BP’s ampm convenience store has been ranked 39th in the 2007 Franchise Times “Top 200.” The companies that made the list have a minimum of 20% of total units operated by franchisees. Worldwide sales are also a factor in the rankings. ampm is the only convenience store owned by an integrated oil and gas company to make the list.

“BP is honored that ampm is included in the Top 200,” said Fiona MacLeod, BP’s president of convenience retail, U.S. and Latin America. “The brand is successful in the Western U.S. and internationally, and we are building on that by introducing an ampm-branded franchise in the Eastern U.S. Extending the ampm brand presence will add to the 30-year success the brand enjoys in the Western U.S., where 96 percent of West Coast consumers are familiar with the brand.”

The rollout in the East will begin with the introduction of ampm sites in the Atlanta and Chicago marketing areas starting this November. “We see great growth potential in the future,” MacLeod added. “We intend to climb even higher in the Franchise Times ranking.”

The ampm brand was founded in 1978 in Southern California by ARCO, which was acquired by BP in 2000. ampm is found in the Western U.S. in California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington and Oregon, with franchisees owning and/or operating about 1,000 ampm-branded convenience retail stores. Internationally, about 2,000 ampm stores are located in Brazil, Japan and Mexico. BP is selling ampm franchises in the Eastern U.S. in Florida, Atlanta, Chicago, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh marketing areas. While similar, the Eastern and Western U.S. ampm franchise offers are distinct from one another and subject to separate franchise documentation.