Super Quik, Inc., based in flatwoods, K.Y., has been honored as 2009 Convenience Store of the Year during the Kentucky Grocers Association/Kentucky Association of Convenience Stores (KGA/KACS) 68th celebration & annual meeting.
KGA/KACS is a joint statewide trade association representing about 550 member companies operating in a retail food and convenience marketplace of 3,300 locations across Kentucky.
Lynn Rice, president of Super Quik, accepted the KGA/KACS Convenience Store of the Year Award on behalf of all Super Quik employees.
During his acceptance speech he told the 230 attendees of the 2009 KGA/KACS Celebration, “people will make you or break you. I personally feel that this industry’s future is bright and that our employees are willing and able to take on any challenge that we may face.”
Rice noted that smaller convenience store operators have to be “on their game plan” everyday to avoid the many pitfalls in front of them and can do well if they are quick on their feet and flexible in their thinking and planning.
Super Quik has become one of about 1,500 totally employee-owned businesses in the U.S., and operates fifteen Super Quik gasoline/convenience stores, six Subway locations, two Mr. Klean Laundromats, a Papa John’s Pizza location and a car wash.
Jerald Witten began Super Quik convenience stores and in 2005 sold the company to the employees creating a 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) organization. Every full time employee that works 500 hours per year qualifies for a stock allocation that year.
“As President of Super Quik Inc., Lynn has delivered remarkable changes for the employees. The level of execution and employee responsiveness has improved dramatically,” the association said in a press release. “The company is now able to implement and run programs that were not possible before and are now taking the company to higher levels of performance.” The ESOP structure is functioning well for Super Quik and the company has made a profit every year since its beginning 30 years ago. The company also annually raises money to fund scholarship programs for local youth to advance their education.