Kwik Trip, Inc., announced its acquisition of PDQ Food Stores on Wednesday. PDQ, based in Middleton, Wisconsin, includes 34 company-operated convenience stores in southeastern Wisconsin.

Kwik Trip says the acquisition allows it to expand its presence in a market that is important to overall retail growth strategy. 

"Our family is committed to owning and growing the company for another 50 years," says Mark Zietlow, real estate manager and third-generation owner of Kwik Trip. "The PDQ store locations are an excellent fit in our growth strategy for Wisconsin. Additionally, Kwik Trip and our family are committed to providing good-paying jobs for all of our current and future co-workers. With the acquisition of PDQ and future remodel of the PDQ locations we anticipate adding more than 1,000 jobs."

Kwik Trip was founded in Ea Claire, Wisconsin, in 1965 and has become one of the largest independently held c-store chains in the United States. The company owns and operates more than 570 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa and employs more than 19,000.

The transaction is expected to be completed in early October and is subject to PDQ employee approval. Kwik Trip plans to operate the acquired stores under the existing PDQ banner until planned remodels are completed in mid-2018.