Dive Brief:
- BrakeTime Corner Market has acquired the convenience retail and fuel distribution business of Texas-based competitor FastLane, Rene DaCosta, BrakeTime’s vice president of food, dispensed beverage and QSR, confirmed to C-Store Dive.
- The deal features FastLane’s 14 convenience stores, all of which are located just outside of Houston near the border with Louisiana. DaCosta said BrakeTime intends to “fully remodel” each location with a food-focused store layout.
- BrakeTime’s latest purchase underscores the retailer’s goal to expand its store network and build out its foodservice offerings, which CEO Usman Bashir told C-Store Dive last year were two of the retailer’s primary objectives heading into 2026.
Dive Insight:
DaCosta said that although BrakeTime intends to eventually rebrand all 14 sites to its own banner — which already includes about 300 locations across a handful of states — for now, they will operate as FastLane stores. He added that the remodels will be rolled out in phases, introducing “contemporary design, expanded foodservice capabilities and innovative offerings.”
According to FastLane’s website, one of the locations already has a Hunt Brothers Pizza program. It’s not clear if foodservice is part of any of the other sites. Four of the stores also offer Amazon Locker services.
The stores are located across Beaumont, Lumberton, Vidor, Nederland, Winnie and Port Arthur, Texas. DaCosta said nearly 200 FastLane employees will join BrakeTime’s team.
A spokesperson from FastLane did not respond by press time when asked to comment on the deal.
“Fastlane has built an incredible foundation over the past 30 years, and we’re excited to elevate these locations with a stronger focus on fresh food, innovation, and an outstanding customer experience,” DaCosta said in a statement.
BrakeTime isn’t just using M&A to fuel its growth strategy. Late last year, Bashir said that the retailer was planning to also build and open 35 new convenience stores by the end of 2026. These locations, Bashir said at the time, are set to be located in the Houston area, as well as Dallas; Tempe, Arizona; and parts of Kansas, Colorado and Arkansas. Beyond 2026, BrakeTime wants to build 20 to 30 stores every year, Bashir emphasized.
