LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Thorntons Inc. has opened its newest convenience store, located on its home turf of Louisville, Ky. This new store is the third Thorntons in the Louisville area to offer environmentally friendly E85 fuel. Thorntons has seven locations throughout its network with E85 and plans to expand this product to additional stores in the future.

"We are excited about the grand opening of our newest store," said Matt Thornton, president and chief executive officer. "Our goal is to provide customers with a unique shopping experience. From our world class JaLava Coffee, to our highest quality fresh food and value priced grocery items, we hope to delight our customers with an enjoyable one-stop shopping experience."

Customers can look forward to a clean environment, quick service, friendly employees and a large fresh food selection featuring salads, sandwiches, fruit and more. Thorntons "Hot Off The Grill" program offers jumbo hot dogs, egg rolls, pizza rolls, sausage links and corndogs. The wall of beverages is filled with a large variety of ice cold fountain drinks, frozen Icee flavors, smoothies and JaLava Coffee.

Watch for a CSPTV tour of the new store (pictured) in an upcoming issue of CSP Daily News.

Thorntons also opened a store in Lebanon, Tenn., in early March. The 4,000-square-foot building will offer the same enhanced features of existing QuickCafe & Market, as well as the same product mix.

Thorntons is a leading independent gasoline/convenience chain retailer, marketing throughout the Midwest under the brand name of Thorntons QuickCafe & Market. It has more than $1.4 billion in annual revenue. The company operates 151 gasoline/c-stores, one travel plaza and eight car washes in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois and Connecticut. It also distributes petroleum products through wholly owned Thornton Transportation Co. and operates a river bulk storage terminal in Louisville.