Cody’s Convenience Stores acquires Snak Atak stores

Curtis Jared, executive vice president of Springfield-based Cody Ventures LLC, said the acquisition closed for an undisclosed price April 15. Jared said he bought the stores from John Starrett and brothers Donnie and Ronnie Simpson. The sellers declined interview requests.

Missouri Secretary of State filings show Starrett as president of Joplin-based Snak Atak Management Inc. Carthage-based Grace Energy Corp. also owns Snak Atak stores in Joplin and Springfield, according to www.graceenergy.com, but Jared said Grace Energy wasn’t involved in this transaction. Jared said that all of the Snak Atak stores share branding, though the nine stores involved in the deal would be rebranded as Cody’s.

Jared launched Cody’s Convenience Stores in 2002 after buying his first store in Rogersville. With the Snak Atak acquisition, and after opening two new-construction stores in Springfield this month, Cody’s will operate 36 stores in southwest Missouri.

Cody’s already had one Joplin location – 1827 S. Maiden Lane – before the Snak Atak acquisition.

“It helps give us presence down here,” Jared said. “Joplin’s a good market, and it’s an area that we’ve been eyeing for a while anyway. It’s a perfect fit.”

See SBJ’s April 21 issue for more on Cody’s Snak Atak deal.