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ARKO Corp.
ARKO Corp. was founded by Arie Kotler in 2003 and is structured as a holding company that wholly owns GPM Investments, LLC, one of the largest...
ARKO Corp.
ARKO Corp. was founded by Arie Kotler in 2003 and is structured as a holding company that wholly owns GPM Investments, LLC, one of the largest convenience-store operators in the United States. Kotler, an Israeli entrepreneur who previously built and sold a fuel-retail business in his home country, migrated the model to the U.S., targeting fragmented, often family-run chains. The company went public through a business combination with Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II in 2020, trading on Nasdaq under the ticker ARKO. The firm's strategy centers on acquiring and improving small to mid-sized convenience-store chains and wholesale fuel distributors. Its portfolio spans three main asset classes: company-operated retail stores, wholesale fuel supply to dealer-operated sites, and a real estate arm that owns the underlying property for many locations. ARKO's footprint is concentrated in the American South, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic, with a growing presence in Appalachia. Flagged banners include E-Z Mart, Scotchman, and Village Pantry. A significant operational event occurred in June 2024, when ARKO completed the acquisition of WTG Fuels Holdings, a Texas-based fuel distributor and convenience-store operator, adding 191 sites to its network and deepening its wholesale capabilities. The company operates under a decentralized model, retaining legacy banner names and local management teams post-acquisition. With over 1,500 company-operated and 1,700 dealer-supplied locations, it is a top-10 player in the U.S. c-store market by store count. In January 2024, ARKO promoted Rob Eis to Chief Operating Officer, consolidating oversight of retail and wholesale operations. The firm also maintains a significant real estate portfolio, with fee-simple ownership of roughly two-thirds of its company-operated sites, reducing long-term lease exposure against rising rents. ARKO's structural differentiator is its public-company wrapper around a classic roll-up engine. Unlike private-equity-backed competitors that operate on 3-5 year exit timelines, ARKO's permanent capital base allows it to hold and optimize assets indefinitely while using its stock as acquisition currency. The company's governance centers on Kotler, who holds concentrated voting control through a dual-class share structure, ensuring continuity of the founder's investment thesis even in the public markets.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
2003
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Richmond
Corporate office
Richmond, VA, United States
Principals
Arie Kotler
Chairman, President & CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at ARKO Corp.?
Chairman, President, and CEO Arie Kotler leads all acquisition strategy and capital allocation. Kotler founded the firm in 2003 and holds concentrated voting power through a dual-class share structure. He is supported by an in-house M&A team that sources, diligences, and integrates convenience-store and fuel-distribution targets across the U.S.
Does ARKO participate in fund commitments or only direct acquisitions?
ARKO Corp. only makes direct acquisitions. It does not participate in fund commitments or manage third-party capital. The firm uses its own balance sheet, free cash flow, and issuance of public equity to fund the roll-up of regional convenience-store chains and wholesale fuel distributors.
Which sectors does ARKO Corp. explicitly target?
ARKO targets three integrated sectors: company-operated convenience stores, wholesale fuels distribution to dealer sites, and the underlying real estate of retail locations. The firm vertically integrates fuel supply with retail operations to capture margin across the petroleum value chain.
What is ARKO Corp.'s posture on real estate ownership?
ARKO owns the fee-simple real estate at roughly two-thirds of its company-operated locations. This real estate arm reduces exposure to escalating third-party lease costs and provides a hard-asset layer underneath the retail and fuel-distribution operations.
How does the dual-class share structure affect governance?
Founder and CEO Arie Kotler holds a class of super-voting shares that gives him control over major corporate decisions, even as a minority economic owner. This structure insulates the long-term acquisition strategy from activist pressure and reinforces continuity of the existing roll-up thesis.
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