Savannah, Ga.-based Parker’s Kitchen has officially joined the 100-store club with the opening of its newest location in Summerville, S.C. This marks Parker’s fourth new c-store of the year.
“Reaching 100 stores is the result of nearly 50 years of dedication, hard work and passion — and we couldn’t have done it without our incredible team,” wrote Ted Sadowski, senior vice president at Parker’s, in a social media post.
The retailer is not done just yet, however, as Sadowski also revealed that Parker’s plans to double that number in the next four to five years.
“Next time you’re in the city of Charleston area, be sure to visit our fantastic team at the new store, led by Chris, Shannon, Zachery, Tanja and James. We’re proud to have such a dynamic group leading the charge,” Sadowski continued.
Parker’s kicked off its 2025 expansion in January with the opening of its Moncks Corner, S.C., site. Then in February, it opened its first store in Evans, Ga., followed by another Georgia location in Richmond Hill.
The retailer has been expanding at a rapid pace, earning a spot on Inc. 5000’s list of fastest-growing companies in the U.S. seven times.
Parker’s has remained committed to growth over the years, while it simultaneously doubles down on charitable giving, community involvement and quality foodservice. It is for these reasons, among many others, that CStore Decisions named it the 2020 Chain of the Year.
Looking Back
When Parker’s was named Chain of the Year, the company operated 66 stores in Georgia and South Carolina. At the time, the retailer had plans to open 60 new-to-industry stores in 60 months — a goal that it is making significant progress on.
“Being named the 2020 CStore Decisions Chain of the Year is an incredible honor that validates our team’s hard work and ongoing commitment to serving Parker’s customers and giving back to the community where we operate stores,” said Greg Parker, founder of Parker’s and CEO at the time. “Since our founding in 1976, we’ve been focused on delivering the ultimate customer experience. In recent years, we’ve strategically expanded our commitment to high-quality foodservice, cutting-edge technology, charitable giving and customer loyalty. We deeply appreciate this recognition and will continue to set the bar even higher in the future.”
Parker’s decision to hone in on foodservice in 2020 and the years leading up to it have paid dividends, as c-store retailers across the industry are well aware of the impact a strong foodservice program can have on operations in 2025. Leveraging its top-of-the-line foodservice program has enabled the brand to grow significantly since its founding, and especially since the foodservice boom that the industry has seen in recent years.
Humble Beginnings
To understand how impressive Parker’s growth is, you have to understand how it all began. Greg Parker opened his first store in Midway, Ga., in late 1976, when he was just 21, and he has been a student of the industry ever since.
“I wish I could tell you that I had some master branding and growth plan when I opened that first store, but I learned everything I know about this industry by being involved and developing metrics to improve every day,” he said.
Parker basically grew up in the industry. His father, Jack Parker, was an Amoco jobber representing 10 Georgia cities. As the state was developing new corridors and suburban neighborhoods, there was an opportunity to serve their growing areas. He partnered with a local dairy farmer to acquire the land for his first store and a local bank to finance construction, and he has never looked back.
It wasn’t until 1979 that Parker opened his second store in Richmond Hill, Ga.
“I wish I could tell you that I had our long-term business strategy figured out, or that I saw the bright light at the end of the tunnel, or that I realized that this industry was going to be able to withstand hurricanes, pandemics and economic recessions, but the truth is I didn’t realize any of that 44 years ago.”
Amid an ever-changing c-store landscape, Parker’s has remained committed to its core values and business objectives, as it positions itself for success and growth in the future.
