Stuckeys CEO seeks to overhaul company
Summary
At its peak in the 1960s, Stuckeys had 368 stores, and its iconic teal roof was a roadside lighthouse in more than 40 states, with each location offering souvenirs, clean restrooms, fuel, and, of course, its renowned candies. Stuckey noted that following her fathers retirement, the brand started to suffer once again, so she bought it in November 2019 – "a complete career pivot at age 53," she said, having previously served as a U.S. Representative and Head of Sustainability for the City of Atlanta. "We have a couple of stores that are large truck stops that have the whole bank of diesel pumps; that have truckers lounges; that have showers," she said, adding that the Jones Petroleum location in Jackson, Georgia, is the largest travel plaza in the state. "My vision is that we are a part of elevating road travel and celebrating that, and we become a nationally recognized brand for our snacks and candies and that we have a handful of destination locations that are really special; that people will go out of their way to visit. In her effort to revive the business, Stephanie said she spends a lot of time talking to travelers, including truck drivers, to understand "what makes them tick," and how she can drive the company forward to serve its communities.