Dive Brief:
- Kayrouz Petroleum is partnering with Marylou’s Coffee to open one of the Massachusetts-based coffee QSR’s locations inside a c-store, Barry Ahern, Kayrouz’s chief retail and people officer, confirmed in an email.
- The coffee shop is expected to open inside a new KP Market in Hyannis, Massachusetts, which is in Cape Cod, by the end of September.
- While many retailers make deals with nationally known QSRs to build their foodservice offerings, Kayrouz joins companies like Circle K, Gas N Wash and Yatco that are turning to regional standouts.
Dive Insight:
The KP Market will carry Marylou’s full menu, Ahern said. According to Marylou’s website, that includes hot and cold beverages like specialty coffee, frozen drinks and lemonade, as well as food items like breakfast sandwiches, bagels and stuffed waffles.
The QSR chain currently has about 40 locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, according to its website. Many of those locations are drive-thru sites.
“Marylou’s is a very well known company in the [Massachusetts] and Rhode Island area, especially south of Boston and the Cape Cod area,” Ahern said. “We felt it was just a natural fit as a partner in our new Hyannis Location and to start our relationship with them.”
Marylou’s did not reply by press time to questions about if this is its first c-store coffee shop or is any kitchen modifications were needed to fit the space.
While there are currently no plans for additional Marylou’s locations inside KP Markets, Ahern said the companies would consider more if the right opportunity arose.
KP Market is a relatively new banner, revealed by Kayrouz roughly a year ago. The company has 11 locations under the KP Market, KP Market and Liquor and KP Travel Center banners, according to its website.
