Convenience Channel Prepares for Busy Summer Travel Season

C-store retailers across the country launch hiring sprees to strengthen their staffs

NEARLY 35 MILLION people planned to travel by car during the 2022 Memorial Day weekend. If the unofficial start to summer is any indication, this year’s summer travel season will be “on fire,” according to AAA.

With an uptick in business on the horizon, several convenience store retailers launched hiring sprees in late spring in hopes of bringing on more staff to serve road trippers and locals alike.

7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes, along with participating independent franchise owners and operators, hosted a National Hiring Event on May 3 across more than 13,000 stores in the United States and Canada. Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven Inc.’s goal was to hire employees for 60,000 jobs — entry-level and management positions inside the stores, as well as support roles.

Knoxville, Tenn.-based Pilot Co. also hosted a National Hiring Day event on May 3 with the aim of welcoming 10,000 new team members. Part-time and full-time team members receive company perks and benefits, including a fuel discount and free meals.

Open positions at Pilot include Class-A CDL company drivers to transport fuel and diesel exhaust fluid, and corporate positions in technology, finance, human resources, recruiting, marketing, guest services and more at its Knoxville sales and support center headquarters, offices in Dallas and Houston, and a new IT Center of Excellence in Atlanta.

Maverik Inc., which bills itself as “Adventure’s First Stop,” set out to fill nearly 100 seasonal and regular retail team member positions currently available across 11 store locations throughout the Salt Lake City area. The Salt Lake City-based retailer hosted a local job fair on April 23 in Sandy, Utah, to meet potential applicants and hold on-site interviews.

At GPM Investments LLC, the Richmond, Va.based company is offering a range of incentives and benefits to prospective employees as it seeks to add 5,000 new employees to its ranks. The company is looking to fill open seasonal and turnover positions at convenience stores in multiple states, with opportunities including fulltime and part-time roles at all levels.

In addition, Royal Farms plans to hire more than 2,000 workers in the next few months to staff new stores opening in the Mid-Atlantic region. About 1,200 jobs are expected to be in Maryland, with about three-quarters of those in the Baltimore metro area, where the retailer is based.