This week, a new beacon appeared along the I-43 corridor at Belgium Exit #107. The new, yet highly recognizable red, white and black Kwik Trip sign was installed as a sign of what is to come this fall in Belgium.
While crews are working hard building the new location at 106 North Royal Ave., store leaders are across the street at Belgium’s Village Hall (100 Peter Thein Ave.) meeting and interviewing potential new staff members every Wednesday from 11 am until 4 pm.
The new Kwik Trip will bring up to 75 new jobs to Belgium. Store Leader Keith Dolezal estimates they are about halfway through the hiring process. While Kwik Trip does hire people ages 16 and up, he said the store’s current greatest staffing need is adults 18+.
When asked about the best part of working at Kwik Trip, Dolezal doesn’t hesitate to respond: “The company actually cares about you. It’s not lip service.” Having been a Kwik Trip team member since 2016, and store leader since opening a West Bend Kwik Trip two years ago, Dolezal speaks from experience.
Having a strong culture and showing appreciation for its co-workers is an important part of what makes Kwik Trip the successful, expanding enterprise that it is today. As owner Don Zietlow says, “the company’s job is to take care of the co-workers because the co-workers take care of the guests.”
That care is shown multiple ways. Pay starts at a generous $16 per hour with a $3/hour third shift premium. All staff enjoy paid vacation time, holiday pay, free coffee, soda and a piece of fruit while on-duty, and 40% pre-tax profit sharing at the end of the year, among other benefits.
Every year, they celebrate “Co-worker Appreciation Week” where every employee is sent a $20 gift card and can claim $70 in free products gifted through the company and its vendors. On top of that, there are drawings for gifts from PTO to cash and prizes. This past month, one employee was even surprised at work with a giant $5,000 check. The perks of this week are in addition to incentives provided to staff throughout the year, including safety awards, anniversary gifts and birthday gift cards.
Kwik Trip stores are known for their friendly staff and tagline, “See you next time!” It’s not uncommon to see staff members going out of their way to help customers in need.
Dolezal says, “We only hire friendly and nice people. We hire you because your personality fits in with Kwik Trip’s culture. We will teach you the rest.”
Career development is also a key part of the Kwik Trip business plan, with $2,000 renewable college scholarships, professional development reimbursements, and internships all offered.
There is no timeline for promotions. Dolezal notes, “At the rate which we grow, we always have opportunities for advancement, and we always try to promote from within when we can.”
The Belgium store will be a large travel center, open 24 hours a day, featuring four diesel pumps and 20 regular fuel pumps. It will carry specialty items for truckers such as headsets, navigational devices, & ratchet straps, and boast a CAT scale, a trucker’s lounge, showers and a washer/dryer. There will also be sit-down seating with pop-up charging ports and a choice car wash featuring soft touch or touch-free washes.
The local community can also look forward to enjoying Kwik Trip perks such as fundraising opportunities and having Kwik Trip give back to those in need through its Neighbors helping Neighbors donation program.
The store plans to celebrate its grand opening mid-October, 2023.
Those interested in working at Kwik Trip can also apply online:
https://jobs.kwiktrip.com/us/en
