Arko Corp., a prominent player in the fuel marketing industry, has announced plans to prioritize organic growth over acquisitions in the coming year. Chief Executive Arie Kotler revealed this strategic shift during a call with analysts discussing the company’s fourth-quarter financial results.
Strategic Approach
With a history of 25 acquisitions since 2013, including five in the last 18 months, Arko currently operates 1,543 retail stores across over 30 states. Additionally, they manage 298 cardlock sites and supply fuel to 1,825 dealer locations, as highlighted in their Q4 presentation.
Balancing Act
While reaffirming their commitment to continued M&A activity, Kotler emphasized the importance of maximizing the value of existing assets. Despite having over $2 billion in liquidity for potential deals, the company aims to proceed with caution and discipline.
Focus Areas for Growth
Arko’s growth strategy hinges on several key initiatives aimed at driving organic growth:
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Product Categories: By promoting six core product categories—packaged beverages, candy, snacks, and beer— which contributed to 53% of merchandise sales in 2023, the company aims to enhance in-store sales.
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Loyalty Programs: With a current membership base of 2 million, targetting 3 million, the loyalty program has shown a 32% increase in average transaction value compared to non-members. Members are also frequent visitors to Arko stores.
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Food Service Expansion: Introducing a new pizza offering across 1,000 stores, both as a take-and-bake and a hot menu item, where loyalty club members enjoy exclusive discounts. Plans are also in place to introduce ‘pizza lounges’ in select stores.
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Store Development: Leveraging vacant land inherited from recent acquisitions, Arko is initiating the construction of new stores. Three new locations are already in progress this year, with more expected to follow suit.
By embracing these growth-focused strategies and tapping into the potential within its existing framework, Arko Corp. aims to navigate the evolving landscape of the fuel marketing industry with confidence and foresight.
Arko’s Expansion and Financial Performance
Arko is making strategic moves to enhance its offerings and drive growth in the fuel retail sector. The company sold approximately 279 million gallons of fuel in the fourth quarter, marking an impressive 11% increase from the previous year. Throughout 2023, Arko saw a consistent growth trajectory, with fuel sales reaching 1.12 billion gallons, up 11% from the previous year.
Store Remodeling and Expansion Plans
In a recent development, Arko is considering remodeling certain stores to accommodate food service operations. This initiative is part of the company’s efforts to enhance customer experience and diversify its offerings. With discussions underway, Arko may soon unveil a comprehensive remodeling plan later this year.
Performance Insights
Despite the overall uptrend in fuel sales, Arko experienced a decline in same-store retail fuel volumes. The company reported a 7.5% decrease year-over-year in the fourth quarter and a 5.3% decline in 2023 compared to 2022. Similarly, OPIS national average same-store retail fuel sales also showed a negative trend, dropping by 4.7% in Q4 and 3.4% in 2023 according to OPIS DemandPro data.
Financial Overview
In terms of financial performance, Arko witnessed fluctuations in fuel margins. The company’s fuel margin averaged 39.2 cents per gallon in the fourth quarter and 38.8 cents per gallon in 2023, showing a slight decrease compared to the previous year. The national average margin for regular gasoline also experienced a dip, falling to 49.1 cents per gallon in Q4.
On the merchandise front, Arko saw significant revenue growth in Q4, with $446.7 million generated, up $43.6 million from the previous year. This positive trend continued for the full year of 2023, with merchandise revenue reaching $1.84 billion, a substantial increase of $190.4 million compared to 2022. The merchandise margin also saw improvement, climbing approximately 240 basis points in the quarter and 140 basis points for the entire year.
Net Income Performance
Despite strong revenue figures, Arko reported a decline in net income for both the fourth quarter and the full year. In Q4, net income stood at $1.1 million, significantly lower than the $12.9 million recorded a year ago. Similarly, the yearly net income dropped to $34.6 million compared to $72 million in the prior year.
These financial insights provide a comprehensive overview of Arko’s operational performance and growth strategies as it navigates the evolving fuel retail landscape.