Toot’n Totum Named CStore Decisions’ 2026 Chain of the Year
Toot’n Totum Named CStore Decisions’ 2026 Chain of the Year
Toot’n Totum Named CStore Decisions’ 2026 Chain of the Year The Amarillo, Texas-based chain stands out for its people-first culture, vertical integration, state-of-the-art store design and tech-forward initiatives. |
CStore Decisions is celebrating Toot’n Totum as its 2026 Chain of the Year. With over 75 years in business and 125 locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico, Toot’n Totum continues to grow and adapt while remaining deeply rooted in local values and a people-first culture. “CStore Decisions’ Chain of the Year Award honors operational excellence, innovation and future-focused direction,” said Erin Del Conte, editor-in chief of CStore Decisions. “Toot’n’ Totum has earned its place on an elite list as the 37th winner of the award, which is the oldest and most prestigious honor in convenience retailing. Toot’n Totum stands out for its values-based and people-first culture; it’s commitment to tech innovation and vertical integration; its strong proprietary foodservice, grab-and-go and commissary program; and its state-of-the-art new-to-industry (NTI) stores and commitment to continued internal growth and footprint expansion.” Family-Owned Business Andrew Mitchell, CEO and president of Toot’n Totum and a third-generation member of the family business now helms the company with his wife Dottie that was founded by his grandparents and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2025. Toot’n Totum began in 1950 when Mitchell’s grandparents, Eldon “Lefty” Mitchell and his wife Novie, opened their first c-store on 15th and Washington in Amarillo, Texas. When Lefty passed away in 1955, Novie took the reins. Her entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering work ethic laid the foundation that shaped Toot’n Totum into the success it is today. In 1996, Novie’s son, Greg Mitchell, as president and CEO, and his wife Julie began to steer the chain’s expansion across the Texas Panhandle via acquisitions. Through their leadership the company began to prioritize vertical integration, expanded into the lube center and car wash business, and moved into new operating areas, including Kansas and Oklahoma in 2015 and New Mexico in 2020. Today, Greg serves as chairman. Andrew Mitchell, Greg’s son, stepped into the CEO role in 2023. But Mitchell is quick to point out that it is the chain’s team members that are the driving force behind the chain’s success. “Our team members are really the ones that make Toot’n Totum move,” Andrew said.
Growing Up & Out Toot’n Totum is known for its emphasis on vertical integration, enabling the company to oversee and control nearly every aspect of its convenience store operations from “curb-to-door.” This is includes operating its own commissary, warehouse distribution, proprietary Toot’n Totum gas (in addition to partnering with major gas brands), Wendy’s QSRs, car washes, lube centers, a signage division, a lawn care business and a cleaning and power-washing business. This approach allows Toot’n Totum to maintain high standards of consistency, speed and quality across locations. This disciplined, forward-thinking model positions Toot’n Totum for sustainable growth and long-term success. Toot’n Totum has been rapidly expanding in the Lubbock, Texas, area, opening 10 new-to-industry (NTI) stores there over the past three years, as well as another NTI store in Lamesa, Texas. The chain is slated to open two NTI stores in 2026 and 2027. The NTI stores feature the chain’s updated Gen-3 look, with a modern design, expanded grab-and-go food section and a larger checkout area to enhance its drive-through operations. The drive-through concept ties into Toot’n Totum’s values of quick, clean and convenient. Guests can order anything from the drive-through except for refills, lottery, prepaid fuel or money orders. Toot’n Totum has also been committed to refreshing legacy sites and has completed 10 remodels in the last two years. The chain also operates 16 travel centers that span 7,600 square feet and feature high-speed diesel and trucker amenities. Its Stratford, Texas truck stop was honored this February as “the No. 1 Truck Stop in America,” by Trucker Path. Food & Tech Innovation On the foodservice front, Toot’n Totum features its proprietary “fresh-and-go foods” grab-and-go brand that it prepares at its own commissary and delivers to stores. It also features four proprietary programs: Mitch’s Texas Style BBQ, Red’s Pizza, Fast’n Fresh and Oasis Tea. The chain also offers order ahead and third-party delivery. Building on the success of its updated mobile app launched last year, Toot'n Totum is relaunching its TNT Rewards loyalty program on a new platform designed to further deepen guest engagement and drive in-store purchases. The enhanced program will deliver more personalized offers, smarter earn-and-burn mechanics, and tighter integration with the services guests already rely on — from scheduling oil changes and redeeming car wash deals to ordering food for delivery. Beyond the loyalty relaunch, Toot'n Totum continues to invest in technology across its operations. The chain is prioritizing in-store data analysis, equipping store managers with detailed, actionable metrics to enhance daily operations and decision-making. People-First Culture A key part of operational excellence is the culture that drives a chain. Toot’n Totum is known for having a people-first culture, and it prioritizes internal growth through team development. Its human resources department introduced a leadership academy called LEAD, which stands for Lead, Engage, Act and Develop, to ensure its managers have as much leadership training as possible. Every manager and select assistant managers go through the program, which includes a handful of full-day sessions over three months. The company also invests in its team members through programs like LiO — Leadership from the Inside Out — a homegrown culture and leadership development class designed for high-performing non-managers who embody the Toot'n Totum values and are being groomed for future leadership roles. Toot’n Totum emphasizes a set of core values that guide how it operates its convenience stores and serves customers. Those values include honor and value; being team focused and guest ready; taking ownership; and providing a quick, clean and convenient experience. The chain’s mission is to “create experiences worth repeating” for every guest, vendor and partner it encounters. “What an honor to be awarded CStore Decisions Chain of the Year! This esteemed award illustrates our team members commitment to create experiences worth repeating for every guest we get the opportunity to serve in our communities,” said Toot’n Totum CEO Andrew Mitchell. “Our team members everyday work to enhance our guest’s experiences at our locations throughout Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas Panhandles for the past 75 years. Thank you CStore Decisions and thank you to our incredible team members.”
Retailers are invited to join us in honoring Toot’n Totum on the evening of Oct. 7 at Piero’s Italian Cuisine in Las Vegas (355 Convention Center Drive) from 6:15p.m. to 9:00p.m. during the NACS Show. Retailers can RSVP here. Supplier companies must be sponsors to attend. Suppliers interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Matt Waddell, Vice President of Sales, at mwaddell@wtwhmedia.com. About the Chain of the Year Award CStore Decisions’ Chain of the Year award annually honors a convenience store, travel center or petroleum chain that has established itself as a superior retailer and innovator in the industry. CStore Decisions’ first Chain of the Year award was Wawa Inc. in 1990. Toot’n Totum follows the 2025 Chain of the Year Winner Stinker Stores. Past winners of this prestigious award include Pilot, Sheetz, Maverik, RaceTrac, 7-Eleven Inc., Kwik Trip, Alimentation Couche-Tard, QuikTrip, Rutter’s and Family Express. Past Chain of the Year Winners 1990 – Wawa Inc. 1991 – SuperAmerica 1992 – QuikTrip Corp. 1993 – Casey’s General Stores Inc. 1994 – Sheetz Inc. 1995 – Diamond Shamrock Corp. 1996 – MAPCO Express Inc. 1997 – Speedway Inc. 1998 – Krause Gentle Corp. 1999 – Dairy Mart Inc. 2000 – Amerada Hess Corp. 2001 – Huck’s Food & Fuel 2002 – Petro-Canada 2003 – Exxon Mobil Corp. 2004 – Kwik Trip Inc. 2005 – 7-Eleven Inc. 2006 – Valero Inc. 2007 – Alimentation Couche-Tard 2008 – Chevron Inc. 2009 – Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes 2010 – Rutter’s Farm Stores 2011 – Thorntons Inc. 2012 – Tedeschi Food Shops 2013 – Maverik Inc. 2014 – RaceTrac Petroleum Inc. 2015 – Family Express Corp. 2016 – QuickChek Corp. 2017 – Sheetz Inc. (Second Award) 2018 – Kwik Trip Inc. (Second Award) 2019 – Weigel’s Inc. 2020 – Parker’s 2021 – Yesway 2022 – Nouria Energy 2023 — TXB 2024 — Pilot 2025 —Stinker Stores |