Where does Kwik Trip beef come from?

In this article:

Where Does Kwik Trip Beef Come From?

Kwik Trip is committed to providing high-quality beef to its customers, and they source their beef from a select group of trusted suppliers. Kwik Trip beef comes from local Midwestern farms, where the animals are raised in a healthy and humane environment. The company works closely with their suppliers to ensure that the animals are treated with care and respect throughout their lives.

Do you like this article? Yes No

Thank you! Please keep reading.

The beef supplied to Kwik Trip is of the highest quality, and the company takes great care to offer their customers the best product possible. They prioritize sourcing beef from reputable and responsible suppliers who prioritize animal welfare and sustainable farming practices. This dedication to quality and responsibility ensures that Kwik Trip’s beef products are not only delicious but also sourced ethically and sustainably.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kwik Trip Beef

1. how are the cows raised on the midwestern farms.

The cows raised for Kwik Trip beef are raised in open pastures with ample space and access to fresh air and sunlight. They are cared for by experienced farmers who prioritize their well-being.

2. Are the cows given antibiotics or hormones?

Kwik Trip’s suppliers adhere to strict guidelines regarding the use of antibiotics and hormones. They prioritize natural and sustainable farming practices and do not use antibiotics or hormones unless absolutely necessary for the health of the animal.

3. What is the process for selecting and approving Kwik Trip beef suppliers?

Kwik Trip has a rigorous vetting process for selecting and approving beef suppliers. They ensure that their suppliers adhere to the highest standards of animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and product quality.

4. Is Kwik Trip beef sourced from sustainable farms?

Yes, Kwik Trip is dedicated to sourcing beef from sustainable farms that prioritize environmentally friendly practices and ethical treatment of animals. They work closely with their suppliers to ensure that sustainable farming practices are upheld.

5. What quality standards are in place for Kwik Trip beef?

Kwik Trip has stringent quality standards in place for their beef products. They prioritize freshness, taste, and safety throughout the entire sourcing and production process.

6. Are there any additives or preservatives in Kwik Trip beef products?

Kwik Trip beef products do not contain any unnecessary additives or preservatives. The focus is on providing customers with a natural and wholesome product.

7. How does Kwik Trip ensure the ethical treatment of the animals?

Kwik Trip works closely with their suppliers to ensure that the animals are treated with care and respect throughout their lives. They prioritize humane treatment and responsible farming practices.

8. Are Kwik Trip beef products locally sourced?

Yes, Kwik Trip beef products are locally sourced from Midwestern farms. This allows for greater transparency in the sourcing process and supports local farming communities.

9. What steps does Kwik Trip take to ensure the safety of their beef products?

Kwik Trip has rigorous safety measures in place to ensure the safety of their beef products. They adhere to strict guidelines and regulations to maintain the highest standards of food safety.

10. How does Kwik Trip support sustainable farming practices?

Kwik Trip supports sustainable farming practices by sourcing beef from farms that prioritize environmental sustainability and ethical treatment of animals. They work with their suppliers to promote responsible farming methods.

11. Can customers trace the source of their Kwik Trip beef products?

Kwik Trip is committed to transparency, and they provide customers with information about the source of their beef products. Customers can trust that their beef comes from reputable and responsible suppliers.

12. What sets Kwik Trip beef apart from other brands?

Kwik Trip beef stands out due to its commitment to quality, sustainability, and ethical sourcing. Customers can enjoy delicious beef products with the peace of mind that they are supporting responsible farming practices.

Watch this awesome video to spice up your cooking!

  • Can I order food with Cash App?
  • Why is my garlic purple?
  • Can of beef stew?
  • Why does peanut butter make me nauseous?
  • Can you broil pork chops?
  • Can u fry lamb chops?
  • How many calories is titoʼs?
  • Is jennie o ground turkey healthy?

' src=

About Rachel Bannarasee

Rachael grew up in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai until she was seven when her parents moved to the US. Her father was in the Oil Industry while her mother ran a successful restaurant. Now living in her father's birthplace Texas, she loves to develop authentic, delicious recipes from her culture but mix them with other culinary influences. When she isn't cooking or writing about it, she enjoys exploring the United States, one state at a time. She lives with her boyfriend Steve and their two German Shepherds, Gus and Wilber.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Behind the scenes of Kwik Trip’s next-generation bakery

Kwik Trip Buns

Listen to this article:

“Last winter, we got down to about negative 44,” said Eric Fonstad, director of operations for the bread and bun bakery at La Crosse, Wis.-based Kwik Trip. He joked, “We like it when it gets that cold because 40 below will kill off all the germs.”

Here, challenges simply carve the pathway toward success. That’s the Wisconsin mindset, and it’s ever apparent at Kwik Trip, the region’s largest convenience store operator and one of the most vertically integrated in the industry. This family-owned retailer not only operates more than 700 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, but it also completely controls its own bakery, dairy, kitchens and distribution, including a 500-truck fleet.

“Every store gets a delivery every day,” Mr. Fonstad said.

Just nine years after an overhaul on its former bakery plant, Kwik Trip started up production on three new lines — one for bread and two for buns — in a brand new 200,000-square-foot facility that features state-of-the art technology, including a new continuous mixer, record-setting bread makeup and a fully automated gantry system in its warehouse, just to name a few. It’s a testament not only to overall c-store growth but also to the foresight and innovation from a half-century-old company and the can-do attitude of its workforce.

C-store’s vertical trajectory

Much of Kwik Trip’s success can be attributed to two factors: vertical integration and the rise of the c-store.

It’s no secret that consumer eating habits are changing thanks to the mobile lifestyles of young consumers raised on life hacks and instant gratification. Trends like the “snackification” of American eating habits helped evolve these outlets from gas stations to grab-and-go options to the one-stop shops they are today.

In fact, a recent article from CNN Business cited data from the National Association of Convenience Stores that indicated c-stores have increased sales by 30% in the past decade with a 28% increase of store openings since the turn of the century. The article included Kwik Trip as one of the top c-store chains in the country in part for its food service offerings such as sandwiches and take-home dinners.

Kwik Trip’s status as a c-store innovator should come as no surprise because the company has always been an early adopter: Kwik Trip began in Eau Claire, Wis., in 1965 when, according to CNN Business, there were only 5,000 ­c-stores in the entire ­country. (Today, there are more than 150,000.)

Keeping with that innovative ­attitude, Kwik Trip got into vertical integration in the early 1980s, first with its dairy operation, and then followed in 1985 with baked foods. It’s been a key factor in the company’s success ever since.

“When you talk about vertical integration, that means we make it, we ship it and we sell it,” Mr. Fonstad said. “Those are the three key ingredients, and then you have total control over the quality of products you’re sending out to the stores. We don’t pay a middleman to make it or ship it for us, but quality plays the biggest part.”

In the earlier days of its vertical integration, Kwik Trip was making cake and yeast-raised donuts along with a few other baked foods in a space it shared with the distribution center. Sales grew, and in 1988, the company built a dedicated baking facility. In 2009, it reconstructed the building, and, in addition to sweet goods, it produced bread and buns on two shifts until 2018 when that production moved into the new plant, leaving the original bakery dedicated to sweet goods production.

“We knew about two years before that we were heading for capacity, and we started planning,” Mr. Fonstad recalled. At that point, the company worked with Wieser Brothers General Contractor in La Crescent, Minn., for construction of the new building on the land Kwik Trip had reserved for growth on its roughly 120-acre campus. Construction began in 2017, and production was up and running in the fall of the following year.

“This plant was built to support four times the volume we had in 2016, and it’s positioned well to support that,” Mr. Fonstad said of the fully automated operation.

Taking baby steps

While Kwik Trip is no stranger to technology, the company knew it would have to step up its game to support the growth trajectory it’s currently on.

To meet that goal, Kwik Trip strategically planned its move. For starters, the operation would go from two shifts on a shared line — buns during the day and bread at night — to one shift with bread and buns being produced simultaneously on three new makeup lines.

Making that switch required careful overlap by first splitting the day in half and moving only bun production to the new bakery.

“We did the same thing with bread,” Mr. Fonstad said. “But we ­strategically started up the bun line first because we knew it would challenge us the most. We wanted the OEMs and our coworkers to put the most energy into that part of the start-up.”

By doing this, the bakery never missed a beat in production, and every store received its order on time, every day. It’s another testament to the company’s vertical integration. After all, coworkers are not just in the Kwik Trip bakery. They’re also the folks working in each of those 700 stores, and the bakery has a responsibility to provide them with the product they need.

“We had to plan inventory, so we never stopped producing,” said Dan Walters, bakery R.&D. manager. “We never shorted one package of buns to stores.”

Mr. Fonstad credits the relationship with vendors and the commitment from coworkers for that success.

“Without our OEMs, this process would have been a lot harder,” he said. “But the equipment vendors did a great job helping us get this plant started. A lot of credit goes to them, but also a lot of credit goes to the coworkers on the floor. They paid attention and learned from the OEMs how to run the new equipment.”

Bigger, better, faster

Once the new plant was fully operational, automation was only the beginning. New and upgraded technology enabled the bakery to crank out more product at higher quality than it had experienced before, and that’s the key to sustaining growth.

“Uptime was critical for us,” Mr. Fonstad said. “We asked all our OEMs, ‘What’s your uptime?’ And we checked references. If someone was using AMF or Reading or Zeppelin, we wanted to hear from them.”

For example, raw ingredients are now managed through a Zeppelin Systems USA PRISMA ingredient handling ­system that automates everything from a sprinkle or dash of minor ingredients in the bakery’s J-Bin ingredient ­storage room to bulk items such as flour housed in one of two 224,000-lb silos or sugar from the 80,000-lb silo, all from Zeppelin.

Eric Reimer, bread line supervisor, said the automated ingredient handling not only streamlines the operation but also mitigates the potential for human error. Through the PRISMA system, Mr. Reimer can view the status of all raw ingredients on one of two laptops.

“We want to make sure our products are moving through the pipe,” Mr. Reimer said. “You can’t see a lot, so you need to be able to trust the system.”

With four main common hoppers and 16 individual 800-lb hoppers, along with a weight-loss system that has two load cells that talk to each other, this automation ensures that all ingredients stay on spec.

“If we’re requesting 120 lbs of something, we want exactly 120 lbs,” Mr. Reimer said. “We don’t want anything over or under a parameter because it will hinder the quality of the product. That was the biggest thing we needed here. We needed to eliminate any chance of human error, and we did that with this level of automation. We set parameters, and we can’t move on to execute the product until those parameters are met.”

From there, ingredients are sent to either the “bun side” or “bread side” of the bakery.

“This plant was built to support four times the volume we had in 2016, and it’s positioned well to support that.” Eric Fonstad, Kwik Trip

On the bread side, three 2,000-lb AMF vertical mixers feed one AMF makeup line that produces a variety of bread loaves at an astonishing rate for 1-lb loaves: 225 per minute.

“We broke the record for AMF,” Mr. Reimer proclaimed. “Their old record was around 209, and I said, ‘We can go faster than that.’”

The three-pocket divider cuts 75 per minute per pocket, and dough balls are weighed by a BSI system that rejects any that are out of spec and reintroduces the dough back into the process. In all, the operation produces around 18,000 lbs of bread per hour.

“It’s pretty impressive when all of a sudden you see how many loaves of bread we made,” Mr. Reimer said.

Meanwhile, on the bun side, Zeppelin dosing systems feed an Exact Mixing from Reading Bakery Systems continuous mixer, a technology first for Kwik Trip. Flour and minor ingredients come together in a Brabender premixer at a constant rate before feeding into the mixer.

“One big advantage of the continuous mixer is the shorter mix time,” Mr. Fonstad said. “It’s meant for long runs, and we probably only changeover three or four times based on demand. The other advantage is the consistency. We get the same, consistent dough coming out all the time. You maintain efficiency and quality with a continuous mix.”

The new technology was not without its learning curve, but thanks to a good relationship with Reading, it was a short one.

“We were accustomed to barrel mixing, so when we were first introduced to continuous, we needed some education,” Mr. Fonstad said. “We spent a lot of time learning how to run it. They had a lot of in-house supervision for us and trained us on how to use the mixer as far as moisture content and mix time. We developed all our ­recipes with Reading, and they did a great job with us.”

The mixer feeds two AMF Accupan bun systems that produce 1,600 buns a minute. Each divider makes and deposits them into a Bundy Baking Solutions pan. The pans are fed into the makeup area by a Workhorse Automation system.

“We run all our bun products at full rate,” Mr. Fonstad said. “None of them are at half or even three-quarter rate. We’re running them at the full rate the system was designed to run.”

With the three new lines and the efficiency of the continuous mixer, Kwik Trip makes more bread and buns in one shift per day — instead of two at the old plant — and creates a better work-life balance for coworkers.

“Now, they work four 10-hour shifts,” Mr. Fonstad said. “We ­eliminated overtime, which is a big benefit.”

Going bigger, better and faster is all about doing more with less.

This article is an excerpt from the February 2020 issue of  Baking & Snack . To read the entire feature on Kwik Trip, click here .

Related Articles

Slideshow: neri’s bakery products prepares for next generation of growth, kwik trip’s formula for perfecting production, the novel approach behind main street gourmet’s employee recruitment strategy, featured webinars, state of the snack industry, current issues & directories.

Baking Business

Popular Articles

Ab mauri acquires food blending company romix foods, finding the right fortification fit for a product, report: mars moving to acquire kellanova, pepsico sued in dispute over flamin’ hot cheetos inventor, popular galleries.

Enzyme deveopment

IFT FIRST 2024 E-S

Highlights from IFT FIRST held  July 14-17 in Chicago.

Aak slideshow

IFT FIRST 2024 A-D

Kwik Trip serves 11.5 million customers a week at 872 stores. A by-the-numbers look at how that happens

Portrait of Karl Ebert

Kwik Trip's meteoric growth is hardly a secret − the La Crosse-based convenience store chain has doubled its locations in less than 10 years and now operates 872 stores in six states and employs about 38,000 people.

The company welcomes 11.5 million customers a week ‒ Kwik Trip likes to call them guests ‒ many of whom are regular customers drawn by the company's consistency across locations, its savvy social media presence and the friendliness of its employees.

Behind that success is a well-oiled machine, one that's responsible for the daily presence of Glazers and a host of Kwickery sweet treats, Nature's Touch milk and ice cream, the Hot Spot, ready to eat meals, salads and all the other items that help to set Kwik Trip apart from its competitors.

Almost 8,000 people work at Kwik Trip's 140-acre food production campus in La Crosse, producing those items and delivering them six days a week.

Here's a look at some of the numbers behind the operation:

A dairy that's more than just milk

About 15 trucks a day arrived at Kwik Trip's dairy last year from farms that are all within 150 miles of La Crosse, bringing in 4.8 million pounds of raw milk a day. The milk is pasteurized and homogenized five days a week.

Last year, Kwik Trip stores sold 25 million gallons of milk, but that's just one product made by the company's 150 dairy employees.

Fat removed from the milk is used to produce 8,000 gallons of ice cream a day in 24 rotating flavors.

The dairy also produces and packages non-dairy bottled drinks including orange juice and iced tea.

A bottle factory with a secret

Kwik Trip's DIY approach to food production and transportation includes a bottle factory within the 220,000-square-foot dairy that makes a range of bottles from pints to gallons.

Last year the company made more than 65 million jugs and bottles.

Each includes an imprinted reproduction of a smiley face that former CEO Don Zietlow used to draw when he announced employees profit sharing payments at the company's annual meetings. They can be hard to find on many bottles, but pop out readily on the bottoms of chocolate and strawberry

Millions of Kwik Trip Glazers

The Kwikery Bake shop cranked out about 45 million Glazer doughnuts in 2023. One way to picture that: Laid out end to end that could make a doughnut highway extending coast to coast.

Each box is hand-packed because the doughnuts are too fragile to be handled by machines.

And that's just one part of the story of Kwik Trip's sweets bakery. Other products made by the bakery's 320 employees include:

  • Up to 275,000 Persians, Bismarks, and Long Johns a day.
  • Up to 250,000 cookies a day
  • 5 million cinnamon rolls a year

The sweets bakery is just one baking operation

Kwik Trip has a separate bakery for bread and rolls, where 117 people make 225 loaves of bread a minute and an astonishing 1,600 buns a minute.

That adds up to more than 170 million buns and 15 million packages of bread a year.

10 million pizzas a year is just a start

Pizza is just one of a host of items produced in Kwik Trip's commissary, where about 700 employees make burritos, take-home meals, salads, sandwiches, and ready-to-eat items for the stores' Hot Spots.

They also make Cheese Mountain pizzas - lots of them. Last year, the total was 10 million pies produced on a line that can make up to 50,000 pizzas a day. There's space and a plan to double that.

There will be no burrito shortage at Kwik Trip

A recent expansion of the company's burrito line doubled its capacity to about 90,000 burritos a day.

Hundreds of drivers deliver fresh food and more daily

Delivering fresh food, frozen products and everything else to stores six days a week means trucks and drivers, and Kwik Trip's got them.

Keeping the stores stocked is the work of 600 drivers who deliver products to retail locations with a fleet of 350 tractors and 250 trailers.

Not all of Kwik Trip's food and drinks make it to the customer

It's not uncommon for food businesses to sometimes have surpluses and Kwik Trip is no exception.

The company's retail operations partner with 14 regional food banks that received about 4 million pounds of food in 2023 and more than 20 million pounds of food since 2011.

Female retail coworker

Our coworkers. They’re the reason for our growth and success. Without their energy, passion, commitment, and hard work, Kwik Trip wouldn’t be where it is today. It’s why we’re proud to take care of our coworkers in the same way they take care of our guests and our stores. So, in addition to providing a fun and fast-paced work environment with flexible scheduling and advancement opportunities, we’re proud to offer benefits and perks second to none. Afterall, they earn it and deserve it.

Benefits available for all coworkers

40% Profit Sharing

Here's a list of other great benefits all our coworkers receive

  • Get paid every day through Kwik Pay
  • Kwik Trip Family Scholarships and Professional Development Program
  • Bi-weekly car wash (Retail locations only)*
  • 50% off Discounted Lunch (Retail locations only)
  • Free coffee, soda, and piece of fruit while you work
  • Dental, vision, disability, and life insurance plans
  • Cancer, accident and critical illness supplemental plans
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Pet Insurance
  • Vacation benefits and holiday premium pay
  • Premium pay for 3rd shift hours (Retail and several Support Center departments)
  • Opportunity for wage increases after 90 days and annually for hourly coworkers. Five months and annually for salaried coworkers.
  • 4-week paid sabbatical at 20 years of service
  • Health Plan options for part time and full time coworkers
  • Adoption Assistance Program

Additional Benefits For Full-Time Coworkers

  • Ability to choose the health plan that suits your needs
  • Wellness Program: option to lower health plan premiums
  • Transparency of Claims
  • Supportive and informative resources through our Care Navigation Services
  • Virtual Care
  • Smart Healthcare Consumer Incentives
  • Tax savings opportunities through Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for medical and dependent care
  • Kwik Trip funds your life insurance
  • Disability pay for you when life’s bumps get in the way 
  • Paid time off while you are sick
  • Bereavement pay
  • Working with people you love while making a difference in people’s lives
  • Gaining a work family

' srcset=

'See ya next time': How a neighborhood grocery store grew into today's Kwik Trip phenomenon

What's so special about kwik trip, and why do so many people love this midwestern gas station and convenience store.

Design by Brooke Eberle, producer, Wisconsin Digital Optimization Team

There’s nothing more Wisconsin than a Kwik Trip. 

That is, until you take a look at the fan base and following that turned a convenience store into a phenomenon.

Fifty-seven years after the first Kwik Trip opened in Eau Claire, Kwik Trip has grown from that one neighborhood grocery store to a statewide obsession with its own personality across social media platforms.

The company has  Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , TikTok , YouTube and Snapchat  accounts. It even has a Spotify  account with more than 130 followers who can listen to the company’s "Kwik Trip Checkout" or "Chicken Jammies" public playlists. 

There are multiple fan groups on Facebook, including Wisconsin Kwik Trip Enthusiast Club, Kwik Trip Enthusiasts Club, and even a Kwik Trip Missed Connections group. Some fans have had photo shoots, even on their wedding days, at a Kwik Trip. It has become more than a store; it's a vibe.

The Wisconsin Kwik Trip Enthusiast Club, for example, was created two years ago and is not affiliated with the company. It has more than 94,000 members and dozens of posts daily, ranging from photos of favorite Kwik Trip treats, questions, memes and more.

So, how did Kwik Trip grow into a Midwestern phenomenon with a social media influencer status?

RELATED:  This Kwik Trip super fan made it her 2021 goal to visit Wisconsin's 457 Kwik Trips. She did it.

RELATED:  Valentine's Day: Check out these super Wisconsin love stories, from a Kwik Trip wedding photo shoot to brewery ceremonies

Keeping up with the Kwik Trips

Keeping up with the Kwik Trips

Kendra Lasack, Kwik Trip’s digital content supervisor, said social media platforms have allowed the Kwik Trip team to bring the brand to life.

“It’s incredible how much we’re able to learn from our fans every day, just by engaging and listening to the conversations on social,” she said.

Lasack said the company has shifted its digital marketing strategy from focusing on the products to focusing on the people and developing a brand voice to bring a more human level to the company’s content. 

She said the company's success on social media reflects Kwik Trip’s mission to treat others as they would like to be treated. The team listens, takes time to reply and has fun with its followers.

And people have responded. Members of the social media fan groups talk about the company, highlight their favorite products, post original memes and share Kwik Trip’s content.

When USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin asked members of the Wisconsin Kwik Trip Enthusiast Club Facebook group what they like most about Kwik Trip, more than 400 people responded, including dozens of employees who are part of the group.

Their answers ranged from clean bathrooms to the food options and how friendly the employees are. Many like the "see ya next time" farewell as they leave a store. Fans from other states said they stock up on Kwik Trip goodies while they're in the area, as they can't find anything like it anywhere else.

Carrie Marie is from Yorkville, Illinois and travels to Friendship often. When she and her family are in Wisconsin, her two teenage boys have to stop at Kwik Trip twice a day, every day. She said her family has Kwik Trip hoodies and three Big Buddy cups in case they cross the border unexpectedly. Her children receive Kwik Trip gas cards from their grandparents.

They make you feel like a person in there and not just another customer.

Jaimee Arnold from Appleton said she loves Kwik Trip because of the company's high standards for cleanliness, someone is always willing to help, and guests can find a wide variety of "grab and go" options for whatever they're craving.

"They make you feel like a person in there and not just another customer," she said.

Emily Jean Weger from Watertown said she's been going to a Kwik Trip store since she was little, and now she takes her kids to the same store.

"There are employees who've been there the whole time and say 'I remember your mom when she was your age and smaller,'" she said. "That makes Kwik Trip a special place to me."

Take a Kwik scroll online

Take a Kwik scroll online

Fans also love the company's social media presence.

"Their social media person is phenomenal," said Kwik Trip fan Leah McDonald from Waukesha. "Really connects with the consumers."

Recently, when Kwik Trip ran out of coffee cups, the brand took to social media, saying another gas station took the cups . The problem was later explained as a supply chain issue . In lieu of disposable cups, Kwik Trip encouraged guests to bring their own cups for a 99-cent refill of any size, suggesting dozens of options ranging from a wheelbarrow, blender and fish bowl to a toilet plunger, Dumbledore's hat and a gas can.

The post was shared more than 17,000 times and collected more than 18,000 reactions and 3,700 comments.

"Great way to make lemonade from lemons," Christine Garchow from Portage commented on the post. "Thanks Kwik Trip!"

Wilson the volleyball and Forrest Gump's chocolate box both made the list, prompting a comment from Jimmie Kaska from Cadott:

"Did Tom Hanks steal the cups? Is that why we're using his volleyball and chocolate box to load up on coffee?"

Kwik Trip responded with a Tom Hanks gif.

Three days later, Kwik Trip posted a follow-up post to clarify some additional details.

"We didn't expect a post about cups to go viral," the post was captioned .

One of the frequently-asked questions was how long the refill deal would last.

"(I don't know) I just do social media," the answer stated. "At least a few weeks ... our cup guy is doing his best."

As to whether people could really bring in a wheelbarrow, the answer is no.

A customer fills his cup with cappuccino oat the Kwik Trip store in Plover.

"Please no," said the follow-up, posted the day after the Super Bowl. "We know the initial post was a bit ridiculous, but it was cheaper than a commercial spot during the football game last night. Feel free to get creative with your mug, just make sure it's clean and safe for hot liquid. Also, let's not waste ... if you pour, you better drink."

Paige Forde, Kwik Trip’s social media specialist, said interacting with followers is extremely important to Kwik Trip.

“We love making our fans know they’re being heard, whether that means sharing their content, interacting with them, or passing these social listening trends forward to the appropriate department,” she said.

Some fans have captured their love of Kwik Trip on their wedding day, holding photo shoots both outside and inside of a store.

“We absolutely love seeing this content,” Forde said. “It’s incredible that so many of our loyal guests take the time to make a special ‘photo op’ trip to our stores during such a special day.”

Other interactions have included fans sending unusual direct messages to Kwik Trip’s social media accounts, and sometimes those fans screenshot the messages and share them.

Forde said those interactions provide opportunities for content, and they’re great ways to engage fans.

“The majority of the time, we go along with it,” Forde said. “I mean, it isn’t too often you can (direct message) a brand something obscure and they take the time to respond. It’s fun, it’s personal, and definitely gets people talking.”

It all started with one store

It all started with one store

Kwik Trip started as a neighborhood grocery store, opening its first location in 1965 in Eau Claire. The second store opened in La Crosse in 1971.

“It was a humble beginning with painted letters cut out of plywood,” Kwik Trip owner Don Zietlow said. “These were all neighborhood grocery stores, and none of them sold fuel.”

Smith & Co. Candles is partnering with Kwik Trip to sell Glazer-scented candles online.

The company opened a corporate office in La Crosse in 1973, and, by 1986, it had grown to 100 stores. Kwik Trip opened its 800th store in December and, according to the Wisconsin Technology Council, has nearly $7 billion in annual sales.

The success Kwik Trip found over the years has not been by accident. Zietlow, who is still the company's president and CEO, points to two main ingredients that contributed to Kwik Trip’s success: the right people and the ability to have products that guests want and are looking for and being able to offer them at a good deal.

Zietlow said Kwik Trip is able to offer quality products at good prices because of the company’s “vertical integration.” The company’s Glazer doughnuts, for example, are made in Kwik Trip’s own bakery, they’re shipped on Kwik Trip’s trucks, and they’re sold in Kwik Trip stores.

Be our guest

Be our guest

Zietlow said Kwik Trip’s employees set the company apart from the competition.

“People are our number one asset," he said. "There’s more to a job than pay. You need to feel like you are making a difference. That’s our mission, and that’s what our coworkers do every day.”

There’s more to a job than pay. You need to feel like you are making a difference. That’s our mission, and that’s what our coworkers do every day.

In the middle of a pandemic and worker shortages, many companies have had a hard time finding and retaining employees, but Kwik Trip hasn’t felt those hardships as much as some other businesses. Zietlow said the company and family is committed to their coworkers, and Kwik Trip shares 40% of its pre-tax profits.

And employees have felt that sentiment, saying they feel valued and respected at their jobs.

Kwik Trip employee Keith DeLabio from Kenosha said in the Wisconsin Kwik Trip Enthusiast Club Facebook group that he appreciates the 40% profit share, and that Zietlow calls his employees his coworkers and wears a Kwik Trip uniform every day instead of a suit and tie.

Denise Royea from Oconomowoc said the company treats all of its coworkers as family, and they're open with them about all of the ins and outs of the company, from where new stores will open to the the company's faults and areas for improvement. She said between informative meetings and employee programs, no one gets left behind.

The company operates under the core values of honesty and integrity, respect, excellence, humility, innovation and work ethic.

“Our coworkers earn every penny,” Zietlow said. “We can’t thank them enough for the hard work they do, day in and day out.”

Michael James Luckow from Manitowoc said when he was first hired at Kwik Trip, the company told him people aren't customers, they're guests. While it was a strange concept at first, he quickly understood the distinction.

"They are guests in our store, and we take pride in them having a great experience, just as anyone would having guests over the holidays," he said.

Customer Coryn Burette from New London said Kwik Trip always has the nicest employees, even the ones working overnight shifts.

"They go above and beyond to make my visit nice and wonderful," she said.

Hunter Karraker from Shawano said a Kwik Trip employee knew she was pregnant before she did, after she had gone in for shakes every night for a week. Karraker said she told the employee she had been craving them, and the employee asked if she was pregnant.

"I got a test and sure enough, it came back positive," she said.

Mary Knuth stocks fresh breakfast sandwiches and burritos at the Kwik Trip store in Plover.

She said the workers began to recognize her, and when they would see her come in, they'd make sure there was fresh food out for her on the hot spot, a display where customers can find breakfast sandwiches, pizza slices and other warm food options that are ready to eat. Now that Karraker has had her baby, she said an employee asked her how they were doing.

"They definitely make me feel special," she said. "Kwik Trip is the best."

Some people love Kwik Trip so much, it becomes a birthday theme. Mitzie Murdock Klozotsky told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin she owns a custom baking business in Kaukauna, and a customer recently ordered a  Kwik Trip cake for a 40th birthday .

"Needless to say, Kwik Trip has a following unlike anything else when a milestone like a 40th birthday is celebrated with a Kwik Trip themed cake," she said.

Midwest is best

Midwest is best

One of the most relatable parts of Kwik Trip is its roots in the Midwest.

“The majority of our content is based around what people think about our brand and relatable Midwest situations,” Forde said.

So, when there's a chance to merge some Midwest personalities, Kwik Trip is on it. The list of projects the Kwik Trip team works on is never-ending, and there are always new challenges that the team brainstorms in meetings.

Some of those projects have included partnerships through a brand ambassador program Kwik Trip started in 2019. Kwik Trip has worked with a few Midwest social media personalities like comedian Charlie Berens and Green Bay Packers players Rashan Gary and Kurt Benkert.

You can find the Berens Alexander at Kwik Trip for a limited time.

In 2020, Kwik Trip's team started brainstorming ideas to promote the company's Fresh Blends menu of smoothies, frozen lemonades, refreshers, iced coffees, cold brew coffee and shakes. In November, the company partnered with Berens and premiered a Berens Alexander on a "secret menu." It's a combination of caramel, chocolate, cream and cold brew.

“We’ve had the opportunity to work with truly amazing, authentic and talented people through this initiative and look forward to growing this network to reach even more unique audiences,” Forde said.

Kwik Trip is an influencer offline, too

Kwik Trip is an influencer offline, too

The company is also committed to helping the communities it calls home. Kwik Trip donates to various community organizations and efforts, and it sponsors youth sports teams, large events and more. It also helps groups with fundraising options like car washes and scrip gift cards and more. It even encourages grade school students to read more with Kwik Book, a program that offers a free slice of pizza or a garden salad for each student who reaches a reading goal set by their teacher.

Many fans on Facebook said their favorite thing about the company was the donations and efforts to help people in need.

Chelsea Hall from Janesville said when she lost everything in a house fire two years ago, someone submitted her name for a donation program through Kwik Trip in Milton. She said it wasn't a lot, but every little bit made a huge difference.

"They support Special Olympics and are at almost every state tournament handing out water, Gatorade, fruit and cookies," said Sue Weber Dushek from Milwaukee. "The interaction between the employees and the athletes is an amazing thing to watch."

Gail Marie Benedict from Loyal said Kwik Trip came to her small town when the community had lost its grocery store, and Kwik Trip filled that gap, helped the community and brought jobs to the area.

Kwik Trip has filled community needs, too, especially in smaller areas with less access to grocery stores and other food options. Many fans said their Kwik Trip serves as their grocery store. Some said Kwik Trip opened in their area and filled a need when a grocery store had closed.

Kay Grosinske, who now lives in Texas, said while she misses Kwik Trip, she regularly visits the store when she's back home visiting family. She said her hometown got two new stores recently, and the company has donated a lot of food to the local community help center.

"Those donations alone spread a lot of love," she said.

Where do Kwik Trips come from?

Where do Kwik Trips come from?

Have you ever wondered how a Kwik Trip is born?

Dax Connely, Kwik Trip's real estate manager, said the company's real estate team chooses new locations based on an area’s population, traffic volume near a site and its accessibility, and more. The company is always looking to open in new markets throughout Wisconsin, he said.

Kwik Trip tore down the Menzer Glass building in Sheboygan in 2021 to make room for a $3 million expansion of its Calumet Drive location.

The look of a Kwik Trip varies. Some are built from the ground up. Others have evolved from other stores. Connely said Kwik Trip has many stores that the company acquired over the years that don’t look like the typical Kwik Trip, but the company’s goal is to have its sites look similar. Locations may have their own uniqueness because of the landscape or land size, however, he said.

The newest Kwik Trip stores look a bit different than the long-standing sites. Connely said the  “Generation 3” stores have a new color schemes are larger at 9,000 square feet, and have more of a small grocery feel.

Kwik Trip has plans to grow, both inside and outside of Wisconsin. Connely said the company has plans to extend into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and also into the eastern edges of North and South Dakota in a couple of years.

When it comes to expansion plans, Kwik Trip fans approve.

"I just think Kwik Trip is the finest chain of gas stations in the entire United States of America," said customer Andrea Tamara from Sheboygan.

Contact Caitlin at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda .

TMJ4 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Made in Wisconsin: Behind the scenes of Kwik Trip's headquarters in La Crosse

how does kwik trip make their food

It is rare for a convenience store chain to have millions of followers on social media, but maybe not if that chain is La Crosse, Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip.

The store has a large and cult-like following that grows each time they open a new store. TMJ4 News was granted a rare look behind the scenes at the company’s headquarters, where decisions are not only made, but also a lot of the food that is sold at the more than 860 stores across the Midwest.

The 140-acre campus is comprised of several buildings, with more than 3,000 employees. Kwik Trip first entered the La Crosse area in 1971, after opening their first store in Eau Claire 6 years earlier.

In 1973 the corporate headquarters was established, and it has continued to grow ever since.

“Kwik Trip is part of Wisconsin and I think that part of that is Wisconsin is proud of Kwik Trip" says John McHugh, the company’s Vice President of External Communications.

The company is still owned by one of the original partners that started it back in the 60s. Don Zietlow has since stepped down as CEO, but the company is still run by his son Scott. Training Manager, and 3rd generation owner by marriage, Carl Rick, says Don instilled what Kwik Trip is all about early on in his time with the company.

“The thing I heard from Don more often than anything else is 'Carl, it's such a simple business model. If we take care of our coworkers, then our coworkers will take care of our guests and we'll be successful well into the future.'”

The model has worked well for the company, which plans to open even more stores in 2024.

Employees at Kwik Trip are known as “coworkers” and all 38,000 of them across the company share in the profits. Last year more than $208 million was dispersed in profit sharing.

“We're just a beloved company, we do the right thing for our guests and everybody knows that,” says McHugh.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the Kwik Trip headquarters is the amount of product that is being made around the clock to supply stores.

One of the most popular is the “Glazers” donuts. Glazers first hit stores in 2003 after more than a year of research and development.

“We had a challenge from the management to see if we could make a Krispy Kreme-ish donut” says Dan Walters, the Research and Development Manager of the KT bakery.

Kwik Trip glazers

The team playing with recipes took advantage of open fryers during the overnight shift to perfect the donut. Today, the company makes about 45 million glazers a year in the sweets bakery. That’s nearly 400 a minute being pumped out.

Not too far away in the bakery, 1,600 buns and 225 loaves of bread are made a minute, packaged and shipped to the stores.

Kwik Trip bakery goods

You’ll need something to wash down those glazers. Not to worry - Kwik Trip also bottles its own milk - 65 million jugs and bottles in 2023.

Kwik Trip milk

Just steps away, up to 8,000 gallons a day of Nature’s Touch Ice Cream is made. Their most popular flavor is Vanilla.

The campus also has some places you might not expect for a convenience store. There is a test kitchen where many of the recipes for food are created and scaled for large production. KT also employs a full time Food Protection Lab where they test for anything that may contaminate food.

Kwik Trip dough

Kwik Trip says they plan to continue to expand in the coming years. They currently operate stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan under Kwik Trip and Kwik-Star brands among others.

You can also meet the woman behind some of Kwik Trip's viral social media posts here .

It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.

Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.

Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip

Report a typo

Sign up for our new TMJ4 Morning Headlines Newsletter and get the latest news and weather delivered straight to your inbox.

Now signed up to receive the morning headlines newsletter..

Positively Milwaukee Awards Veolia 480X360.png

Nominate your unsung hero for a Positively Milwaukee Award

  • What's Hot:
  • See Billie Eilish in L.A.
  • Rochester News
  • Dunken & Carly's Survey
  • In Case You Missed It
  • Seize the Deal
  • Townsquare Cares
  • Hall Pass Cash

106.9 KROC

Power Rankings: The 10 Best Foods You Can Get at Kwik Trip

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter

“Kwik Trip has the best fried chicken in town.” I’ve heard that from several people in Rochester, and you know what - they might be right. The La Crosse-based convenience store chain has worked hard to elevate what people think of “gas station food” and they’ve done a great job.

Full disclosure: Kwik Trip did not pay for this article. I'm just a fan. Not like a super fan that travels to all of their locations or starts a Facebook fan page , but I frequent the convenience store a lot so I think I'm qualified to speak on the quality of their food. KT has several delicious items. Below you’ll see my power rankings - The Top-10 Foods You Can Get at KT. Think my list wrong? Am I missing something? Open our App to chat with me.

The Fried Chicken

The chicken is hot and fresh and it's super convenient for those nights that you're too busy to cook. Plus they have delicious sides like mashed potatoes and gravy.

I love the Karuba Gold Hazelnut latte. KT actually has a bunch of different flavors of coffee and they're always fresh and full of flavor. Their Ice Coffee is really good too.

The glazers are great - they sold 32-million of them last year -  but my favorite is the blueberry dunker.

Sausage Egg Croissant

Their breakfast sandwiches are tasty and they have hash browns too.

Nature's Touch Ice Cream is the best! It's all made with local milk at their facility in La Crosse and they have a ton of flavors to choose from.

I'm starting to kick myself because I think their pizza needs to be higher on the list. I cook mine on my pellet grill and it always comes out amazing.

The BBQ Rib Sandwich

Burgers, chicken sandwiches, bbq sandwiches they've got a bunch of hot sandwich options and they're all pretty tasty. The sandwich below is the one I prefer.

Take-Home Meals

These come in at number 8 because I can't offer an honest opinion on all of them. I have only tried one, the meatloaf, and it was really good.

Kwik Trip has saved me the hassle of running to the grocery store on numerous occasions. Avocados, onions, potatoes, bananas, etc. - they have a ton of fresh produce.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Now, that it is warming up I probably won't have KT soup for a while but it certainly hits the spot on a cold day. The broccoli cheese is fantastic!

So what do you think? A co-worker is arguing that KT's potato wedges should have made the top ten. Open our app to chat and let me know what your favorite food from Kwik Trip is.

50 Famous Brands That No Longer Exist

More from 106.9 kroc-fm.

Wisconsin Couple Celebrates Engagement with Kwik Trip-Themed Photoshoot

Little Blue Backpack

chase what's fun.

Minnesota , MN Day Trips , More Updates , Road Trips · July 29, 2021

The Best Kwik Trip Food for Road Trips

Kwik Trip is the best gas station in America. Yep, I said it. The very best. From the Kwik Trip food options to the kind employees and clean facilities, it’s always a great place to stop. Not to mention, always a wonderful customer experience.

And when you’re on a long drive, Kwik Trip stores offer everything you need. Especially when it comes to food. Hot, real food; not those shriveled-up hot dogs that have been sitting there for hours. We’re talking donuts from their own bakery. Snacks on snacks whether you’re looking to indulge or remain healthy. Even a grocery store section with fresh produce!

Kwik Trip foods are perfect for your road trips and vacations across the Midwest.

how does kwik trip make their food

Note: Kwik Trip is Wisconsin’s favorite gas station so you are going to find them ALL OVER Wisconsin. There are also plenty throughout Minnesota. And a few in Illinois and small towns of Upper Michigan as they start to expand!

Let’s get into all of the best Kwik Trip food options:

The glazer — a kwik trip staple.

Did you know Kwik Trip owns its own bakery in La Crosse, Wisconsin? YEP. Which means their baked goods are some of the best. Enter: The Glazer. Perhaps the most exciting breakfast, snack, dinner (whatever!) at Kwik Trip.

The Glazer Donut is fresh, fluffy, sweet, and only $0.99. Grab the plain (my personal favorite), chocolate-drizzled, or white-drizzled, and savor every bite of the vanilla-glazed goodness!

  • Approximately 24,000 donuts are created in just one hour!
  • There is a glazer-scented candle. (Obviously, it smells good lol.)
  • The Glazer originated in 2003 and was named by a Kwik Trip employee who submitted the idea to the marketing department.

WOW. Quite the section dedicated to a donut. Try one if you haven’t! It’s worth every calorie.

kwik trip glazer

Pro Tip: Pair with a Karuba Coffee.

Their Karuba Gold machines will make all of your favorites; Lattes, Mochas, Chai Tea, Americanos, Iced Coffee, Hot Chocolate, and so much more. There are flavored syrups, the same ones as your favorite coffee shops, so you can be your own barista. And to finish it off perfectly, add whip cream, drizzle, and toppings. Not only can you make it exactly how you like it, but you’ll save some money!

Kwik Trip Burritos

One of my favorite things about Kwik Trip food is their hot options. It’s not your average (gross) gas station food. It’s actual real food and always hits the spot. And the burritos…oh man, the burritos. They are my favorite Kwik Trip purchase. Even more than the Glazer…

  • Beef & Bean Burrito: The ultimate option. But rare. If this is available, grab it!
  • Chicken Salsa Rice Burrito: Very delish. My second favorite. Beef wins through because the flavor in this one has a hint of sweetness.
  • Sausage Breakfast Burrito: Solid. My only complaint is the liquid cheese. Still good though.
  • Pizza Burrito: If I’ve had too many beers, I really like this one. Lol.

kwik trip food on the heater

Kwik Trip Chicken Sandwiches

No burritos? That’s all right. Because chicken sandwiches are always available. Go with the regular or spicy and you will never be disappointed. Grab two then head over to the condiments and doctor them up. Lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard, whatever you like is there to make your meal a little more hearty!

chicken sandwiches best kwik trip food

Kwik Trip Brand Chips

Love Doritos? Grab the Kwik Trip brand version —for cheaper! There’s also sour cream and onion, tortilla, or potato. They are always fresh and go perfectly with your chicken sandwich! (Ask my husband, this meal is a delicacy…)

Omg if there’s anything I literally cannot deny myself, it’s these damn egg rolls. Every snack, lunch, or dinner I get from Kwik Trip includes an egg roll. Chicken sandwich with an egg roll. Salad with an egg roll. Donut with an egg roll. It really doesn’t matter lol. All flavors are delicious. And they are always a hot and a fresh food option!

best kwik trip food for road trips

Kwik Trip Ice Cream

Kwik Trip ice cream is all made with local milk and tastes just like the expensive stuff. Plus, you can get them pint-size. Number One Pro Tip: if you love Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked (I mean, who doesn’t?) then you need to opt for the pint-size of Brookie Dough Ice Cream. Omg. I was expecting a decent substitution hack, but my goodness it’s exact. Get your fix at Kwik Trip for $2.75 vs. a $5+ pint of Ben & Jerry’s.

Keep It Healthy with Kwik Trip Snacks

Sometimes you’re coming home after a road trip full of beers and unhealthy food and you are craving something that your body actually appreciates. And believe it or not, you can make healthy choices, even when you make a gas station stop. Another reason why I love Kwik Trip is the partnership for a Healthier America. Here are some healthy food product options:

Bento Boxes & Fresh Fruit

Fruits, cheeses, peanut butter, nuts. Kwik Trip food includes a variety of bento boxes that give you the perfect road trip snack when you aren’t about chasing empty calories. And right next to those, you’ll find the perfect-sized fruit cups. Watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, strawberries, you have all of the options! And it’s always fresh.

bento box snacks

Perfect Bars

My favorite healthy snack—whether I am at Kwik Trip or not. These bars are made from whole foods only and without natural flavors. They have a variety of options and the best is the Dark Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter. The best part? They really do fill you up with 15 grams of protein.

healthy kwik trip food

Prepared Salads

One of my go-to’s when I need some easy vegetables! There are a variety of salad options with fresh lettuce and toppings that come in a separate compartment—perfect if you want to leave something out. My go-to is the chicken supreme!

Kwik Trip Drinks

  • Chocolate Milk: Honestly, I’m not a huge chocolate milk drinker but it seems to be extremely popular with the Kwik Trip community (yes, there is a community ha) and is very affordable!
  • Smoothies: Stop by the self-serve Fresh Blender machine. Create your own smoothie through a touchscreen menu. The kids love it!
  • Flavored Water: Kwik Trip carries Vita Ice which is a staple for my husband and must-grab for flavored water fanatics.
  • Karuba Coffee: You know this one already!
  • Beer & Wine: If you’re in Wisconsin, make your alochol purchases at Kwik Trip. If you’re in Minnesota, they still need to get with the program. (Don’t drink and drive ;))

vita ice in gas station cooler

More Kwik Trip Foods:

  • Pizza: They always have great options by the slice. And sometimes there are insane deals on full pizzas you can’t pass up! Plus, they have take and bake pizzas as well.
  • Croissant Breakfast Sandwich: People swear by these! The egg and cheese croissant sammy’s are pretty big and a little much for me in the morning, but if this is your type of thing, you’ll love it.
  • Cake Donuts and Scotcheroos: I mentioned the Glazer but there are other top-notch sweet treats to check out at Kwik Trip. (Pro Tip: go for one of these top 3 items vs. a cookie.)
  • Fried Chicken and Chicken Tenders: Take care of the whole family with one purchase! Their boxes of chicken are a hit.

Pro Tip: Kwik Trip Take Home Meals

The last thing you want to do when you get home from a road trip is cook! Lucky for you, Kwik Trip has a variety of meal options that include Kitchen Cravings take home meals that are ready to eat as soon as you walk in the door.

  • Spicy Chicken Penne
  • Macaroni and Cheese + Chicken Bacon Mac and Cheese
  • Grilled Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
  • Spaghetti and Meatballs
  • BBQ Baby Back Ribs
  • Roasted Turkey Dinner with Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
  • Homemade Soups
  • Burritos with Rice
  • Beef Stroganoff
  • Chicken, Rice, and Broccoli
  • And they are always adding more!

take home meals kwik trip

Another Bonus: Kwik Trip Grocery

Kwik Trip is a low-key grocery store. When returning home from a trip, we typically don’t have much in the fridge. But at your convenience, you’ll find milk, eggs, cheese, avocados, meats, pizza, and more at every Kwik Trip. Stock up on a few staples at a great price to buy yourself some time before the big grocery store!

best kwik trip food for road trips

The Beauty of Kwik Trip

Who knew a convenience store chain could be such a game-changer lol? The gas stations’ quality food options, whether you want a full meal, snack, or groceries, are bar none. And Kwik Trip stores go above and beyond with all their other amenities—staff, clean bathrooms, rewards program with fuel discounts, new and improved products frequently, the list goes on and on. Show me a better gas station in the United States. You can’t.

Next time you are heading to Duluth, Minnesota , Eau Claire, Wisconsin, or the Upper Peninsula , make sure a Kwik Trip location is included in your travel stops!

What Kwik Trip Food did I miss? What’s Your Favorite?

See ya next time. 😉.

Did this post help you out? Support the work and pass along $5 for a couple burritos 😉 VENMO: @Amber-LBB or PAYPAL: [email protected]. THANK YOU.

You’ll Also Love

how does kwik trip make their food

July 29, 2021 at 5:12 pm

Kwik Trip rocks! I just wish I didn’t have to drive over 300 miles to get to the closest one to me. But every time I go to Wisconsin, I stop at that Kwik Trip!

how does kwik trip make their food

July 30, 2021 at 8:48 am

I’m sure there will be a few in your neck of the woods sooner than later!!

how does kwik trip make their food

July 30, 2021 at 7:19 am

Yes!! Kwik Trip really is the best. We always prefer to stop here over other gas stations when we are on the road and I so appreciate their healthy food section. Also I love that you are promoting a gas station 😄

Yesss! Haha. So glad you found it helpful! 🙂

how does kwik trip make their food

The Best Things to Do in Grand Lake, Colorado

  • Destinations
  • Save Money to Travel
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Let’s Connect

Copyright © 2024 Little Blue Backpack · Theme by 17th Avenue

Wisconsin couple highlights Kwik Trip love story in engagement photos

MADISON, Wis. ( WMTV /Gray News) - One couple is taking their love for Kwik Trip all the way to the courthouse.

Mike Riesterer and Holly Graffin met in 2019 when Holly was working at the Kwik Trip in Milton, Wisconsin. Mike was a farmer at a dairy farm nearby and would come into the store regularly.

“In 2019, he came in, and I knew him through some mutual friends and stuff like that but didn’t actually talk to him, I just always thought he was kind of cute coming in,” Graffin said.

She said her co-workers are to thank for her and Riesterer meeting.

“My co-workers over our little headset tried to get me up there to check him out and kind of gave me a little push, and then he came up to the register,” she said.

The two started talking after meeting and bonded over a love for farming and hard work, and the rest was history.

Three years later, Riesterer proposed, and they could think of no better theme for their engagement photos than the place that brought them together.

“I’m not a super serious person, so I just thought it would be fun to, you know, do Kwik Trip glazers and chocolate milk,” Graffin said.

The couple asked Amber Shinkay, a close friend and photographer, to take the pictures. She has taken photos for Graffin since she was in high school.

The photos were a hit with all of their family and friends, and Graffin’s former co-workers at Kwik Trip.

“They all were like ‘This is awesome!’ They all kind of got a kick out of it,” she said.

The couple is getting married next March.

Copyright 2024 WMTV via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

On August 16, 2024, at 9:04 p.m., the Shreveport Police Department (SPD) responded to a...

Group of juveniles reportedly chase, throw bottles at, shoot and kill homeless man

50 Cent's new business in Shreveport is holding a soft opening.

50 Cent’s G-Spot Daq 2 Go holds soft opening

Humor & Harmony's turnout was so high, the Red River District was at full capacity.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson to pay nearly $500K to law enforcement during Humor & Harmony

Woman found shot dead in front yard of home in coushatta identified by sheriff's office.

A 12-year-old girl in Texas died after her parents didn’t seek medical attention after she...

Cheerleader dies after parents allegedly treat life-threatening injuries with smoothies, vitamins instead of medical care

Video evidence: haughton man arrested after throwing kittens out window of moving car, police say.

Pedestrian killed generic

Man dies after being struck by vehicle in north-central Shreveport

All five people in the two vehicles that were involved in the crash were pronounced dead at...

3 family members killed in crash while on the way to teenager’s college move-in day

Latest news.

Raheem Cooper, a UPS delivery driver, went above and beyond to help when he spotted an elderly...

UPS driver saves woman who passed out on her driveway in triple-digit temperatures

The U.S. National Hurricane Center warned of strong winds, a dangerous storm surge and...

Hurricane Ernesto weakens into tropical storm as it moves away from Bermuda over open waters

how does kwik trip make their food

Thousands enjoy day 2 of Geek’d Con

Celebrating National Nonprofit Day

Dozens of Shreveport nonprofit organizations honored for their contributions

Impact Church hosts 2-day suicide prevention training session

Shreveport nonprofits hold suicide prevention intervention training

A Mississippi police officer is being praised for his humor after he provided the ultimate...

‘Bruh we smoke all the time’: Person accidentally texts police officer about ‘smoking’

IMAGES

  1. How Kwik Trip Built a Healthy Food Culture Through PHA

    how does kwik trip make their food

  2. The Best Kwik Trip Food for Road Trips

    how does kwik trip make their food

  3. Photos: Take a sneak peek inside Kwik Trip's massive food production

    how does kwik trip make their food

  4. The Best Kwik Trip Food for Road Trips

    how does kwik trip make their food

  5. kwik trip food list

    how does kwik trip make their food

  6. kwik trip food list

    how does kwik trip make their food

COMMENTS

  1. Where does Kwik Trip beef come from?

    Kwik Trip is committed to providing high-quality beef to its customers, and they source their beef from a select group of trusted suppliers. Kwik Trip beef comes from local Midwestern farms, where the animals are raised in a healthy and humane environment. The company works closely with their suppliers to ensure that the animals are treated ...

  2. Nutrition & Ingredients

    Enjoy your food, but eat less. Avoid oversized portions. Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk. Make at least half of the grains you eat whole grains. Drink water instead of sugary drinks. Allergen Information. Kwik Trip, Inc. retail stores prepare and sell products that contain all major allergens ...

  3. Now Available: Take Home Meals

    Prices now starting under $5. What types of meals do we have? Our lineup features some fan favorites such as spicy chicken penne, macaroni and cheese, fettucine alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs, beef stroganoff and more. Plus, our Kwik Trip kitchen is constantly working on new ideas and fresh meal ideas, with new limited time offerings ...

  4. Behind the scenes of Kwik Trip's next-generation bakery

    With the three new lines and the efficiency of the continuous mixer, Kwik Trip makes more bread and buns in one shift per day — instead of two at the old plant — and creates a better work-life balance for coworkers. "Now, they work four 10-hour shifts," Mr. Fonstad said.

  5. Our Story

    Our Story - Kwik Trip | Kwik Star. We're a family-owned company based in La Crosse, WI and home to more than 35,000 co-workers. If you've been in Wisconsin, Minnesota or Iowa recently, there's a good chance we've seen you at one of our 800+ stores. Find a Store.

  6. Kwik Trip's dairy, bakeries, food and trucking by the numbers

    Kwik Trip has a separate bakery for bread and rolls, where 117 people make 225 loaves of bread a minute and an astonishing 1,600 buns a minute. That adds up to more than 170 million buns and 15 ...

  7. Kwik Trip fried chicken: A culinary investigation

    Kwik Trip began in 1965 with a convenience store owned and operated by the John Hansen family in Eau Claire, Wis. ... They have their own food-production facilities, and their own truck operation ...

  8. Benefits

    Here's a list of other great benefits all our coworkers receive. Get paid every day through Kwik Pay. Kwik Trip Family Scholarships and Professional Development Program. Bi-weekly car wash (Retail locations only)*. 50% off Discounted Lunch (Retail locations only) Free coffee, soda, and piece of fruit while you work.

  9. Kwik Trip: Why are Midwesterners obsessed with this convenience store?

    The second store opened in La Crosse in 1971. "It was a humble beginning with painted letters cut out of plywood," Kwik Trip owner Don Zietlow said. "These were all neighborhood grocery ...

  10. Kwik Trip Nutrition Facts & Calories

    Below are the full nutrition facts for the full Kwik Trip menu. Select any item to view the complete nutritional information including calories, carbs, sodium and Weight Watchers points. You can also use our calorie filter to find the Kwik Trip menu item that best fits your diet.

  11. Made in Wisconsin: Behind the scenes of Kwik Trip's headquarters in La

    The 140-acre campus is comprised of several buildings, with more than 3,000 employees. Kwik Trip first entered the La Crosse area in 1971, after opening their first store in Eau Claire 6 years ...

  12. Power Rankings: The 10 Best Foods You Can Get at Kwik Trip

    Full disclosure: Kwik Trip did not pay for this article. I'm just a fan. Not like a super fan that travels to all of their locations or starts a Facebook fan page, but I frequent the convenience store a lot so I think I'm qualified to speak on the quality of their food. KT has several delicious items. Below you'll see my power rankings - The Top-10 Foods You Can Get at KT.

  13. Kwik Trip Menu

    Enjoy a 6 pack of raspberry chimis. $10.59. Kwik Six- Egg Rolls. Online Exclusive Kwik Six- Egg Rolls. Enjoy a 6 pack of pork egg rolls. $11.69+. Kwik Six- Tornados. Online Exclusive Kwik Six- Tornados. Enjoy a 6 pack of tornados and choose your flavor.

  14. The Best Kwik Trip Food for Road Trips

    Enter: The Glazer. Perhaps the most exciting breakfast, snack, dinner (whatever!) at Kwik Trip. The Glazer Donut is fresh, fluffy, sweet, and only $0.99. Grab the plain (my personal favorite), chocolate-drizzled, or white-drizzled, and savor every bite of the vanilla-glazed goodness!

  15. FAQs

    Does my organization qualify to receive a donation from Kwik Trip Kares? If your organization is considered non-profit or tax exempt, you may qualify for a donation if approved by the committee. Our funding is limited to supporting basic human necessities, such as food pantries, human health issues, police, fire and military protection.

  16. A Look Inside Kwik Trip's Multifaceted Campus

    12/10/2015. LA CROSSE, Wis. — Kwik Trip Inc. may have 500 convenience stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, but the true backbone of the business is its 90-acre campus situated on — aptly ...

  17. How do people like working here? : r/KwikTrip

    Personally my leaders changed, and I adore the new ones, they really try to listen to others input, and try to explain how things work or why theyve made a certain decision. It can be very busy amd frustrating if your understaffed, but we have some stong coworkers at our store, so were doing okay. 3.

  18. How Much Does Kwik Trip Pay in 2024? (2,630 Salaries)

    The average Kwik Trip salary ranges from approximately $33,001 per year (estimate) for . The average Kwik Trip hourly pay ranges from approximately $14 per hour (estimate) for . Kwik Trip employees rate the overall compensation and benefits package 3.9/5 stars. What is the highest salary at Kwik Trip?

  19. Relentless food price increases : r/KwikTrip

    And yet Kwik Trip continues to do massive sales and tries to keep prices as low as they can afford without upsetting the benefits of their coworkers and communities. Do you not understand how much they give back? And how little the corporation keeps? I understand the price changes suck, but they're happening everywhere and Kwik Trip isn't an ...

  20. Kwik Trip Brownie Nutrition Facts

    A Brownie from Kwik Trip contains the following ingredients: Brownie (Sugar, Bleached Wheat Flour, Water, Soybean Oil, Alkalized Cocoa, Corn Syrup Solids, Contains 2% Or Less Of: Acidic Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Aluminum Sulfate, Baking Soda, Caramel Color, Egg Whites, Folic Acid, Iron, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Niacin, Red 40, Riboflavin, Salt, Soy Flour, Thiamine Mononitrate).

  21. Chicken

    2 piece white meat (breast and wing) Half chicken (4 piece) 8 piece Chicken. 3 piece tenders. 8 piece tenders. Roasted Whole Chicken. Our team inspects each batch to control temperatures and and ensure quality. Pick up your chicken hot, ready-to-eat for tonight's dinner, or cold, sealed fresh for tomorrow's lunch.

  22. Can we all agree that Kwik Trip has officially become the gas ...

    Kwik Trip captures so much of my money. Driving down to Janesville to visit the madre? Fill up with Kwik trip gas, and get an iced tea and a chicken sandwich. Going to work, and need to grab Karuba and glazers for the team? KT. Done. Need a dozen eggs? Stop by Kwik trip and get the rest of breakfast too. On the way to the Packer party at Jim's?

  23. Can Buc-ee's dethrone Kwik Trip?

    Some think of Buc-ee's as the Texas equivalent of Kwik Trip: a local favorite revered for its friendly service and ample food offerings. Others claim a visit to the gas station is on par with a ...

  24. Kwik Trip

    Going the Extra Mile. Every day, we fire up our ovens to bake fresh bread, produce milk in our dairies and prepare your favorite meals to deliver right to your neighborhood.

  25. Wisconsin couple highlights Kwik Trip love story in engagement photos

    MADISON, Wis. (WMTV/Gray News) - One couple is taking their love for Kwik Trip all the way to the courthouse. Mike Riesterer and Holly Graffin met in 2019 when Holly was working at the Kwik Trip in Milton, Wisconsin. Mike was a farmer at a dairy farm nearby and would come into the store regularly.