Poppy Markets to Rebrand 11 Acquired Stores

Poppy Markets LLC, an entity of Vintners Distributors Inc., has expanded its footprint through the acquisition of 11 convenience stores from Engineers Associates Inc., operating under the National Petroleum brand. The acquisition deal includes a wholesale fuels distribution business that supplies over 100 dealers, thereby elevating Poppy's store count to 15 after the rebranding of these locations. Vintners' CEO, Varish Goyal, highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit and robust business model of National Petroleum's founders as key motivators for the acquisition. This strategic move aligns with Vintners' growth strategy, which is typically focused on opening new-to-industry (NTI) stores; however, unique acquisition opportunities that fit their business model and geographical reach will be considered. Vintners plans to open six or seven new stores this year in addition to the recent acquisition. Post-acquisition, Vintners intends to rebrand the National Petroleum stores to Poppy Market while implementing site-specific upgrades. The process will start with initial branding elements and progress to significant enhancements over time. The aim is to optimize each property’s potential through remodels and reconfigurations. Goyal anticipates leveraging this acquisition to gain insights into the unbranded fuel market, enhancing their capability as a retailer and wholesaler in this segment. This forms part of a broader strategy to establish Poppy Market as a preferred name for unbranded operators while improving operational efficiency across their outlets. With additional operations including Loop Neighborhood Market and branded stations under Shell or Chevron, Vintners is a notable player in the U.S. convenience store landscape, particularly in the Bay Area, where it operates over 140 locations and facilitates fuel delivery to about 60 dealer locations. Vintners is ranked 54th on CSP’s list of top convenience store chains.