MacEwen acquires Little Short Stop Stores
MacEwen is adding to its retail portfolio, with the acquisition of the Little Short Stop Stores chain in southwestern Ontario.
Founded in 1967 by Paul Arnold, the family-owned and operated chain today has 26 locations, serving communities in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, New Hamburg and Ayr.
Jamie Arnold is president and co-owner of Little Short Stop Stores. He and his brother, Mike, took over from their father to operate the chain, a well-established brand with deep roots in the communities it serves.
Jamie Arnold told CSNC that the decision to sell was "a difficult one" given the long legacy. While he will not be staying on as part of the deal, he said: "Our Little Short Stop team will continue to provide the incredible service that our customers expect."
Headquartered in Maxville, Ont., MacEwen, founded in 1976, is a Canadian independent energy and retail convenience provider with operations in Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba.
In a release, the company stated: “This family-owned and operated chain is well-aligned with the Quickie vision and core values focusing on community involvement, great product selection, and that local feel where customer service and a friendly shopping experience are front and centre at every transaction.”
The acquisition is big news for the independent c-store chain landscape in Ontario.
"Like Quickie, the Little Short Stop chain is a well-established brand in their communities with a legacy spanning 57 years. We are especially thankful to the Arnold family for entrusting us with their business," the company said.
MacEwen is building a strong network across the province.
In November 2021, MacEwen announced it was acquiring the Quickie Convenience Stores brand. The deal included 51 convenience stores, including 22 gas stations, located in Eastern Ontario and Gatineau Quebec, effectively doubling MacEwen’s portfolio to 108 company-controlled stores and 85 dealer-managed gas stations across Ontario.
READ: MacEwen acquires Quickie Convenience Stores
Since then, MacEwen has been busy, rebranding news as Quickie to capitalize on brand's strong regional recognition. In addition, several stores have been renovated.
“As we continue to enhance the Quickie retail experience through store updates, product innovation, and technology, we welcome the opportunity to integrate the Little Short Stop best practices into our business operations to build an even stronger retail brand,” the company said, adding: “We are excited about welcoming the Little Short Stop team the Quickie family and the opportunity to serve Little Short Stop customers.”
No word, yet, on rebranding Little Short Stop Stores.
-CSNC reached out to MacEwen for further comment. Updates to come.
