All new Prototype Duchess stores feature modern kitchens where fresh food is prepared daily. | Englefield Inc.
As third-generation Ashley Englefield DeWitt takes over as President of Englefield Retail, she is focused on smart growth for Duchess Convenience Stores.
In September, Englefield DeWitt (pictured below) was named to her new role, while her cousin, FW (Will) Englefield V, was named president of Englefield Energy.
Heath, Ohio-based parent company Englefield Inc. will continue to be led by Ashely and Will's fathers, FW (Bill) Englefield IV and Ben Englefield. The company was founded in 1961 by Bill and Ben's father, FW Englefield III.
“I think there’s a lot of pride there,” Englefield DeWitt said of working in the family business. “And when I see what my grandfather started and what my father and uncle have been able to continue over the years, it just feels good to be part of something like that.”
It will also be exciting to see what mark she and Will Englefield will leave on the company, said Englefield DeWitt CSP in a recent interview.
Englefield DeWitt will lead Englefield Retail, which includes 116 Duchess convenience stores, Tic Tac Taco Mexican Kitchen, Taco Bell franchises and Royal Craft Kitchen, a grocer supporting the convenience stores.
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“We've been investing a lot in our existing stores lately and we're looking to grow in different communities. So it's probably just a smart growth of what we're doing and not trying to grow too fast, but doing it right,” Englefield DeWitt said of the mark she believes the new generation will leave on the business.
The chain has recently made major investments in redesigning the interiors and exteriors of nearly a third of its old stores, bringing them up to date with the latest prototype finishes and branding. This includes new foodservice equipment and expanded merchandising to create a modern, welcoming feel for customers, the company said.
The new prototype stores are approximately 5,500 square feet. All new Prototype Duchess stores feature modern kitchens where fresh food is prepared daily. The company said hot and cold food grab-and-go programs are an integral part of the business.
In the past, Englefield has grown through acquisitions – but it's been a while since the last major company, which acquired about 40 Bp locations in 2009 and grew the c-store chain from about 80 to 120 stores.
Acquisitions are still on the table if they fit, Englefield DeWitt said. There are still plenty of options in Ohio, where all but one of the c-stores are located (one is in West Virginia), but they're also eyeing West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana — where major c-store operators like Wawa and RaceTrac have recently expanded, she said.
According to Englefield DeWitt, workforce and competition are among the biggest challenges currently facing the c-store industry.
“Workforce, finding the right people, staffing, it's an ongoing process and will probably always be a challenge for us,” she said. “And I would say, of course, competition.”
In a world where people can order something through an app and have it delivered to their door, it's important to stay relevant, she said.
“Nathan [Arnold, director of marketing at Englefield Inc.] and his team, our marketing teams are really focused on our loyalty programs and how we engage with our customers digitally, as well as the environment and reinvestment in stores,” said Englefield DeWitt. “We need to make it a place where people want to stop. They're coming for gas anyway. Do we have the right products there at the right time? Are our foodservice programs competitive?”
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