Cover Image: Taylor Quik Pik is a third-generation family owned convenience store chain established in the 1950s in Blair, Nebraska. L to R: Brad Taylor, president and owner, with daughter, Brooke Shallberg, COO, and son, Eric Taylor, CEO. 

Since 1954, the Taylors have been serving the community in and around Blair, Nebraska, with food and fuel, a tradition the third generation of the family-owned convenience chain Taylor Quik Pik is eager to continue. “Our grandfather founded Taylor Oil Company, the parent company of Taylor Quik Pik, and we’re proud to be part of this company as it’s grown into the 21st century,” said Eric Taylor, CEO of Taylor Quik Pik.

Taylor, along with his sister, COO Brooke Shallberg, has taken over the day-to-day operations of the chain, while their father, Brad Taylor, is the president and owner. The siblings have a vision to carry the 10-store chain into the future while continuing to provide the products and service customers have come to expect from Taylor Quik Pik. 

THE START

The evolution of Taylor Quik Pik has been six decades in the making. “Our grandfather owned or leased 31 stores, some under the Quik Pik banner and others under the Champlain Oil name,” Taylor said. “When our father took over ownership in the early 2000s, he eventually sold underperforming stores, bringing the number down to seven.” 

The siblings grew the chain while continuing to provide the Quik Pik service. “We’re constantly looking for ways to improve the stores we have and also eyeing existing sites we could bring into the Quik Pik family,” Taylor said. “Since 2020, we’ve acquired five sites—two of which we simply moved operations from existing locations to the new sites, and three were new to our chain.” 

Part of their mission has been to remodel older stores both to expand foodservice offerings and to cater to the growing needs of their local communities. For example, they brought in electric vehicle chargers at one location, and three more are slated to get chargers soon. 

“While we’re in a growth mindset, we’ve worked to keep the small, family-business feel to our stores and company,” Shallberg said. “We have some of the best employees, and we know that keeping them happy is going to help them make our customers’ days better.”

To that end, they treat all employees well, with those in the corporate office stopping by stores daily. “Because we’re visible in the stores, we keep in touch with the employees and managers. We want them to see us on the ground and know we care about them,” she said. 

THE PRODUCTS

As with many convenience retailers these days, Taylor Quik Pik recognized the need to differentiate with its foodservice. Three years ago, the company developed its own pizza brand called Hometown Pizza, which has become a hit with customers. While one unit has a Godfather’s Pizza Express, eight serve Hometown Pizza. “We also offer burgers and other fried foods, but pizza is the cornerstone of our foodservice program,” Shallberg said. 

When launching the Hometown Pizza brand, the stores gave away a ton of pies to schools and local businesses to generate interest through word of mouth, which worked. “That strategy paid off big time for us in getting our pizza brand out there in our communities,” Taylor said. “We also allow schools to purchase our pizza at cost, then sell them at a profit, which also gets the brand out there while helping schools raise money.” 

Of course, with a fresh pizza program, having a beer cave with ice cold beverages is a natural fit. Taylor Quik Pik beer caves chill down to 28 degrees, which customers love. Overall, they try to give the product mix a good variety and often bring in items customers request. For example, when a customer mentions a new energy drink, Shallberg immediately sources it to get it on the shelf. “We like being the first store in town to have the next big energy drink or beer to come out,” she said. “Being a smaller chain allows us to switch things up and adapt more quickly,” Taylor added. 

At the end of the day, Taylor Quik Pik wants to change its customers’ world for the better. “I tell my managers and store employees that the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the people who actually do,” Taylor said. “We encourage our employees to start with the customer right in front of them.” 
 

At Taylor Quik Pik, giving back to the community is engrained in every aspect of the company. “Our locations are in small towns, so we’re part of the community, so we want to help out however we can,” said CEO Eric Taylor.

For example, two locations have dedicated a fuel pump that donates a portion of the income to a local school. The company plans to expand the “charity” pump to additional stores soon. The stores also hand out gift certificates for charity and fundraiser events, while the company sponsors children’s sports teams and banners at sporting events. 

“We try not to turn anyone down who comes to us with a charitable request,” Taylor said. “We feel it’s important to give back to the community because we wouldn’t be here without their support of us.” 

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Ideas 2 Go showcases how retailers today are operating the convenience store of tomorrow. To see videos of the c-stores we profiled in 2020 and earlier, go to www.convenience.org/ideas2go.