ATLANTA — bp’s ampm brand is pushing further east, opening two new stores in Atlanta that mark the nation’s sixth-largest convenience-store chain’s entry into the Southeast market. The move extends ampm’s reach beyond its traditional West Coast base and follows earlier expansion in New York City.
The new Atlanta sites already sell bp fuels but will now include ampm’s distinctive retail experience, featuring regional food tailored to local tastes and bp’s private-label line, epic goods.
“We’re thrilled to bring our signature ampm convenience offerings to Atlanta, a city as thriving and dynamic as the brand itself,” said Greg Franks, bp’s senior vice president of mobility and convenience, Americas. “We are committed to making every visit something our guests look forward to while giving our fuel marketers a competitive edge.”
Aiming for national growth
bp said it will use performance data from the Atlanta stores to refine its offer for future markets. For dealers, the benefits of the expansion include access to bp’s purchasing scale and ampm’s marketing, merchandising and digital tools.
“Our ambition is to make ampm a national brand,” said Lisa Blalock, bp’s vice president of U.S. convenience and mobility. “We plan to start in Atlanta and expand thoughtfully to other states, achieving growth in a capital-light way.”
Evolving the offer
In recent years bp has broadened ampm’s food-and-beverage assortment, building customer loyalty with innovative and often playful items. The chain’s Dirty Horchata — a coffee-and-horchata slush with a cinnamon twist — sold five times more than expected after its 2023 debut. Other guest favorites include fresh-baked cookies, chili cheese dogs and breakfast sandwiches such as the Denver omelet croissant.
Founded in Southern California in 1978, ampm has expanded to over 1,000 stores nationwide, generating more than 160 million transactions annually. The brand previously operated in Atlanta between 2007 and 2012 and has retained some local familiarity.
Blalock added, “We’re excited to bring ampm back to Atlanta with our valued bp and Amoco marketers.”
