Taking aim at competition, Turkey Hill partners with fast food chains
In the ever-expanding battle for convenience store supremacy, Turkey Hill Minit Markets are beginning to partner with established fast food chains.
On Monday, Burger King opened its newest Berks County location inside a Turkey Hill in Cumru Township, near Flying Hills. The restaurant offers its full menu and a small dining area situated adjacent to convenience store shelves.
It’s a first for Turkey Hill stores in Pennsylvania, but almost certainly not the last.
“We have plans to do 250 of them in the next few years, so we’re just getting started,” said Gerry Eck, district manager for EG America, which owns Turkey Hill.
Billion-dollar investment
EG America’s parent, England-based EG Group, is wellknown in the United Kingdom for its Euro Garages, a convenience store chain that sells gasoline and often houses one or more fast food retailers.
In 2018, EG Group ventured into the U.S. market, with Turkey Hill among the 762 convenience stores it acquired from Kroger for $2.15 billion. EG America has since begun updating the food service at some of its 1,000-plus locations stateside with prominent franchises.
“We want to be a one-stop shop for people,” said Eck. “Being able to have a very popular and recognizable brand adds to their value.”
This Turkey Hill in Cumru Township, located along Route 10, also has gas pumps and a car wash.
Playing catch-up
The Euro Garages model is not a unique concept in the U.S.
Subway sandwich shops have long been commonplace in convenience stores. Love’s Travel Stops host an array of fast food chains, such as the McDonald’s at its Upper Bern Township facility. And Pennsylvania-based chains — Sheetz, Wawa and Rutter’s — all boast their own expansive food programs.
Even some Turkey Hill stores dabbled with quickservice restaurants of their own, although offerings lagged behind the competition.
“They’re just warming up pizza, frozen hamburgers and stuff like that, so we’re going to improve the quality by putting a Burger King in there,” said Eck. “We’re projected to more than double sales.”
What’s next?
Not every Turkey Hill is currently envisioned to be the future home of a Burger King or one of around 30 franchises with which EG America is partnering — a list that includes Starbucks, KFC and Pizza Hut Express.
“By and large, we’re only going to put them in locations where we can put a drive-thru,” said Eck. “This one in (Cumru Township) is a test to see how we do and how profitable we can be without a drive-through.”
Eck said the Turkey Hill in East Earl Township, Lancaster County is probably next in line for this area, but other stores may not be too far behind.
“We have plans to do many, many more.”