Portfolio Analyst

RaceTrac overhauls 98 Florida stores with $63 million food upgrade. By Nurul Hassan October 7, 2026 RaceTrac has allocated $63 million for the largest single-state renovation project in its history, targeting 98 convenience stores across Florida. This effort covers nearly 40% of its Florida locations, transforming them into food-centric destinations with expanded grab-and-go selections. The initiative includes new in-store pizza bars, revamped coffee stations featuring six Crazy Good Coffee blends, and updated Swirl World frozen yogurt bars with unlimited toppings at select sites. Shelving, signage, and decor will also receive updates, though some stores may temporarily close for major work. Construction will take place in 14 Florida markets, with the highest concentration in Orlando (23 stores), followed by Tampa Bay, Southwest Florida, and Southeast Florida (14 each). Work began earlier this year and will extend through 2027, with some locations already completed. The project follows a $20 million remodel in Dallas-Fort Worth last year, RaceTrac's largest investment in that market. Since nearly one-third of its stores operate in Florida, the state remains a key focus for upgrades. Melanie Isbill, president of convenience retail for RaceTrac, emphasized that customer feedback directly shaped these changes. While fuel prices often drive competition in convenience retail, RaceTrac's strategy now prioritizes food quality and the overall shopping experience. The new pizza bars will feature daily handcrafted pies, including limited-edition flavors, while coffee and frozen yogurt upgrades seek to draw customers beyond standard convenience items. The company has not specified exact timelines for individual store completions beyond the 2027 deadline. Isbill confirmed that customer requests for fresh food, improved coffee, and more intuitive store layouts drove the initiative. The renovation covers nearly 40% of Florida locations, signaling a long-term commitment to a market where competition for convenience shoppers remains fierce.

RaceTrac names new CFO. Jill Pemberton succeeds Karla Ahlert, who recently became the c-store retailer's first-ever chief administrative officer. Published Aug. 25, 2026 RaceTrac has hired Jill Pemberton as its chief financial officer, the convenience retailer announced on Monday. She will report directly to RaceTrac CEO Natalie Morhous and oversee accounting, finance, tax and treasury teams for the company and its family of brands, including RaceWay, Gulf and Potbelly. Pemberton joins RaceTrac from LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, where she most recently served as CFO for the luxury products group's $20 billion North America region, according to the announcement. In that role, she drove financial strategy and business performance, leading teams in accounting, financial planning and analysis, tax, treasury, information technology, procurement and risk management. She has also held financial leadership positions with media conglomerate Viacom, pharmaceutical and medical technologies company Johnson & Johnson, food processing business H.J. Heinz and Delta Air Lines. Pemberton also serves on the board of directors of landscaping equipment provider The Toro Company, where she chairs the audit committee. "Jill's extensive experience in financial strategy, long-range planning, business transformation, mergers and acquisitions, and operational excellence is a perfect complement to our growth strategy," Morhous said in the announcement. "She is a collaborative, people-focused leader who is passionate about developing talent and building high-performing teams." Pemberton succeeds Karla Ahlert, who recently became RaceTrac's first chief administrative officer. In that position, Ahlert will oversee RaceTrac's shared services, including human resources, supply chain, special projects and procurement. The leadership changes come about four months after RaceTrac hired retail industry veteran Mark Gunn as its first chief people officer.

RaceTrac remodels 30 Dallas-Fort Worth stores with pizza bars in $20 million investment. Quick summary. * RaceTrac is investing nearly $20 million to remodel 30 stores across Dallas-Fort Worth. * North Texas will receive RaceTrac's first in-store pizza bars, plus upgraded coffee stations and expanded food offerings. * Remodels began in May 2026 and will continue through December 2026, with one to three stores reopening each week. * The project represents RaceTrac's largest concentrated investment in North Texas to date. * The upgrades highlight continued commercial investment and consumer growth across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. RaceTrac invests nearly $20 million to upgrade 30 Dallas-Fort Worth stores. If you regularly stop at a RaceTrac in Dallas-Fort Worth, your next visit could look very different. According to CultureMap Dallas, RaceTrac is investing nearly $20 million to remodel 30 convenience stores across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, bringing several new features to North Texas for the first time. The most notable addition is RaceTrac's signature in-store pizza bars, allowing customers to grab fresh pizzas made inside the store alongside expanded food options. The remodel project began in May 2026 and will continue through December 2026, with one to three remodeled stores reopening each week. For anyone searching for RaceTrac DFW remodel, RaceTrac pizza bars in Dallas, or new convenience store upgrades in North Texas, this marks one of the company's biggest announcements in the region this year. What will be new at the remodeled RaceTrac stores? The remodeled Dallas-Fort Worth RaceTrac locations will feature several upgrades designed to improve the customer experience. Customers can expect: * Fresh grab-and-go pizza bars made in-store * Redesigned coffee stations featuring six blends of RaceTrac's "Crazy Good Coffee" * Updated Swirl World frozen yogurt bars with additional toppings at select locations * Refreshed interiors with new signage, graphics, paint, and décor * Improved store layouts that group related products together for easier shopping The upgrades are intended to transform RaceTrac locations from simple fuel stops into destinations for food, beverages, and convenience shopping. Which Dallas-Fort Worth cities are included? According to the announcement, the remodeled stores stretch across much of the Metroplex, including communities such as: * McKinney * Melissa * Denton * Garland * Wylie * Weatherford * Duncanville * Waxahachie Some stores will remain open while construction is underway, while others may temporarily close during more extensive renovations. Why this matters for Dallas-Fort Worth. Commercial investment often reflects confidence in a region's long-term growth. Dallas-Fort Worth continues attracting new residents, employers, infrastructure projects, retailers, and national brands. Companies generally commit significant capital where they expect customer demand to remain strong, and RaceTrac's decision to invest nearly $20 million into North Texas supports that trend. While this announcement is not directly related to the housing market, it adds to the ongoing story of continued business investment throughout DFW. As neighborhoods grow, retailers frequently expand or modernize their locations to serve increasing populations. My opinion: I see this as another positive indicator of confidence in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. Large-scale investments like this don't happen by accident. They reflect the region's continued economic growth and the increasing demand for better shopping and dining experiences across North Texas. Enjoying this content? Join Fnu Milat's private newsletter to receive biweekly Dallas market updates, local development news, and positive insights impacting the DFW Metroplex. Thinking about buying or selling a home in Dallas-Fort Worth? Whether you're relocating across the Metroplex, buying your first home, selling your current property, or exploring new construction communities, staying informed about what's happening across Dallas-Fort Worth helps you make better real estate decisions. As a Dallas Realtor, I help buyers, sellers, and investors navigate the ever-changing DFW housing market with local expertise and data-driven guidance. If you're looking for new construction homes in DFW and across Texas, I have direct-to-builder access to real-time inventory and builder incentives, including homes that haven't hit the MLS or public websites yet. Click here to access your personalized new construction home search portal. If you're planning to buy, sell, invest, or explore new construction anywhere in Dallas-Fort Worth, I'd be happy to help. Click here to contact me. If you're interested in more Dallas-Fort Worth business expansion news, you may also enjoy my article, "The Red Chickz Officially Opens First Dallas-Fort Worth Location in Carrollton, Texas," which highlights another national brand investing in the growing North Texas market. FAQs. Is RaceTrac adding pizza bars to all Dallas-Fort Worth stores? No. According to RaceTrac's announcement, 30 stores across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex are part of the nearly $20 million remodel project. When will the RaceTrac remodels in DFW be finished? The remodels began in May 2026 and are expected to continue through December 2026, with one to three stores reopening each week. Which cities are included in the RaceTrac remodel project? The remodels span communities across North Texas, including McKinney, Melissa, Denton, Garland, Wylie, Weatherford, Duncanville, and Waxahachie. Why is RaceTrac investing so much in Dallas-Fort Worth? According to RaceTrac, this is its largest concentrated investment in North Texas and is intended to create a better in-store experience with expanded food options, upgraded coffee stations, refreshed interiors, and improved store layouts.