Table of Contents
- Scope and Themes
- What you need to know
- Definition
- Data sources
- Sales data
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
- Executive Summary
- Market at a glance
- In a fragmented channel, c-stores balance local knowledge with national
scale
- C-stores face different competitors in leading product categories
- In-store sales linked to what happens at the gasoline pump
- Tobacco still leads in-store, but slips in share
- Foodservice plays an even more prominent strategic role
- Other categories remain small, but opportunities for new services exist
- Growth in Hispanic population likely to benefit c-stores
- 7-Eleven remains a dominant force in the industry
- Big oil reducing number of stores
- Shift to franchised/licensed stores continues
- Well-established regional c-store players among the strongest brands
- Ads focus on basic c-store values
- Frequent shoppers are young and male
- Perceptions of food are improving, but still room for improvement
- Market Size and Forecast
- Key points
- After years of strong growth, market slows considerably
- Figure 2: U.S. sales of convenience stores, at current prices, 2003-13
- Figure 3: U.S. sales of convenience stores, at inflation-adjusted
prices, 2003-13
- Competitive Context
- In a fragmented channel, c-stores balance local knowledge and national
scale
- C-stores face different competitors in leading product categories
- Segment Performance
- Key points
- Figure 4: U.S. sales of convenience stores, by segment, 2006 and 2008
- Segment Performance--Petroleum
- Key points
- Gasoline dominates sales, but may be losing power
- Figure 5: U.S. sales and forecast of petroleum through convenience
stores, at current prices, 2003-13
- Segment Performance--In-Store Items
- Key points
- In-store sales linked to what happens at the gasoline pump
- Figure 6: U.S. sales and forecast of in-store items at convenience
stores, at current prices, 2003-13
- Tobacco still leads but slips in share
- Foodservice plays an even more prominent strategic role
- Other categories remain small, but opportunities for new services exist
- Figure 7: U.S. sales of in-store items in convenience stores, by
sub-segment, 2006 and 2008
- Market Drivers
- Key points
- Convenience stores cater to a driving nation
- Figure 8: U.S. Vehicle miles by road system, 2004-08
- Rising gasoline prices key to c-store sales increases
- Figure 9: U.S. average price per gallon of gasoline, 2003-09
- Growth in Hispanic consumers likely to benefit c-stores
- Figure 10: Population, by race and Hispanic origin, 2003-13
- Aging population may present a challenge for c-stores
- Figure 11: U.S. population of adults aged 18 and over, by age group,
2003-13
- Leading Companies
- Key points
- 7-Eleven remains a dominant force in the industry
- Big oil reducing number of stores
- BP North America
- Exxon Mobil
- Shell
- Chevron Texaco
- The Pantry a dominant force in the Southeast
- Figure 12: Number of U.S. stores and sales of leading convenience
stores, by company, 2007 and 2008
- Shift to franchised/licensed stores continues
- Figure 13: Leading c-store operators, share of U.S. stores franchised or
licensed, 2007 and 2008
- Brand Qualities
- Key point
- Well-established regional c-store players among the strongest brands
- Figure 14: Select regional convenience store chains, by number of
stores, 2008 sales, and states of operation
- Spotlight: Wawa typical of strong regional c-store operations
- Customer service
- Fresh food
- Connection to the community
- Innovation and Innovators
- Key points
- Convenience stores continue to evolve
- New Cumberland Farms prototype puts focus on fresh
- Supermarket chains step up in convenience market
- Sheetz breaks into in-store dining
- Rutter' s Farm Stores score a hit with stir fry
- Advertising and Promotion
- Key points
- Overview
- 7-Eleven targets a variety of promotional tactics at young male customers
- Figure 15: 7-Eleven TV ad, 2008
- Chains stress basic c-store values of convenience and variety of foods
- Figure 16: Circle K ' Built for speed' TV ad, 2008
- Figure 17: am/pm ' Too much good stuff" TV ad, 2009
- Figure 18: Kwik Trip Magic Box TV ad, 2009
- Quality coffee also receives emphasis
- Figure 19: Speedway Coffee TV ad, 2009
- Usage
- Adults
- Older adults least likely to shop convenience stores
- Figure 20: Incidence of visiting convenience stores, by age, July
2007-September 2008
- Younger shoppers make more trips
- Figure 21: Number of visits to convenience stores in last 4 weeks, by
age, July 2007-September 2008
- Male shoppers visit more often
- Figure 22: Number of visits to convenience stores in last 4 weeks, by
gender, July 2007-September 2008
- Average of $15 spent on last convenience store visit
- Figure 23: Average amount spent on last convenience store visit,
summary, January 2009
- 7-Eleven is most frequently shopped convenience store
- Figure 24: Convenience stores shopped, January 2009
- Young respondents buy a wider array of products
- Figure 25: Products bought at convenience stores, by age, January 2009
- Coffee is the draw for older adults
- Figure 26: Food and drink items bought at convenience stores, by age,
January 2009
- Shoppers want to see more natural and organic foods
- Figure 27: Interest in products/services at convenience stores, by age,
January 2009
- Teens
- Three out of four teens shop convenience stores
- Figure 28: Incidence of visiting convenience stores, by gender and age,
July 2007-September 2008
- Teens make more visits to convenience stores
- Figure 29: Teenagers: Number of visits to convenience stores in last 4
weeks, by gender and age, July 2007-September 2008
- 7-Eleven is teens' favorite too
- Figure 30: Teenagers: convenience stores visited in last month, by
store, July 2007-September 2008
- Attitudes and Motivations
- Women do their convenience store shopping when traveling
- Figure 31: Attitudes and behaviors regarding convenience stores, by
gender, January 2009
- Older shoppers come for the coffee, but pass on the food
- Figure 32: Attitudes and behaviors regarding convenience stores, by age,
January 2009
- Prices are the number one reason for not shopping convenience stores
- Figure 33: Why convenience stores are not shopped, by gender, January
2009
- Race and Hispanic Origin
- Asian respondents much less likely to shop convenience stores
- Figure 34: Incidence of visiting convenience stores, by race/ethnicity,
July 2007-September 2008
- Blacks and Hispanics are most frequent shoppers
- Figure 35: Number of visits to convenience stores in last 4 weeks, by
race/Hispanic origin, July 2007-September 2008
- 7-Eleven the overall favorite, but subtle differences appear by
race/Hispanic origin
- Figure 36: Convenience stores shopped most frequently, by race/Hispanic
origin, January 2009
- Convenience stores meet a wide array of needs for Hispanic shoppers
- Figure 37: Products bought at convenience stores, by race/Hispanic
origin, January 2009
- Stores may consider healthier fare, but should keep junk food favorites
- Figure 38: Food and drink items bought at convenience stores, by
race/Hispanic origin, January 2009
- Coffee tops coffee shops with Hispanic and black shoppers
- Figure 39: Attitudes and behaviors regarding convenience stores, by
race/Hispanic origin, January 2009
- Black and Hispanic shoppers interested in a wider array of
products/services at convenience stores
- Figure 40: Interest in products/services at convenience stores, by
race/Hispanic origin, January 2009
- Appendix: Trade Associations
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