ARKO Corp. Opens Newly Remodeled Apple Market with fas craves Food Concept in Hazard, KY
Rhea-AI Summary
ARKO (NASDAQ: ARKO) opened a newly remodeled Apple Market with the fas craves food concept at 108 East Main Street, Hazard, KY, which opened to customers on February 16, 2026. This is the fourth fas craves remodel and expands the concept to six locations nationwide.
The store features updated exterior/interior design, modern digital menu boards, upgraded food and beverage equipment, and an elevated grab‑n‑go and beverage lineup. A grand opening celebration is planned for early spring with promotions and community events. fas REWARDS members can stack fuel savings of up to $2.50 per gallon.
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News Market Reaction – ARKO
On the day this news was published, ARKO declined 0.66%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
ARKO fell 2.1% while peers were mixed: several like FLWS and HZO were slightly positive, and only BWMX showed a notable decline. With just one peer moving down and no broad pattern, the move appears stock-specific rather than sector-driven.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17 | IPO closing | Neutral | -3.2% | Closed ARKO Petroleum IPO, confirming proceeds and ARKO’s retained control stake. |
| Feb 13 | Earnings date set | Neutral | +3.1% | Scheduled Q4 and full-year 2025 results release and investor conference call. |
| Feb 11 | IPO pricing | Neutral | -2.5% | Priced ARKO Petroleum IPO, detailing share count, price, and over-allotment terms. |
| Feb 04 | Store opening | Positive | +6.4% | Opened new Handy Mart with fas craves concept and expanded food and loyalty features. |
| Feb 03 | Prelim earnings | Positive | +11.8% | Released preliminary 2025 EBITDA and net income ranges plus IPO roadshow launch. |
Recent news has often coincided with positive reactions, especially around store growth initiatives and preliminary financial results, while IPO-related announcements saw modest pressure.
Over the past months, ARKO has combined financial disclosures with strategic growth moves. Preliminary 2025 results and the ARKO Petroleum IPO process were key milestones, alongside continued rollout of the fas craves concept and a new Handy Mart store. Those operational expansions on Feb 4 drew a notably positive reaction. Today’s remodeled Apple Market opening extends that food-first strategy, building on the earlier fas craves growth and loyalty-linked fuel savings initiatives.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement extends ARKO’s food-first strategy by adding a fourth fas craves remodel and bringing the concept to six total locations. It pairs upgraded in-store food offerings with loyalty-linked savings of up to $2.50 per gallon through fas REWARDS and the Fueling America’s Future program. In context of recent IPO activity and upcoming earnings, investors may watch how these remodeled and new-to-industry sites contribute to traffic and profitability over time.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ARKO Corp. (Nasdaq: ARKO), a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest convenience store operators in the United States, proudly announces the opening of the newly remodeled Apple Market with the fas craves food concept, located at 108 East Main Street, Hazard, KY 41701. This store represents the fourth fas craves remodel, following two earlier new‑to‑industry openings, bringing the total number of fas crave locations to six nationwide.
The remodeled Apple Market store opened to customers on February 16, 2026, with a grand opening celebration planned for early spring featuring special promotions and community‑focused events.
fas craves continues to redefine the convenience store experience with high quality relevant, delicious, and affordable menu items for today’s busy guests. The location serves an elevated menu including Hot and Cold Grab‑n‑Go, Roller Grill favorites featuring Nathan’s® Hot Dogs, Bakery, and Dispensed Beverages. Popular food items include breakfast sandwiches, crispy chicken biscuits, potato wedges, mozzarella sticks, jumbo chicken wings, the Ultimate Chicken Tender, Tyson® chicken sandwiches, Pub burgers and much more.
The new and exciting beverage lineup includes trending options like dirty soda, a customizable mix of soda, flavored syrups, and creamy add‑ins that has quickly gained national popularity. Guests can also enjoy nitro cold brew, bean‑to‑cup hot and iced coffee, iced teas, lemonades, Frazil Slush, and Café Tango frozen coffee.
“Our fas craves remodels continue to show how we can elevate the guest experience with relevant, delicious, and affordable food and beverage options,” said Arie Kotler, President & CEO of ARKO Corp. “We’re proud to bring this concept to Hazard, giving the community a more modern convenience store environment and something new to crave.”
The redesigned Apple Market features a newly updated exterior and interior, including refreshed branding, modern digital menu boards, upgraded food and beverage equipment, enhanced lighting, and an improved layout that supports speed, convenience, and overall guest flow.
We plan to expand fas craves across ARKO’s national network, strengthening the company’s food‑first strategy while delivering relevant, delicious and affordable food and beverage items.
Customers can also save at the pump through ARKO’s Fueling America’s Future program. To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, fas REWARDS® loyalty members can save up to
fas REWARDS® is a free loyalty program that delivers savings on everyday purchases. Members who enter their phone number at checkout receive better in‑store pricing, stackable fuel rewards up to
About ARKO Corp.
ARKO Corp. (Nasdaq: ARKO) is a Fortune 500 company that is one of the largest operators of convenience stores and wholesalers of fuel in the United States. Based in Richmond, VA, we operate in four reportable segments: retail, which includes convenience stores selling merchandise and fuel products to retail customers through our highly recognizable Family of Community Brands that offers delicious, prepared foods, beer, snacks, candy, hot and cold beverages, and multiple popular quick serve restaurant brands; wholesale, which supplies fuel to independent dealers and consignment agents; fleet fueling, which includes the operation of proprietary and third-party cardlock locations, and issuance of proprietary fuel cards that provide customers access to a nationwide network of fueling sites; and GPM Petroleum, which sells and supplies fuel to our retail and wholesale sites and charges a fixed fee, primarily to our fleet fueling sites. To learn more about GPM stores, visit: www.gpminvestments.com. To learn more about ARKO, visit: www.arkocorp.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, the Company’s expected financial and operational results and the related assumptions underlying its expected results. These forward-looking statements are distinguished by use of words such as “accretive,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “guidance,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and the negative of these terms, and similar references to future periods. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to, among other things, changes in economic, business and market conditions; the Company’s ability to maintain the listing of its common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market; changes in its strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; expansion plans and opportunities; changes in the markets in which it competes; changes in applicable laws or regulations, including those relating to environmental matters; market conditions and global and economic factors beyond its control; and the outcome of any known or unknown litigation and regulatory proceedings.
Detailed information about these factors and additional important factors can be found in the documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Media Contact
Jordan Mann ARKO Corp.
investors@gpminvestments.com
Investor Contact
Sean Mansouri, CFA Elevate IR
(720) 330-2829
ARKO@elevate-ir.com
