Turkey Hill Minit Markets

Turkey Hill Minit Markets is a regional American convenience-store chain combining gasoline retailing, packaged food and beverages, prepared food, and related roadside services. The business began in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1967, when brothers Charles and Emerson Frey opened a store on Columbia Avenue to provide a direct retail outlet for their dairy products. The stores initially operated as a separate business known as Farmland Industries, with administrative operations located in the basement of the original store and later at a purpose-built headquarters in East Hempfield Township. The chain developed an important early position in Pennsylvania retailing. In 1974, Turkey Hill Minit Markets successfully challenged Pennsylvania Sunday-closing restrictions, helping establish the legal basis for broader convenience-store operating hours. In 1976, it became the first company to offer self-service gasoline in Pennsylvania, a significant step toward the modern convenience-store format. The company expanded through acquisitions, including 36 Louden Hill stores in 1979 and a group of 7-Eleven stores and six Ideal Markets in 1985. Kroger acquired Turkey Hill Minit Markets and Turkey Hill Dairy in 1985 but maintained them as separate operating businesses. Although the convenience-store chain and the dairy brand shared the Turkey Hill name, they served different business functions: the stores sold fuel, groceries, prepared food, and other convenience products, while Turkey Hill Dairy produced ice cream, milk, iced tea, and related frozen or refrigerated products. This distinction became especially important after the convenience-store chain was sold while the dairy business remained under separate ownership. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Turkey Hill expanded its foodservice and fuel-oriented store model. A 1998 location in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, introduced a format emphasizing fresh subs, sandwiches, pizza, and other hot foods. From 1999 onward, the company increasingly developed larger stores with more prominent gasoline operations; many locations also included car washes. The chain competed in an increasingly overlapping Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern convenience market alongside brands such as Sheetz and Wawa. In 2017, Kroger announced that it was evaluating the sale of Turkey Hill Minit Markets and several other convenience-store brands. In early 2018, Kroger agreed to sell its convenience-store portfolio to EG Group, and the transaction closed on April 20, 2018. The Turkey Hill chain became part of EG America's operating network while remaining distinct from Turkey Hill Dairy. Subsequent EG America initiatives included coordination with Certified Oil locations in the Columbus, Ohio, area and the introduction of Cumberland Farms-branded coffee products after EG Group acquired Cumberland Farms. Turkey Hill has also pursued expanded foodservice partnerships. In January 2020, a Burger King restaurant opened inside a Turkey Hill store in Cumru Township, Pennsylvania, as part of EG Group's effort to add branded quick-service restaurants to selected locations. Sbarro was cited as another franchise concept used at some Midwestern stores. As of October 2017, the chain had more than 260 locations across Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. Its current market identity is that of a regional fuel-and-convenience retailer rather than the separately owned Turkey Hill packaged-food and frozen-dessert brand.

Turkey Hill Minit Markets originated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1967. Charles and Emerson Frey opened the first store on Columbia Avenue as a way to market their dairy products directly to consumers. The retail operation was organized separately as Farmland Industries. Its initial administrative headquarters occupied the basement of the original store, before the business moved in 1978 to a larger headquarters at 257 Centerville Road in East Hempfield Township. That headquarters was later rebuilt, with the replacement building opening in March 2023. The company became an early innovator in Pennsylvania convenience retailing. On December 19, 1974, its legal challenge helped overturn state blue laws that restricted Sunday retail operations. In 1976, Turkey Hill became the first company to offer self-service gasoline in Pennsylvania, reinforcing a business model that combined fuel sales with convenience shopping. The chain expanded through acquisitions, buying 36 Louden Hill stores in 1979 and acquiring a number of 7-Eleven stores and six Ideal Markets in 1985. Kroger acquired both Turkey Hill Minit Markets and Turkey Hill Dairy in 1985. Kroger operated the two businesses independently, preserving a distinction between the convenience-store chain and the dairy producer. The stores focused on fuel, groceries, beverages, prepared food, and related services, while Turkey Hill Dairy manufactured milk, ice cream, fruit-flavored drinks, iced tea, and other dairy or frozen products. By the 1990s, Turkey Hill was competing in an increasingly dense regional convenience-store market. Its service territory increasingly overlapped with Sheetz and Wawa, and the chain became a prominent example of the growth of large regional convenience retailers. In 1998, the company opened its 249th store in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. That location was among the first to emphasize foodservice, offering fresh subs, sandwiches, pizza, and other hot foods. Starting in 1999, Turkey Hill opened larger stores with a stronger gasoline focus. Many newer or remodeled sites also incorporated car washes, and roughly 200 of the approximately 240 Central Pennsylvania stores had gasoline pumps according to the historical account. Kroger announced in October 2017 that it was considering selling Turkey Hill Minit Markets along with Kwik Shop, Loaf 'N Jug, Quik Stop, and Tom Thumb. Turkey Hill Dairy was excluded from the proposed sale. In February 2018, Kroger announced an agreement with EG Group, and the transaction was completed on April 20, 2018. Turkey Hill Minit Markets subsequently operated within EG America's portfolio, while the Turkey Hill dairy and frozen-dessert brand followed a separate ownership path. EG America later integrated parts of its convenience-store network. In 2019, it acquired Certified Oil, and Turkey Hill locations in the Columbus, Ohio, area were marketed alongside Certified locations. EG Group's acquisition of Cumberland Farms also enabled Turkey Hill and other EG America stores to offer Cumberland Farms-branded coffee products. In January 2020, a Burger King opened inside a Turkey Hill store in Cumru Township, Pennsylvania. This formed part of a broader strategy to add franchised quick-service food concepts, including Sbarro at selected Midwestern locations. The chain's historical identity rests on three connected developments: its origin as a dairy-product outlet, its early role in expanding Sunday retail and self-service gasoline in Pennsylvania, and its later transformation into a multi-service convenience and fuel retailer. Despite the shared name, Turkey Hill Minit Markets and Turkey Hill Dairy are separate businesses.

• 2020

  First cited Burger King in-store location opens

  [1]Turkey Hill Minit Marketsen.wikipedia.org

  A Burger King opens inside a Turkey Hill location in Cumru Township, Pennsylvania.

• 2018

  Sale to EG Group completed

  [1]Turkey Hill Minit Marketsen.wikipedia.org

  EG Group completes its acquisition of Turkey Hill Minit Markets and Kroger's convenience-store portfolio.

• 1998

  Foodservice-oriented store opens in Hazleton

  [1]Turkey Hill Minit Marketsen.wikipedia.org

  The Hazleton store becomes an early location for fresh subs, sandwiches, pizza, and other prepared foods.

• 1985

  Kroger acquisition

  [1]Turkey Hill Minit Marketsen.wikipedia.org

  Kroger acquires Turkey Hill Minit Markets and Turkey Hill Dairy, continuing to operate them as separate businesses.

• 1979

  Louden Hill acquisition

  [1]Turkey Hill Minit Marketsen.wikipedia.org

  The chain purchases 36 Louden Hill stores.

• 1976

  Self-service gasoline introduced in Pennsylvania

  [1]Turkey Hill Minit Marketsen.wikipedia.org

  Turkey Hill becomes the first company identified in the historical account to offer self-service gasoline in Pennsylvania.

• 1974

  Blue-law challenge succeeds

  [1]Turkey Hill Minit Marketsen.wikipedia.org

  Turkey Hill wins a legal battle overturning Pennsylvania restrictions on Sunday retail operations.

• 1967

  First Turkey Hill Minit Market opens

  [1]Turkey Hill Minit Marketsen.wikipedia.org

  Charles and Emerson Frey open the first store on Columbia Avenue in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to market their dairy products.

A regional convenience and fuel retailer focused on accessible gasoline, everyday convenience goods, prepared food, and roadside services in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.

• Fuel retail · 1976

  Gasoline and forecourt fuel

  Fuel retail is central to the modern Turkey Hill Minit Markets format. The chain pioneered self-service gasoline in Pennsylvania in 1976 and later developed larger stores with a stronger emphasis on gasoline sales. Many locations combine pumps with convenience retail and, at selected sites, car-wash services.

• Convenience retail · 1967

  Convenience groceries and beverages

  Stores sell the everyday packaged goods associated with convenience retail, including snacks, beverages, groceries, tobacco products, ice, and other quick-purchase items. The assortment supports customers making short trips while fueling or traveling through the chain's regional markets.

• Foodservice · 1998

  Prepared food

  Turkey Hill expanded into prepared food during the late 1990s, with offerings such as fresh subs, sandwiches, pizza, and other hot foods. Later EG America initiatives added franchised restaurant concepts at selected stores, including Burger King and Sbarro.

• Automotive service

  Car washes

  Car washes are available at some larger or newer Turkey Hill locations, extending the chain's role beyond fuel and convenience shopping into basic roadside vehicle services.

• 2020

  Add franchised quick-service restaurantsProduct launch

  Background

  EG Group sought to refresh foodservice offerings at selected convenience stores.

  Action taken

  A Burger King opened inside a Turkey Hill store in Cumru Township, Pennsylvania; Sbarro was also identified as a concept used at Midwestern locations.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened the prepared-food proposition at selected stores.

  Source

• 2018

  Sell the convenience-store chain to EG GroupM&A

  Background

  Kroger was reviewing strategic options for its convenience-store portfolio.

  Action taken

  Kroger sold Turkey Hill Minit Markets and its broader convenience-store portfolio to EG Group; the transaction closed on April 20, 2018.

  Aftermath

  Turkey Hill Minit Markets became part of EG America's operating network, while Turkey Hill Dairy remained separate.

  Source

• 1998

  Expand into prepared foodStrategy

  Background

  Convenience retailers were broadening their offer beyond packaged goods and gasoline.

  Action taken

  Turkey Hill opened a Hazleton store with fresh subs, sandwiches, pizza, and other hot-food offerings.

  Aftermath

  Foodservice became an important element of new and larger store formats.

  Source

• 1976

  Adopt self-service gasolineStrategy

  Background

  Pennsylvania's retail-fuel market was developing toward the convenience-store model.

  Action taken

  Turkey Hill introduced self-service gasoline, becoming the first company identified in the historical account to do so in Pennsylvania.

  Aftermath

  The decision helped establish fuel retail as a core part of the chain's operating model.

  Source

• 2020

  Burger King opens inside a Turkey Hill store[1]Turkey Hill Minit Marketsen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Product launch

  A Burger King restaurant opened inside a Turkey Hill location in Cumru Township, Pennsylvania, as part of EG Group's effort to broaden prepared-food offerings through restaurant franchises.

• 2018

  EG Group agrees to acquire Kroger's convenience-store portfolio[1]Turkey Hill Minit Marketsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  EG Group reached an agreement to acquire Turkey Hill Minit Markets and Kroger's broader convenience-store portfolio, creating the foundation of EG America. The transaction closed on April 20, 2018.

• 2017

  Kroger considers sale of Turkey Hill Minit Markets[1]Turkey Hill Minit Marketsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Kroger disclosed that it was evaluating the sale of Turkey Hill Minit Markets and several other convenience-store businesses. The proposed transaction did not include Turkey Hill Dairy.

1. 1Turkey Hill Minit Marketsen.wikipedia.org