SAVANNAH, Ga. (June 5, 2025) – Parker’s Kitchen, a leading convenience store company with 100 locations across Georgia and South Carolina, has been honored as a recipient of the Convenience Store News 2025 Technology Leader of the Year award. The annual program honors convenience store companies that demonstrate outstanding innovation and excellence in technology deployment.
In celebration of the award’s 10th anniversary, Convenience Store News recognized two small chains and two large chains for their forward-thinking technology strategies. Parker’s Kitchen earned a Gold Medal in the Large Chain category for its continued commitment to leveraging advanced technologies to enhance customer experience and increase operational efficiency. This recognition reinforces Parker’s Kitchen’s position as an industry leader in retail innovation. Parker’s Kitchen will be presented with the Technology Leader of the Year Large Chain Gold Medal in October 2025 at the Convenience Store News Technology Leadership Roundtable and Dinner at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show in Chicago.
“Being named a Technology Leader of the Year is an incredible honor that underscores our team’s unwavering dedication to innovation and operational excellence,” said Parker’s Kitchen CEO Brandon Hofmann. “At Parker’s Kitchen, we see technology as a catalyst to transform every touchpoint of the customer journey, from speed and convenience to personalization and service. This recognition inspires us to continue pushing the boundaries, not only to optimize our operations but also to anticipate customer needs, deliver seamless in-store experiences and set new benchmarks for the convenience retail industry while making a lasting impact in the communities we proudly serve.”
Parker’s Kitchen utilizes AI-enabled technology to optimize operations, including proprietary SmartKitchen technology that predicts demand for menu items and reduces food waste.
The company also developed strategic partnerships with fuel asset optimization software company Titan Cloud and ERP software provider PDI Technologies.
In addition, the Parker’s Rewards loyalty app encourages mobile-first, frictionless interactions and seamlessly connects with the Parker’s Kitchen PumpPal debit card. With a quick tap, customers can order Parker’s Kitchen’s award-winning food, activate the fuel pump, stack fuel discounts earned through in-store purchases and pay via their smartphone.
Technology has deepened the company’s connection to every community it serves. With integrated prompts at self-checkout stations, customers are encouraged to round-up their transactions to the nearest dollar to support local nonprofit organizations, including Wounded Warrior Project, Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, Lowcountry Food Bank and Parker’s House for Women. Parker’s Kitchen matches 25% of every customer donation to amplify the impact.
“Implementing state-of-the-art technology and innovative IT systems help us further our mission to exceed customer expectations on every level,” said Parker’s Kitchen Vice President of IT Scott Smith. “We’re incredibly grateful to be recognized by Convenience Store News for our ongoing commitment to investing in technology.”
Parker’s Kitchen was honored by USA TODAY as a Top Workplace in 2024 and has been included on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in America seven times. The company was named the Convenience Store Chain of the Year by Convenience Store Decisions, which is the industry’s highest honor, and has been recognized by Food and Wine as one of America’s Best Convenience Stores and by Convenience Store News as the Convenience Foodservice Leader of the Year.
Founded in Midway, Ga., in 1976, Parker’s Kitchen is currently in the midst of an ambitious expansion and plans to expand into new markets including Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Columbia, S.C.
ABOUT PARKER’S KITCHEN:
Honored by USA TODAY as a Top Workplace, Parker’s Kitchen is strategically redefining the nation’s convenience store industry, offering customers high-quality products, freshly prepared food and superior customer service at retail stores throughout Georgia and South Carolina. Proudly headquartered in Savannah, Ga., Parker’s Kitchen has a commitment to exceeding customer expectations and has repeatedly been recognized as one of the nation’s leading convenience store and foodservice companies. The company serves world-famous hand-breaded Southern Fried Chicken Tenders as well as made-from-scratch mac ‘n’ cheese, a breakfast bar and daily specials. The popular Parker’s Rewards loyalty program has saved customers more than $15 million to date. Parker’s Kitchen employs nearly 1,800 team members throughout Georgia and South Carolina and completes more than a million transactions weekly. Learn more: parkerskitchen.com.
