

“Madison has been a target market for us for many years, and this gives us the opportunity to purchase stores that are already there and also acquire a customer base that’s already there and very loyal to PDQ, and we hope loyal to Kwik Trip,” McHugh said.

McHugh said they will ramp up hiring to get PDQ stores to Kwik Trip’s average of 30-35 employees per store.

“With the acquisition of PDQ and future remodel of the PDQ locations we anticipate adding more than 1,000 jobs,” said Mark Zietlow, real estate manager and third generation owner.

The transaction is scheduled to be completed in early October and is subject to PDQ employee approval and other customary closing conditions. Kwik Trip plans to operate the acquired stores under the existing PDQ banner until planned remodels and reimaging are completed in mid-2018.

PDQ employees told News 3 since PDQ is employee-owned, they’ll get compensated based on the sale and can reapply to Kwik Trip if they’re interested.

Kwik Trip is a family-owned company based in La Crosse with 570 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. The company currently employs more than 19,000 people.

PDQ employees told News 3 it is unlikely the HyVee Reward Card program will continue, since Kwik Trip has its own rewards program.

COPYRIGHT 2020 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.