Georgia chain debuts on Inc. magazine’s celebrated list of fastest growing companies.
By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor.
The Parker Cos. Inc., with 27 convenience stores throughout southeast Georgia and coastal South Carolina, has scored the No. 3006 spot on the annual Inc. 500/5000 Fastest Growing Companies list. It’s the first time the c-store chain has been ranked on the prestigious list.
“It feels wonderful to enjoy national recognition for our efforts to deliver the best retail products and the ultimate service at the lowest price at Parker’s,” Greg Parker, president and CEO of the family-owned business, told CSD.
The 2012 Inc. magazine 500/5000 list is set to be officially unveiled in September and represents the most competitive group of companies in the list’s history, according to the magazine. To make the cut, companies needed to achieve significant sales growth between 2008 and 2011; been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2008; and be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit and independent as of Dec. 31, 2011.
Overall sales at Parker’s increased by 174% between 2008 and 2011, the company reported, paving its way onto the list.
“We’re grateful to our customers for making this honor possible,” Parker said. This honor further validates what our customers tell us every day—that we deliver the ultimate in convenience store products and services at a fair price.”
Connecting with Customers
Founded in 1976, Parker’s has been lauded for its PumpPal program, which allows card holders to save up to 10 cents per gallon of gas every day. The program has saved its customers nearly $2 million since it first launched in February of 2011. Today, the PumpPal program has nearly 55,000 members throughout Georgia and South Carolina.
“Parker’s continues to grow at a record pace due to our successful PumpPal program and the incredible loyalty of our customers,” Parker said.
“We also give back to area schools by donating one cent of every gallon of gas sold on the first Wednesday of each month through our Fueling the Community Program. We have a strong connection to the communities where we do business. Our customers appreciate the fact that we ‘re not just the Low Price Leader, but that we’re also the Give Back Leader.”
Parker’s has joined a growing list of small Georgia companies that have been recognized by Inc., including Savannah Bee Co., Coastal Logistics Group and Genesis Designer Homes.
And Inc. isn’t the only company recognizing Parker’s efforts. The Inc. honor comes shortly after the chain’s CEO Greg Parker was named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ by the Savannah Morning News.
“Now, more than ever, we depend on Inc. 500/5000 companies to spur innovation, provide jobs and drive the economy forward,” said Inc. Editor Eric Schurenberg. “Local growth companies, not large corporations, are where the action is.”
