Kroger is expanding its convenience-store and gas-station presence in central Ohio by bringing its Pennsylvania-based Turkey Hill Minit Market  chain to Columbus, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

 

The move to Ohio marks Turkey Hill’s first major  expansion outside Pennsylvania. Currently, the 253-store chain’s Martinsville, Ind., location is its only store outside Pennsylvania.

 

All that will change when the chain opens seven convenience stores in the Columbus area, five of which are scheduled to open by the end of this week, Turkey Hill spokeswoman Erin Dimitriou Smith told the Columbus Dispatch.

 

The five stores are former On The Run locations that the company acquired from Cincinnati-based Gilligan Oil Co.

 

The company is building its other two locations from the ground up, one in Whitehall and the other in Heath. Both are expected to open by the end of the year. 

 

“We have the Turkey Hill brand ice cream and tea already being sold here, so we thought bringing our convenience stores would be a good addition to the Columbus community,” Dimitriou Smith said. “We felt like Columbus is a good fit for what we have to offer.”

 

The move into Ohio could increase the competition between Kroger and Giant Eagle, which expanded its GetGo fuel stations to 21 locations in Columbus in recent years.

 

Turkey Hill President Darel Pfeiff said the company is “excited to become a part of the Ohio” community. “We believe our focus on customer service combined with a great lineup of new items and convenience merchandise will provide an exciting experience to existing On the Run customers and new customers as well,” he added.