Dive Brief:
- United Dairy Farmers has partnered with electric vehicle charging infrastructure company Electric Era to add EV fast chargers to six Ohio locations, according to a Tuesday announcement.
- The locations, which represent the first fast chargers in UDF’s history and are part of Ohio’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, are located in the Columbus and Cincinnati areas and are expected to come online in early 2027.
- UDF will monitor charging demand, customer behavior, store visits and engagement with site amenities and loyalty offers to determine what the future expansion of the program may look like, according to the announcement.
Dive Insight:
UDF, which operates more than 170 stores in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, chose some of its newest stores — all of which feature expanded food and beverage options, seating areas and public Wi-Fi — for this partnership. While a typical gas fill-up can take fewer than five minutes, EV changing can take far longer, making on-site amenities more important.
UDF said the addition of EV charging is another step toward turning its stores into third places.
“We’re thinking beyond the charger itself and about how we can make those 20 to 30 minute charge times convenient, valuable and enjoyable for our guests,” said Rob Lindner, UDF's corporate head of initiatives.
The sites will integrate with UDF’s U-Drive Plus rewards program, allowing members to access discounts whether they’re charging up or filling the gas tank. UDF can also offer personalized rewards, including food and beverage promotions, through the app and the charging stations themselves.
“We’ve always believed UDF should evolve alongside our guests, and this is another step in doing that,” said Jim Dwenger, UDF’s head of retail. “Adding fast EV charging allows us to provide the fuel of the future while giving guests a welcoming place to recharge themselves.”
Electric Era’s chargers are battery-backed, meaning they can often be installed without having to worry about increased demand charges or needing electricity infrastructure upgrades.
