Dive Brief:
- Little General Stores has acquired five U-Save convenience stores in West Virginia for an undisclosed amount, the company announced on Monday.
- All five locations are in Nicholas County, in the central part of the state. Little General Stores took control of all sites earlier this month.
- The move will further cement Little General Stores’ presence in the heart of the Mountain State, where it operates most of its over 100 convenience stores.
Dive Insight:
Little General Stores’ acquisition continues the industry’s shift toward consolidation, with smaller retailers like C&J Cox Corporation, B&B Petroleum and PS Food Mart recently selling some of their locations or exiting the business. Price concerns are putting pressure on these retailers that cannot be offset by scale.
The release did not note why U-Save sold these locations nor if the company has other sites remaining in the area. The five stores are located in Mt. Nebo, Summersville, Craigsville, Canvas and Richwood.
“We are thrilled to welcome these five U-SAVE locations into the Little General family,” said Greg Darby, president of Little General Stores. “These new stores will help us continue to deliver the essential services people rely on every day."
Beckley, West Virginia-based Little General Stores has stores in Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio, according to the company’s website. Many of its stores also have QSR franchises inside, including Subway, Dunkin’ and Godfather’s Pizza.
“The company looks forward to integrating these locations and supporting the teams who will soon join the LG family,” Little General Stores noted in the announcement.
