Dive Brief:
- Parker’s Kitchen opened its first convenience store in Florida on Wednesday, according to a company announcement.
- The site in Yulee — about 25 miles north of downtown Jacksonville — is located near the intersection of Interstate 95 and Highway 200. It is one of several stores in the northern part of the state that Parker’s intends to open through 2027, according to the announcement.
- Florida marks Parker’s third state of operation as the retailer continues its ambitious plan to nearly double its store count through 2030.
Dive Insight:
Parker’s expansion into Florida had been in the works for the past few years, with the Savannah, Georgia-based company eyeing nearby Jacksonville as its target to enter the Sunshine State. Until this point, Parker’s had only operated in Georgia and South Carolina.
The Florida expansion took a major step forward in September when Parker’s revealed the Yulee site would debut the following month. Although the retailer originally anticipated an October debut, Parker’s has now officially entered its third state, with more Florida locations in the works.
The store, Parker’s 118th overall, comes during the retailer’s 50th anniversary, per the announcement. It features Parker’s flagship Southern-inspired food menu as well as indoor dining and ordering kiosks. It also includes a hot bar for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as standard grab-and-go items.
“Over the past five decades, we’ve been committed to serving customers across Georgia and South Carolina, elevating the convenience store experience and being a great partner to the communities we serve,” Greg Parker, founder and executive chairman of Parker’s, said in the announcement. “We are thrilled to bring that experience to Florida.”
Parker’s current growth plan includes opening between 20 and 25 c-stores annually through 2030. If it achieves that pace, the company could reach over 200 convenience stores by the end of the decade, further cementing Parker’s as a significant competitive threat in the Southeast.
