ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- This year’s already strong sales at convenience stores will continue into second-quarter 2017, thanks to a combination of low gasoline prices, strong consumer confidence and warmer weather, according to the results of a survey of c-store owners conducted by NACS.
A sizable percentage of retailers surveyed say that low gas prices have grown sales in 2017; 47% say low gas prices helped grow in-store sales and 42% say low gas prices grew fuel sales over the first three months of the year.
Also, 80% of convenience retailers expect in-store sales to increase this summer compared to last year, and 57% expect their fuel sales to increase compared to last summer.
“Low gas prices will encourage increased traffic on the roads and in our stores,” said Terry Handley, CEO and president of Casey’s General Stores, Ankeny, Iowa.
Other factors also point to stronger sales at c-stores. John Clark, president of Alpine Mart, Stowe, Vt., said he expects sales to increase because of strong consumer confidence and the warmer weather. And strong employment numbers also will be good for sales, said Marc Strauch, president of Cameron Park Petroleum, Folsom, Calif.
Approximately three in four retailers are optimistic about the economy (76%), the convenience-store industry (73%) and their own business prospects (73%) over the next three months, said NACS.
This retailer optimism mirrors consumer optimism. A record 61% of consumers said they were optimistic about the economy, according to the May 2017 NACS Consumer Fuels Survey.
An increasing percentage of retailers are optimistic about food sales: Fifty-three percent of all retailers optimistic about their business prospects cite food sales as the reason. Overall, 57% of retailers say that sandwiches and meals will grow their sales, with 35% citing healthy packaged snacks and 28% citing fruits and vegetables.
- Watch CSP Daily News this week for complete 2016 c-store sales results from the NACS State of the Industry Summit.
The move toward selling more food ties into consumer trends, NACS said. Consumers are increasingly selecting locations to fuel based on the quality of the food inside the store, according to the findings from a NACS national survey of consumers.
C-stores also sell more beverages as the weather heats up, and retailers are expecting the same to happen this quarter. Sixty-three percent say packaged beverage sales (soda, bottled water, teas) will increase, and 43% say that fountain drinks (both cold and frozen) will increase.
In addition, retailers are adding new food and beverage offerings in stores to help further increase expected sales. Big T Mini Mart, Alhambra, Calif., is adding beer and wine, while Nisqullay Markets, Olympia, Wash., is adding grab-and-go food.
“We want to change the customer mindset from a location of fuel with food products to a food and beverage destination with fuel products,” said Scott Blank, owner of Bi-State Oil Co., Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Beyond products, retailers also are putting an emphasis on store operations. “I expect our growth to come from our efforts to improve our customers’ experience through brighter lighting, a clean bright store and friendly service,” said Mark Speak, owner of Git ‘n Run Mobil, Gilbert, Ariz. In Bigfork, Mont., Ferndale Market is focusing more on local customers rather than tourists, with an emphasis on sandwiches and fresh fruits and vegetables.
“Planning is the key. We expanded our fueling locations to help drive traffic inside the store to our new healthier choices in our foodservice area like fresh fruit smoothies and salads on demand. Couple that with strong consumer confidence, and we expect to have a great second quarter,” said Dennis McCartney, director of operations for Landhope Farms, Kennett Square, Pa.
A total of 79 NACS member companies, representing a cumulative 3,281 stores, participated in the March 2017 NACS Retailer Sentiment Survey, which looks at their views of their businesses, the industry and the economy as a whole.
Alexandria, Va.-based NACS, founded as the National Association of Convenience Stores, has 2,100 retailer and 1,750 supplier members from more than 50 countries.
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