OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. --Where are consumers most likely to have a strong impression of convenience-store foodservice? Where’s the bar highest, the competition steepest?
Plot the leaders in c-store foodservice on a map of the United States, and you’ll find them clustered around two regions: the hot markets of the mid-Atlantic, and the freeway-rich lower half of the Central time zone.
Back in October, CSP identified 33 leaders in c-store foodservice, chosen by our editorial team for their drive and differentiation. They range from single-store operators to multinational mammoths. They sell everything from ahi sashimi to bacon-wrapped, mac-and-cheese topped sausages. And they’re responsible for changing the perception—and reality—of convenience stores.
But where do they fall on a map? To find out, we plotted the states in which each of the 33 leaders operate and tallied which states have the highest concentration of leaders.
Along with the top 10—which has a number of ties—a few interesting outliers surfaced. For one, Wyoming does quite well for itself, with five leaders operating within its borders (Maverik, Love’s Travel Stops, Kum & Go, CST Brands and Holiday Stationstores) despite being the least populous state in the union.
On the flip side, California—our most populated state—has just five leaders with stores in the state (Tioga Gas Mart/Whoa Nellie Deli, Vintners Distributors, Love’s Travel Stops, 7-Eleven and CST Brands).
Read on for the top 10 states for c-store foodservice, and plan your own business strategies (and road trips) accordingly.
10. Oklahoma*
Players: Love’s Travel Stops, Kum & Go, CST Brands, Stripes, Casey’s General Stores, QuikTrip
Love’s Travel Stops, which has been developing its own made-to-order foodservice concepts, calls this state home, while Stripes brings its tacos and Casey’s its pizza to the Sooner State.
9. Ohio
Players: Coen Oil Co., Giant Eagle GetGo, NOCO Energy Corp., Love’s Travel Stops, 7-Eleven, Sheetz
Along with resident powerhouse Giant Eagle GetGo, the Buckeye State also hosts a handful of important regional and national players including 7-Eleven and Sheetz. Coen Oil Co. and NOCO Energy Corp. are two chains to watch.
8. New York
Players: QuickChek, NOCO Energy Corp., Love’s Travel Stops, 7-Eleven, Cumberland Gulf Group, CST Brands
Regional favorites QuickChek, Cumberland Gulf Group and CST Brands (with its Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes acquisition) dot the New York map, while the demographics of New York City allow 7-Eleven franchisees to try unique food offerings that wouldn’t fly elsewhere.
7. Missouri
Players: U-Gas Inc./Gigi’s Café Express, Love’s Travel Stops, Kum & Go, 7-Eleven, Casey’s General Stores, QuikTrip
Missouri is in a strong geographical location for solid c-store brands, including QuikTrip, which continues rollout of its made-to-order platform, and Casey’s, which recently launched a mobile-ordering app.
6. Arkansas
Players: Mapco, Love’s Travel Stops, Kum & Go, CST Brands, Casey’s General Stores, RaceTrac
Mapco, Kum & Go and Love’s Travel Stops were all named “ones to watch” in our list of leaders for their recent strategic moves around foodservice. Arkansas residents should soon reap the rewards.
5. Georgia
Players: Sprint Food Stores, The Parker Cos., In Town Market, Mapco, Love’s Travel Stops, RaceTrac, QuikTrip
Georgia seems to foster an entrepreneurial spirit: It has the greatest number of leaders with one to 100 stores, including The Parker Cos., Intown Market and Sprint Food Stores.
4. Virginia
Players: Tiger Fuel Co., Royal Farms, Mapco, Love’s Travel Stops, 7-Eleven, RaceTrac, Sheetz, Wawa
Virginia is the first state in the top 10 to usher in a few c-store foodservice stalwarts: Royal Farms, Sheetz and Wawa.
3. Texas
Players: Buc-ee’s, Chef Point, Love’s Travel Stops, 7-Eleven, CST Brands, Stripes, RaceTrac, QuikTrip
Texas can claim a lot of leaders as its own, including international behemoth 7-Eleven, Buc-ee’s (the Costco of c-stores), Stripes and its Laredo Taco Company and restaurant-in-a-gas-station Chef Point.
2. Maryland
Players: Coen Oil Co., Seoul Food D.C., Royal Farms, Giant Eagle GetGo, NOCO Energy Corp., 7-Eleven, Sheetz, Wawa
Maryland is lucky enough to have the biggest c-store foodservice players in its backyard, as well as its own food-truck-turned-brick-and-mortar story with Seoul Food D.C.
1. Pennsylvania
Players: Coen Oil Co., Rutter’s Farm Stores, Royal Farms, Giant Eagle GetGo, NOCO Energy Corp., Love’s Travel Stops, 7-Eleven, Sheetz, Wawa
Thank the cows for Pennsylvania’s crop of homegrown c-store foodservice leaders. Rutter’s, Wawa, Sheetz and Royal Farms are among the state’s chains that started out in the dairy business before branching out into convenience and fuels.
* If you’re counting the players, you’ll see there were many ties in the top 10. In such instances, the states are listed in alphabetical order.
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