ampm is owned by BP plc, which acquired the brand's original owner Atlantic Richfield Company in 2000. The brand operates within BP's US retail division.

Is ampm the same as ARCO?

ampm is the convenience store attached to ARCO fuel stations, but they are separate brands. ARCO sells fuel; ampm operates the shop. Both are owned by BP.

How many ampm stores are there?

ampm operates approximately 1,000 convenience stores, concentrated in the western United States at ARCO stations with additional locations at BP stations in the east.

Yes. Most ampm stores operate under franchise agreements in which independent operators license the brand and format from BP.

What does ampm stand for?

The name derives from the original am/pm Mini Market concept, referencing extended hours open morning through night, though modern stores keep varied hours.

Retail & E-commerce

Who Owns ampm?

ampm is owned by BP plc, the British energy company listed on the London and New York stock exchanges under ticker BP. The brand operates roughly 1,000 convenience stores attached to ARCO and BP fuel stations across the western and eastern United States, tracing to Atlantic Richfield Company's am/pm Mini Market launched in the late 1970s and absorbed when BP acquired ARCO in 2000.

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Parent Company

bp p.l.c.

Founded

1978

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

La Palma, California, USA (brand); London, United Kingdom (parent BP)

ampm Timeline

1909

bp p.l.c.

Parent company established in London, England, United Kingdom

Company Founded

1978

ampm

Founded by Atlantic Richfield Company

Founded

budgetmass marketUnited StatesOfficial Website

Who Owns ampm?

Parent Company: bp p.l.c.
Ownership Type: Brand division
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: London Stock Exchange; NYSE: BP

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
ampm	bp p.l.c.	Brand division

History of ampm

Founded: 1978
Founders: Atlantic Richfield Company

Atlantic Richfield Company, or ARCO, launched the am/pm Mini Market concept in Southern California in the late 1970s, building small stores attached to ARCO fuel stations with extended hours suited to shift workers. The lowercase name and distinctive signage established a value-focused identity.

Through the 1980s and 1990s the format spread across the western United States, reaching several hundred locations. BP acquired ARCO in 2000, integrating ampm into its US operations and expanding the concept to BP-branded stations in the eastern states through the 2000s.

Under BP the brand kept its California base and budget positioning, adding private-label foods, coffee programs, and loyalty integration with BPme and ARCO payment systems. The store count stabilized around 1,000 locations by the 2020s, making ampm one of the larger US convenience chains by site count.

The brand's signature products include its Thaw Zone cold drinks, hot foods, and the Too Much Good Stuff marketing tagline adopted in the 2010s.

About bp p.l.c.

Who owns bp?
bp is a publicly traded company listed on the London Stock Exchange and NYSE under ticker BP, owned by dispersed institutional and retail shareholders. No single entity controls it.

Who is the CEO of bp?
Meg O'Neill, former chief executive of Woodside Energy, became bp's CEO on April 1, 2026, following interim leadership by Carol Howle after Murray Auchincloss's December 2025 departure.

What does bp stand for?
The name descends from British Petroleum, the company's name through 2001, when it rebranded to lowercase "bp" following the Amoco, ARCO, and Burmah Castrol mergers.

Does bp own ampm?
Yes. bp owns ampm through its US convenience and mobility business, inherited from the 2000 ARCO acquisition. The brand operates more than 1,000 stores, mainly on the US West Coast, and is expanding nationally.

How much revenue does bp make?
Fiscal 2025 revenue was $189.3 billion with underlying replacement cost profit of $7.5 billion and operating cash flow of $24.5 billion.

Founded: 1909
Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: London Stock Exchange; NYSE: BP
Revenue: $189.3 billion (FY2025)
Employees: approximately 87,000

Visit bp p.l.c. website

View full company profile for bp p.l.c.

Where Is ampm Made / Based?

Headquarters: La Palma, California, USA (brand); London, United Kingdom (parent BP)

ampm Categories & Tags

Convenience Stores Gas Stations Food Retail Bp Arco American Brand

ampm Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Roughly 1,000 stores attached to high-traffic fuel sites
+ARCO's strong western fuel presence drives store traffic
+Franchise model keeps capital requirements low
+Four decades of brand recognition in the western US
+Integrated with BP's loyalty and payment systems

Considerations

-Older store format trails newer c-store food and design standards
-Geographic concentration limits national brand awareness
-Fuel-station attachment constrains expansion options
-Franchise operators create format consistency challenges
-Fuel demand plateau pressures long-term footfall

Frequently Asked Questions About ampm

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to ampm

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
Shell Select	Shell Plc	United Kingdom (parent Shell plc)	1998	Mass market	Global	All Genders
Sunoco	Energy Transfer	USA	1886	Market leader	United states	All-consumers
Alltown	Global Partners	USA	2012	Mass market	Regional	All Genders
Cenex	Chs	USA	1983	Mass market	United states	All Genders
Global Partners	Global Partners	USA	1933	Mass market	United states	All Genders
Honey Farms	Global Partners	USA	1920	Mass market	Regional	All Genders