Murphy expands White Castle program to more than 100 units

Murphy USA is expanding its automated restaurant initiative with White Castle, with more than 100 units now operating as the convenience store and fuel retailer evaluates customer demand and the potential for a broader rollout. During the company's third-quarter 2026 earnings call, President and CEO Mindy West described the initiative as a test-to-scale program designed to determine whether automated foodservice can become a sustainable part of Murphy USA's retail operations.

The company refers to the initiative internally as Murphy Automated Restaurant Solutions, or MARS. West said Murphy USA is deliberately expanding the program into additional markets and formats while examining three factors: customer demand, compatibility with its operating model and store-level economics. The company has not disclosed sales figures, transaction volumes or profitability for the automated restaurant units.

Although the company is encouraged by early results, West cautioned that it is too soon to determine the program's long-term potential. "The initial results that we've seen so far are encouraging," West told analysts. She said the company expects to provide more detailed information during future earnings calls as it gathers additional operating data.

Store expansion creates opportunities for automated foodservice

The automated restaurant initiative comes as Murphy USA accelerates its broader store expansion. The company reported 18 new stores opened year-to-date and 55 under construction, with plans to open approximately 45 to 50 locations in 2026. West said the company has developed a construction pipeline capable of supporting roughly 50 new stores annually in 2027 and potentially more by 2028. The MARS program represents a separate effort to explore new foodservice opportunities within the company's retail network.

Murphy USA reported third-quarter net income of $176 million, or $9.59 per diluted share, compared with $129.9 million, or $6.76 per diluted share, a year earlier. The approximately 35% increase in net income reflected stronger fuel profitability and higher sales volumes. Revenue increased 34.8% from the third quarter of 2025, driven largely by higher retail fuel prices and increased fuel sales.