Love’s Travel Stops announced it is kicking off its 50th anniversary in 2014 and founder and executive chairman Tom Love announced the company would undergo a record year of building.
“I’m humbled every day by our success,” said Love. “Our unwavering commitment to our customers has been a significant force that’s driven us full-speed into the second 50 years of Love’s. We’ve never shifted focus. We’re growing so that we can meet the growing needs of our customers.”
Love’s says it will continue to expand its Truck Tire Care centers. Facilities will be expanded to accommodate more services. The company is also adding compressed natural gas (CNG) to select fueling stations nationwide this year.
Love’s says its approximate growth rate is 20 new stores per year, however, the company will exceed the norm and open as many as 30 new stores this year.
Love’s will also reach another milestone when it enters into its 40th state -- Maryland. The travel stop in Cumberland, Md. is projected to open this fall. Love’s is also in the midst of reinvesting in its current locations. Several stores will be remodeled and expanded and some will undergo complete raze and rebuilds.
Love’s says its story began in 1964 when Tom and Judy Love leased an abandoned filling station in Watonga, Okla. Over the years, the company has persevered through oil crises and economic downturns, proving the dedication of its employees and, at every turn, that customers value the Love’s difference.
What started as a small operation in Oklahoma with a handful of employees has grown to a network of 312 stores and counting in 39 states with more than 10,000 employees. Love’s remains a family-owned company and was recently ranked ninth in Forbes Magazine’s annual listing of America’s Largest Private Companies.
