News Coverage NWITimes – Thursday, December 14, 2006
BP TO FRANCHISE CONNECTS IN REGION
Company says conversion won't be noticed by consumers
by Andrea Holecek
WARRENVILLE – BP North America is converting the majority of its BP Connect stations east of the
Rockies into franchise locations, including those in Chicago, Indianapolis, Munster, Dyer and Griffith.
Company spokeswoman Valerie Corr said South Florida was the company's first market
where the BP Connects were converted, followed by the BP Connect locations in the Chicago area.
The company currently is franchising most of the BP Connects in Indianapolis.
BP stations will remain company owned, Corr said.
The conversion of the three BP connects in Lake County will happen soon, Corr said.
There isn't a definite schedule for the remaining conversions, she said.
All of the conversions "will be virtually seamless to the consumer," Corr said.
BP has retained Chicago-based NRC Realty Advisors LLC to coordinate the sale of 29 Indianapolis BP-branded
convenience stores and gas stations, including buildings, fixtures and real property.
The sites will be sold as franchises, which will be added to BP's growing network of franchise sites
across the country, according to NRC. BP also is selling seven other of its Indianapolis sites
as de-branded gasoline stations and commercial sites.
"BP is offering franchisees the opportunity to align with a franchisor with an already proven track record.
BP's franchise experience includes the successful am/pm convenience store business West of Rockies,
with nearly 1,000 locations," according to a statement by NRC.
Before the local BP Connects locations are put on the market, NRC will hold bid seminars and franchise
information sessions for those interested by buying the properties as franchise locations, Corr said.
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