CEFCO history established in 1952 graphic

Fundamental Values

In 1952, Clarence Edison Fikes – for whom CEFCO is named – opened a single Texaco filling station in his small, rural hometown of Cameron, Texas. Needless to say, Clarence Edison Fikes (commonly known as, “C.E. Fikes”) had a humble start. However, C.E. Fikes also had an enormous vision, tireless passion for success, and a tenacious drive to make his customers happy. With his fundamental Main Street values like hard work, passionate customer service, community involvement, and honorable motivation (along with a few breaks along the way), CEFCO’s founder set the stage for the company’s success.

one decade later

In 1962, C. E. Fikes became a Texaco consignee in the Cameron, Texas area. Over the next many years, he expanded his Texaco consignee business. In 1971, C. E.’s son, James, completed his military service and joined his father’s business ventures. He would later become the Chief Executive Officer of CEFCO’s parent company, Fikes Wholesale, Inc. (FIKES). CEFCO opened its first convenience store in 1979. Sadly, C. E. passed away in 1988, but left the company in James’ capable hands. By 1994, CEFCO had grown to seven stores.

cefco convenience stores grow

In 1994, James implemented plans to move the company’s headquarters from Cameron to Temple, Texas and began to aggressively grow the business. In 2000, Raymond Smith (current President of FIKES) joined James as Chief Operations Officer and has been instrumental in CEFCO’s continued growth and success. From 1994 through 2006, the number of CEFCO stores grew at an average rate of over 20% per year. By the end of 2006, CEFCO operated 69 convenience stores in Texas.

growth by acquisition

In December 2007, FIKES acquired Deweese Enterprises, Inc., which operated 45 convenience stores in Mississippi and Alabama, thus expanding CEFCO’s operations outside the State of Texas for the first time. In August 2011, FIKES acquired Food Fast Corporation, and CEFCO took over the Food Fast stores, which were located in East Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Just four months later, CEFCO took over operations of the Taylor convenience store chain, which had stores in West Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas. During this period of accelerated growth by acquisition, CEFCO continued to build new-to-industry locations, primarily in Texas. In 2014, CEFCO built and began operating its first store in Florida.

over 200 stores in four states

Today, CEFCO operates more than 200 stores in four states (Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida). CEFCO continues to grow by building new stores, exploring acquisition opportunities, and, most importantly, upholding the values of hard work, dedication to customers, and respected corporate citizenship engrained in the company by its founder.

TODAY

cefco in the community

CEFCO and FIKES cherish the opportunity to support the communities in which we operate. Each year, in addition to its numerous ad hoc donations and volunteering, CEFCO orchestrates an annual golf tournament preceded by months of charitable fundraising activities at the store and corporate levels. CEFCO has raised and donated over $3.3 million to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and, through the C.E. Fikes Endowed Scholarships, has made secondary education financially available to students at a number of colleges and universities where we operate.

C.E. Fikes Endowed Scholarship

C.E Fikes Endowed Scholarship supporting education is an important part of what CEFCO Convenience Stores does to help the communities in which we live and serve.

Learn More >

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals

Since 1999 over $5.9 million has been raised to assist CMN in providing charitable care, purchase life-saving equipment, and fund research and education programs that save and improve the lives of 17 million children.

Learn More >

Sponsorship And Donations

For over 30 years, CEFCO has proudly assisted many local charitable initiatives that generate a positive effect for the communities in which we live and serve.

How We Can Help?

OUR gas station locations:

We have more than 190 locations. Find a CEFCO Convenience Store near you!

FIND A CEFCO STORE