Greg Parker (entrepreneur)
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Greg Parker (entrepreneur) | |
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| Born | September 24, 1953 Collins, Georgia |
| Citizenship | American |
| Alma mater | The University of Georgia |
| Occupation |
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| Organization | Parker's Kitchen |
| Children | 3 |
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Greg Parker (born September 24, 1953) is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and Founder/Executive Chairman of Parker's Kitchen, an award-winning convenience store company that is headquartered in Savannah, Ga.[1][2]
Early life
Gregory Milo Parker is from Collins, Georgia and is the second of three children born to Jack Parker and Edith Cofer Parker. He graduated from Vidalia High School in Vidalia, Georgia and earned a B.A. from The University of Georgia in 1975.[3]
Career
Parker built his first convenience store in Midway, Georgia in 1975, shortly after graduating from The University of Georgia.[4] He opened his first store on January 1, 1976.[4]
As founder and CEO of Parker's Kitchen, Parker created an award-winning convenience store company that has been honored as the Convenience Store Decisions Chain of the Year in 2020, selected as a USA Today Top Workplace in 2024[5] and honored on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing, privately owned companies in America seven times.[6] Today, the company owns and operates more than 100 retail stores in Georgia and South Carolina and is currently planning to expand into new markets, including Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida.[7] With more than $1 billion in annual sales, Parker's Kitchen completes more than a million transactions weekly and employs nearly 1,800 team members.[8]
In 2022, he received the Georgia Southern University Parker College of Business Corporate Partner Award.[9] In 2025, he was honored as the Convenience Store News Retailer Executive of the Year[2] and earned the GoBeyondProfit Champion Award, Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce Gulfstream Community Involvement Award and Richmond Hill Business Impact Award.[10]
Parker is a longtime member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) and the Petroleum Marketers Study Group.[1] He previously served as the Vice Chairman of Research for the National Association of Convenience Stores, Chairman of the BPAmoco Marketers Association and a member of the Pepsi Retail Advisory Council as well as the Coca-Cola Retail Advisory Committee.[1]
In February 2025, Parker transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairman at Parker's Kitchen and continues to be involved with the company.[11][8]
Philanthropy
Parker has donated more than $30 million to support charitable causes across Georgia and South Carolina.[12] He founded the Fueling the Community charitable giving program at Parker's Kitchen in 2011 and the Parker's Community Fund in 2021, which is focused on supporting education, reducing hunger, expanding access to healthcare and helping local veterans.[13]
In 2018, Parker made a record $5 million donation to name the Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University, supporting the next generation of business leaders in Georgia.[14] In 2024, he made a landmark $5 million donation to Roper/St. Francis Healthcare in Charleston, S.C. to expand access to healthcare for local uninsured and underinsured residents.[15] He also provided two million meals to feed hungry children in 2024[16] and provided critical funding in 2021 to open the Parker's House for Women in Savannah, Georgia, which is the only facility in the region dedicated to helping unaccompanied women experiencing homelessness.[17]
Personal life
Parker is the father of three children and two grandchildren. He and his family live in Savannah, Georgia.[18]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Our Story". Parker's Kitchen. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Convenience Store News' 2025 Retailer Executive of the Year Is..." Convenience Store News. 2025-05-28. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ Schwartzburt, Joseph. "Savannah's Greg Parker shares his hard-earned advice: 'I've gotten smarter over the years'". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Adam, Diane. "Parker's Kitchen CEO and Founder on 50 Years in the Convenience-Store Business". CSP Daily News. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ Romero, Michaela (2024-04-04). "Parker's Kitchen makes USA Today 2024 Top Workplaces list". www.wtoc.com. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ "Parker's Kitchen Earns Spot on Highly Competitive Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest Growing Companies for Seventh Year". Charleston Business. 2024-08-15. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ Sulkowski, Frank (2023-08-23). "Greg Parker reflects on business roots in Southeast Georgia". WJCL. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Spigner, Madison (2025-03-03). "Parker's Kitchen Announces Strategic Leadership Transition, Promotes Greg Parker to Executive Chairman, Brandon Hofmann to CEO and John Rudolfs to President and CFO". Parker's Kitchen. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ University, Georgia Southern; Elrick, Crissie (2022-04-06). "Distinguished service, corporate partner awards presented during Inaugural Parker College of Business Gala | Newsroom". University Newsroom. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ Spigner, Madison (2025-04-14). "Parker's Kitchen Honored for Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy, Food Service Technology and Community Impact". Parker's Kitchen. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ Schwartzburt, Joseph. "Savannah's Greg Parker hands off Parker's Kitchen reins to new leaders". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ Baker, Dawn (2025-06-13). "Greg Parker discusses charitable initiatives led by Parker's for the community". www.wtoc.com. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ Nussbaum, Katie. "Parker's establishes the The Parker's Community Fund with $20M donation". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ University, Georgia Southern; jwise (2018-11-13). "Georgia Southern University announces outstanding $5 million gift to the Parker College of Business | Newsroom". University Newsroom. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ Smalls, Sydaija (2024-01-29). "Parker's Kitchen founder grants $5M to Roper St. Francis; biggest donation ever". WCIV. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ Tribune, Savannah (2023-10-04). "Parker's Kitchen Makes Landmark $1 Million Donation to America's Second Harvest to Feed Hungry Children, Reduce Food Insecurity - The Savannah Tribune". Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ Nicholson, Zoe. "Union Mission opens Parker's House, first emergency shelter for women in three-state region". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ Strigaro, Keith (November 22, 2024). "Greg Parker Is Fueling Positive Change". Savannah Magazine. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
External links
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