Love’s says that it has the maintenance of a good reputation and hard-working employees to thank for their now-global success over the last 60 years.
The company celebrated its 60th anniversary earlier this year, and says that “humble beginnings, teamwork, work ethic and perseverance” in their business are what got the Love family this far.
“When Tom and I opened the first location in Watonga 60 years ago, we couldn’t imagine what this company would become,” Judy Love said to The Oklahoman. “The journey has been amazing. One thing I know is that we wouldn’t be here without our loyal team members and customers. We are fortunate so I feel that we should help others. That’s why we’ve always given back to many nonprofit organizations.”
Tom and Judy Love opened their first convenience store in 1964, and the business has grown to include 650 Love’s Travel Stops in 42 states, 22 EZ GO travel stops and convenience stores in three states, and even has headquarters in Europe under the Love’s owned Musket Corp., which helps the company establish a stable global fuel supply chain. The company has about 40,000 employees.
The truck stop company also recently purchased TVC Pro-Driver, which helps CDL holders with logistical and legal licensing issues, and SpeedCo, which provides maintenance and roadside emergency services for truckers and their commercial vehicles at some Love’s locations. Love’s also recently acquired Trillium Energy Solutions this year as a way to add to their electric vehicle fast-charging network, which they hope to add to 29 of their locations by the end of 2024.
“When my parents opened our first location 60 years ago, they never imagined what Love’s would grow into,” said Jenny Love Meyer, daughter of Tom and Judy Love, and chief culture officer at Love’s. “They had two small children to feed and bills to pay and had to figure out a way to do that. My dad had the idea to lease an abandoned filling station, and through hard work, finding ways to learn about the business and, as he would say, working with and hiring people smarter than him, they grew it into what it is today.”
“We attribute our success to our team members and customers,” she continued. “They’ve helped us grow into what we are today while remaining true to the family-owned and -operated business model that we know sets us apart from competitors. We always say that if our teams take care of customers, we’ll take care of them, and we think that’s been a pretty good standard to live by.”
“But it’s important to know that from the start, as he built the business, he cared about the communities where the stores were located,” Love-Meyer said at a community-impact report meeting for the company. “It is this caring, combined with a desire to give back, that is the foundation for charitable giving at Love’s. This is certainly one of the legacies my dad left with us. … Helping others is nothing new for Love’s.”
Love’s donated nearly $12 million to charitable organizations and other community-based causes in 2022. 46% of that $12 million went to youths and education causes, 20% to health and human services, 25% to civic and community organizations, and 9% to other community needs.
Love’s Travel Stops made $26.5 billion in revenue in 2023, putting it at the 9th largest private company in the US. Judy Love herself has a net worth of $10.2 billion.
“As Love’s has expanded its network and offerings over the past 60 years, we’ve been able to stay true to who we are and what we represent, clean places with friendly faces who work hard every day to get customers back on the road quickly,” Love Meyer said. “The dedication to helping our customers every day, while innovating and striving to be better, is foundational for Love’s, from our leaders to team members across the nation.”