JOHN DALY - Pilot Travel Centers

Pilot Travel Centers LLC (PTC) is the nation’s largest operator of travel centers and largest seller of over-the-road diesel fuel. It owns and operates over 300 travel centers in 41 states coast to coast, offering outstanding value and service at attractive and convenient locations. Pilot offers its employees financial stability and personal development opportunities in an exciting environment. As the largest interstate travel center operation in the nation, Pilot Travel Centers LLC expects to sell over 5 billion gallons of petroleum this year. Behind the numbers is a commitment and a concept to give customers what they want.

CORPORATE FACTS:

PTC currently operates and licenses over 300 locations in more than 40 states.

Headquarters: Knoxville, Tennessee

Employees: Approximately 13,000

Annual revenues: $16 billion (2008)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION:

Finalist in the Large Company category at American Family Business Institute’s Annual Awards Gala, 2007

Ranked #30 among top 100 retailers in US and Canada by the National Retail Federation Stores magazine, 2007

Named one of the “50 Most Influential Franchisees in the World” by Nation’s Restaurant News

Ranked #10 in the 2006 Monitor 200 Report, #13 in the 2007 Monitor 200 Report, and #17 in the 2008 Monitor 200 Report by Restaurant Finance Monitor

Listed as a #2 Privately Held Company in the State of Tennessee, Business Tennessee Magazine, 2007

East Tennessee Business Ethics Award, Large Company Category

PTC MARKET SHARE:

The nation’s largest operator of travel centers and largest seller of over-the-road diesel fuel.

A typical travel center includes one or more nationally known chain restaurants, a broad range of retail merchandise, automobile and truck fueling facilities, and a variety of other services aimed at professional drivers and interstate travelers.

RESTAURANT OPERATION:

Each PTC travel center includes at least one restaurant. PTC owns over 280 of these restaurants.

PTC’s restaurant sales alone in 2007 surpassed $250 million.

Restaurant franchises include:

* Arby’s
* Chester’s Chicken
* Dairy Queen
* Denny’s
* KFC
* McDonald’s
* Pizza Hut
* Subway
* T.J. Cinnamons
* Taco Bell
* Wendy’s

TIMELINE:

Pilot was founded in 1958 as a single, family-owned gas station in Gate City, Virginia.

In 1976, Pilot built its first convenience store and began converting the rest of its locations to convenience stores.

Pilot’s first travel center opened in 1981, and travel centers have been the main thrust of its business ever since.

In 1988, Pilot began concentrating on expanding its Travel Center operations into a nationwide network. Also in 1988, the company opened its first travel center with a fast-food concept.

By 2001 Pilot was operating 65 convenience stores and 140 travel centers in 37 states. On September 1, 2001, Pilot Corporation and Marathon Petroleum Company (MPC) entered into an agreement to form Pilot Travel Centers (PTC). MPC is the nation’s fifth largest petroleum refiner. MPC’s 974,000 barrels per calendar day (bpcd) of crude refining capacity represents six percent of the total U.S. capacity.

In February 2003, Pilot acquired Williams Travel Centers, doubling the size of the company.

In 2006, Pilot is recognized as the 10th-largest restaurant franchisee in the United States.

In 2006, Pilot goes “international” opening its first Travel Center in Canada.

Recognized by SAP Retail, Inc. in 2007 as #30 in the Top 100 Retailers.

In 2008, Pilot welcomed a new partner, CVC Capital Partners, which acquired 47.5 percent interest in Pilot Travel Centers and facilitated the acquisition of Marathon Petroleum Company’s interest.