Gas King Earns Gas Station, Convenience Store, and Carwash Awards
By Angela Altass
Gas King was recently voted best gas station, carwash and convenience store in the Lethbridge Herald Best of the Best Awards and best gas station, self-serve carwash and touchless automatic carwash at the Medicine Hat News Reader’s Choice Awards.
“We are incredibly grateful to have taken home all three Lethbridge Herald Best of the Best Awards this year,” says Brent Morris, president, Gas King. “Winning best carwash has been a familiar honour for us over the years and we’ve proudly held the best gas station title for the past few years, though that one has come and gone at times. This year made things even more special with the return of the best convenience store category after nearly 15 years and we’re beyond excited to be recognized in that space too.”
While the company has frequently taken top spot for the best self-serve carwash in the Medicine Hat News Reader’s Choice Awards, achieving a clean sweep in this year’s awards is special, says Morris.
“This marks a special milestone as we haven’t had the same success in the other two categories until now,” he states. “We’re proud to be a local business serving our community. We are truly humbled by the incredible support we continue to receive from the communities we serve. Over the years, we have dedicated significant time and energy to strengthening our image and branding.”
The independent regional chain has long been recognized for giving back to the community.
“From coin boxes at checkout supporting the Don Morris/Gas King Memorial Funds for local community foundations to hosting numerous Charity Care Wash events at our carwash locations, community support is a core part of who we are,” says Morris. “During the challenges of the pandemic in 2020, we turned our curb signs into this message of gratitude to our customers and community: ThanKing You for Supporting Local.”
While customers can always find daily staples at their SnacKing convenience stores, there is also a priority for fresh, unique items that spark interest and encourage impulse buys, says Morris.
“We balance everyday essentials with a constant stream of innovative new products to keep our shelves exciting,” he says. “Our goal is to offer a selection that is both trend-forward and competitively priced, ensuring our customers get great value along with the latest convenience store trends.”
Gas King began its journey in 1985 with a clear focus on providing gasoline and diesel to the people of Southern Alberta. In the early days, it had the look and feel of a small, family-run operation.
“This changed in 2000 when we partnered with Stephen Sinclaire and the team at Sinclaire Design,” notes Morris. “They have gone above and beyond to help transform our brand into one that reflects the presence and professionalism of a national chain.”
While fuel retailing remains at the heart of the company and is deeply rooted in its history, Gas King has grown beyond fuel, states Morris.
“Our convenience stores and self-serve and automatic carwashes play a vital role in delivering a complete, high-quality experience for our customers,” he says. “While fuel is our foundation, these offerings are essential to how we serve our communities every day.”
With four locations in Lethbridge, two in Medicine Hat, and one in Picture Butte, Gas King continues to expand, with plans to open another Lethbridge location later this year or early in 2027.
“While our locations largely offer the same core goods and services, five of our seven sites include carwash facilities,” notes Morris. “Some are situated along high traffic corridors, while others are more focused on serving their surrounding neighbourhoods.”
Many of the locations have undergone renovations and have rebranded under the SnacKing c-store banner. In the Fall of 2022, Gas King launched a full-scale renovation at its flagship location at 213 Mayor Magrath Drive North in Lethbridge.
“To elevate this busy location, we introduced SnacKing Kitchen, a state-of-the-art facility designed to bring high-quality hot food to our customers,” said Morris. “Beyond serving on-site guests, this kitchen acts as our central commissary, preparing fresh sandwiches and salads daily. These are delivered to our four other regional locations using our branded SnacKing Kitchen van, ensuring we are selling best-in-class freshness at our stores.”
Since 2007, Gas King has offered its own loyalty program, King Card Rewards, operating on the KickBack Rewards/Ignite Retail Network.
“Over nearly two decades, this program has evolved through many positive enhancements and has been well received by customers from the start,” states Morris. “In mid-2024, we introduced new Rapid Cash ATMs across all Gas King/SnacKing convenience store locations. Branded as BanKing Centers, these units go beyond standard ATM services. Customers can register their King Cards directly at the machines and cardholders can also enjoy Kingo Round, a spin-to-win game offering a variety of prizes.”
Offering a “triple threat” of fuel, convenience and carwashes, and also providing full-service fueling at some locations, Morris is proud that Gas King is a local business that serves its community. He adds that the company’s priority is to solidify its footprint in Southern Alberta and the wider Alberta market.
Highlights of Gas King History
- May 1985 | Introduced Gas King at 213 Mayor Magrath Dr N, Lethbridge.
- April 2001 | Launched Gas King website (gasking.com)
- October 2003 | SnacKing Convenience Stores brand was unveiled.
- August 2003 | Don Morris/Gas King Memorial Fund Introduced
- June 2007 | KickBack Rewards were introduced at Gas King. In May 2011, this loyalty program was rebranded as King Card Rewards, but remains on the KickBack Loyalty Points network
- May 2010 | Introduced Williwa slush beverages as a part of Gas King’s 25th anniversary.
- March 2021 | The new Gas King All Access App was listed on both the App Store & Google Play. For phase one of this new app, Clean Club car wash memberships were launched.
- February 2023 | The SnacKing Kitchen concept was introduced at Eastside Gas King as renovations were substantially complete.
- June 2023 | The grand opening of the first SnacKing Kitchen location inside the original Gas King on Mayor Magrath Dr N, Lethbridge, in conjunction with the grand reopening of this newly renovated site.
- December 2023 | Smart Label Solutions electronic shelf labels installed at one store as a test. These electronic shelf labels are now in four SnacKing locations.
- August 2024 | New BanKing Centre ATMs installed at all Gas King locations. These new kiosks were placed by Edmonton based Rapid Cash ATM. With these new ATMs customers can access cash and Crypto, and, they can also register their King Card on these units and play Kingo Round to win prizes from Gas King.
- January 2026 | Gas King announced the first Gas King/SnacKing location in West Lethbridge to open in late 2026 or early 2027.
