Kum & Go
Encyclopedia
Kum & Go is a convenience store
chain primarily located in the Midwestern United States
. The company, based in West Des Moines, Iowa
, operates over 400 stores in 11 states—primarily in its home state of Iowa
. Kum & Go was ranked as the 23rd-largest convenience store chain in the United States by Convenience Store News in 2010.
, in 1959. Hampton Oil eventually became the Krause Gentle Corporation, which is Kum & Go's parent company. In 1963, Krause Gentle introduced the company's first convenience stores, selling both fuel and merchandise items, in which they changed their gas station into a "station store".
The Kum & Go name was adopted in 1975 to unify the company's array of stores under a single brand. It was a play
on the phrase "come and go" using the initials of founders Krause and Gentle. Sales of Kum & Go-branded merchandise increased after Johnny Knoxville
was seen wearing a Kum & Go t-shirt during a scene in the 2006 movie Jackass Number Two.
. William Krause's son, Kyle, is the current CEO
of Krause Gentle. Kum & Go went through a period of rapid expansion in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In addition to building new stores, Krause Gentle acquired unwanted stores from chains such as 7-Eleven
, QuikTrip
, and Git 'n' Go and converted them to Kum & Go stores. In 2007 and 2008 Kum & Go auction
ed off more than 40 of its smaller stores in order to focus on building larger stores ranging in size from 3,600 to 5000 square feet (464.5 m²). It was announced in June, 2011 that Kum & Go had reached agreement to sell twenty-two stores, again mostly in smaller rural communities, to rival Casey's General Stores
. According to Kum & Go CEO Kyle J. Krause the sale will allow reinvestment in the chains remaining stores and help drive their long term growth.
In 2009, Kum & Go ranked 238th on Forbes
magazine's list of the largest private companies in the United States, ranking second to Hy-Vee
among companies based in Iowa.
In addition to Kum & Go, the Krause Gentle Corporation operates Liberty Bank, the Des Moines Menace
soccer team, Solar Transport (a refined fuel transporter), and Teamwork Acres (a collection of farms in Clarke
, Madison
, and Warren counties in Iowa). The Krause family was also involved with the Swing of the Quad Cities baseball
team until selling the franchise in late 2007.
Venue Song
Sokol Auditorium.
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
chain primarily located in the Midwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The company, based in West Des Moines, Iowa
West Des Moines, Iowa
West Des Moines is a city in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 53,889 residents lived there in...
, operates over 400 stores in 11 states—primarily in its home state of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Kum & Go was ranked as the 23rd-largest convenience store chain in the United States by Convenience Store News in 2010.
Background
The chain was founded by William A. Krause and Tony S. Gentle, who founded the Hampton Oil Company in Hampton, IowaHampton, Iowa
Hampton is a city in Franklin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,461 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County...
, in 1959. Hampton Oil eventually became the Krause Gentle Corporation, which is Kum & Go's parent company. In 1963, Krause Gentle introduced the company's first convenience stores, selling both fuel and merchandise items, in which they changed their gas station into a "station store".
The Kum & Go name was adopted in 1975 to unify the company's array of stores under a single brand. It was a play
Word play
Word play or wordplay is a literary technique in which the words that are used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement...
on the phrase "come and go" using the initials of founders Krause and Gentle. Sales of Kum & Go-branded merchandise increased after Johnny Knoxville
Johnny Knoxville
Philip John Clapp , better known by his stage name Johnny Knoxville, is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, stunt performer, best known for being the co-creator and principal star of the MTV reality series Jackass, with the catchphrase "I'm Johnny Knoxville, and welcome to Jackass."-Early...
was seen wearing a Kum & Go t-shirt during a scene in the 2006 movie Jackass Number Two.
Company expansion
In 1988, Krause Gentle moved the company's corporate headquarters to its current location in West Des Moines, IowaWest Des Moines, Iowa
West Des Moines is a city in Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,403; a special census taken in the spring of 2005 counted 51,744 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 53,889 residents lived there in...
. William Krause's son, Kyle, is the current CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Krause Gentle. Kum & Go went through a period of rapid expansion in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In addition to building new stores, Krause Gentle acquired unwanted stores from chains such as 7-Eleven
7-Eleven
7-Eleven is part of an international chain of convenience stores, operating under Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd, which in turn is owned by Seven & I Holdings Co...
, QuikTrip
QuikTrip
QuikTrip is a Tulsa-based chain of convenience stores primarily found in the Midwestern and Southern United States....
, and Git 'n' Go and converted them to Kum & Go stores. In 2007 and 2008 Kum & Go auction
Auction
An auction is a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder...
ed off more than 40 of its smaller stores in order to focus on building larger stores ranging in size from 3,600 to 5000 square feet (464.5 m²). It was announced in June, 2011 that Kum & Go had reached agreement to sell twenty-two stores, again mostly in smaller rural communities, to rival Casey's General Stores
Casey's General Stores
- External links :* *...
. According to Kum & Go CEO Kyle J. Krause the sale will allow reinvestment in the chains remaining stores and help drive their long term growth.
In 2009, Kum & Go ranked 238th on Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
magazine's list of the largest private companies in the United States, ranking second to Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee is an employee-owned chain of supermarkets located in the Midwestern United States. Over 100 of its supermarkets are located in Iowa, with additional stores in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and now Madison, Wisconsin...
among companies based in Iowa.
In addition to Kum & Go, the Krause Gentle Corporation operates Liberty Bank, the Des Moines Menace
Des Moines Menace
Des Moines Menace is an American soccer team based in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at Valley...
soccer team, Solar Transport (a refined fuel transporter), and Teamwork Acres (a collection of farms in Clarke
Clarke County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 9,286 in the county, with a population density of . There were 4,086 housing units, of which 3,701 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Madison
Madison County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 15,679 in the county, with a population density of . There were 6,554 housing units, of which 6,025 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, and Warren counties in Iowa). The Krause family was also involved with the Swing of the Quad Cities baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team until selling the franchise in late 2007.
Cultural references
Kum and Go was mentioned in the Desaparecidos song Greater Omaha and in the They Might Be GiantsThey Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
Venue Song
Venue Songs
Venue Songs is a 2004 album by the group They Might Be Giants. Although technically it is a live album, as all the tracks were performed live, it is different than a standard live album in that, instead of live versions of the band's popular songs, it is composed of all new songs...
Sokol Auditorium.