Martin's Food Markets is building its first fueling station in the Richmond area.
The gasoline station is going up in the parking lot of the chain's store at the Westpark Shopping Center in western Henrico County.
The fuel center, which should open this spring, will have four gasoline pumps.
There were no immediate plans to add fuel centers to any of the chain's 22 other stores in the Richmond market, but that the company "is always looking for opportunities," spokesman Christopher Brand said.
This is the second store that Martin's bought from Ukrop's Super Markets in 2010 to get retrofitted with a fuel station. A fuel center opened in August at its store in Williamsburg.
Selling gasoline is becoming larger part of what Martin's does, Brand said, adding that 93 of its more than 180 stores now have fuel centers.
While Martin's is opening its first local station, its fuelperks! program allows shoppers who earn points from their purchases to redeem them at more than 35 Uppy's Convenience Stores locations and other participating gas stations.
The fuelperks! program will be available at the West Broad Street store once the new station opens, Brand said.
Grocery chains selling gasoline or offering gasoline incentives have become increasingly more common in recent years.
For instance, The Kroger Co., Sam's Club, Costco and BJs have fuel stations at some of their local stores.
Sam's Club, Costco, Kroger and BJs offer member-discounted gas prices. Kroger also has a points-based program similar to Martin's in which shoppers can get higher discounts on gasoline at its own stations and participating Shell stations.
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