11 C-Store Brands Make 2017 Hot 100 Retailers List

WASHINGTON -- Whether they sell through traditional stores, online or both, companies that provide unique offerings and experiences for consumers dominate the 2017 list of Hot 100 Retailers published by the National Retail Federation’s Stores Magazine.

Eleven convenience-store chains made the annual list, which is based on sales growth in 2016 over 2015 and ranks both public and privately held retail companies by U.S. domestic sales, with a $300 million threshold.

“The retail industry is getting better at addressing shifts in shopping behaviors and thinking differently,” Stores Media Editor Susan Reda said. “What matters most to consumers is a retailer differentiating itself in the marketplace, being innovative with merchandise and offering the right value to the right person, not whether a retailer is ‘bricks or clicks.’ The mix of both traditional and digital retailers on this year’s list reflects that. The secret to sustained growth going forward is a symbiotic relationship between digital and physical retailing.”

Online companies make up six of the top 10 companies, but most retailers on the list are either traditional retailers or retailers that sell both in-store and online. Fewer than 10 companies are pure-play e-commerce.

“This year’s Hot 100 confirms once again that retail growth is coming from a number of places, including less-traditional channels in the industry,” said Andrew Stockwell, retail chief product strategy and marketing officer for Kantar Retail, which compiles the list for the NRF. “While a tremendous amount of volume is still generated from big boxes, retail channels such as online, discount, club, drug and convenience are powering accelerated growth.”

Here are the c-store chains that made the 2017 list …

At No. 6, CST Brands is the highest-ranked c-store chain on the list, with 2016 sales of $2.44 billion, up 29% over 2015.

San Antonio-based CST Brands was officially acquired in late June by Laval, Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard, No. 2 on CSP’s Top 202 c-store ranking for 2017.

At No. 26, Kwik Trip saw 2016 sales of $1.44 billion, up 15% over 2015.

La Crosse, Wis.-based Kwik Trip is No. 15 on CSP’s Top 202 c-store ranking for 2017.

At No. 28, Murphy USA had 2016 sales of $406 million, up 14% over 2015.

El Dorado, Ark.-based Murphy USA is No. 5 on CSP’s Top 202 c-store ranking for 2017.

At No. 55, Casey’s General Stores reported 2016 sales of $3.07 billion, up 7% over 2015.

Casey’s also earned the No. 11 spot on the "Sustained Sizzle" list of 14 retailers that have made the Hot 100 each year since its inception in 2006.

Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey’s is No. 4 on CSP’s Top 202 c-store ranking for 2017.

At No. 61, CEFCO saw 2016 sales of $413 million, up 6% over 2015.

Temple, Texas-based CEFCO is No. 35 on CSP’s Top 202 c-store ranking for 2017.

At No. 65, Sheetz had 2016 sales of $819 million, up 6% over 2015.

Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz is No. 17 on CSP’s Top 202 c-store ranking for 2017.

At No. 68, ampm/BP West Coast Products reported 2016 sales of $2.62 billion, up 6% over 2015.

La Palma, Calif.-based ampm is No. 4 on CSP’s Top 202 c-store ranking for 2017.

At No. 81, Wawa saw 2016 sales of $1.29 billion, up 5% over 2015.

Wawa, Pa.-based Wawa is No. 13 on CSP’s Top 202 c-store ranking for 2017.

At No. 85, 7-Eleven Inc. had 2016 sales of $14.32 billion, up 5% over 2015.

Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven is No. 1 on CSP’s Top 202 c-store ranking for 2017.

At No. 87, QuikTrip reported 2016 sales of $1.41 billion, up 4% over 2015.

Tulsa, Okla.-based QuikTrip is No. 11 on CSP’s Top 202 c-store ranking for 2017.

At No. 97, Lisle, Ill.-based Clark Crown Brands saw 2016 sales of $1.28 billion, up 4% over 2015.

• Click here to view the full Hot 100 list.