LOUISVILLE, Colo. -- Finding cheap gas is the No. 1 reason motorists use a gasoline-themed mobile app, a recent study found.
Finding a gas station and reporting gasoline prices were second and third, respectively, but 71% of respondents searched for lowest price, according to a recently released study by Market Force Information, Louisville, Colo. While the number of people reporting they used a gasoline or convenience-store mobile app remained the same at 10% when comparing 2016 vs. 2015, app use increased among 45- to 54-year-olds and decreased among 25- to 34-year-olds, officials said.
Boston-based GasBuddy, which uses crowdsourcing to find the cheapest gas prices in an area, is by far the most popular app (59% of respondents), but one-third reported using a retailer’s branded app.
As previously reported in CSP Daily News, La Crosse, Wis.-based Kwik Trip was the customer’s favorite convenience store to fill up their gas tanks, according to the study.
More than 10,000 consumers were polled for the annual study, which ranks gas stations in two separate categories: traditional gas stations and convenience stores on one hand, and grocery stores and big-box retailers with gas stations on the other. The report also uncovered trends in food, technology and loyalty at these establishments.
Even though most motorists still fuel up at traditional gas stations, the study found that grocers and big-box brands continue to be popular choices for their low prices and convenience.
“The brands are tightly clustered in nearly every category, which shows just how fiercely competitive this industry is,” said Cheryl Flink, chief strategy officer for Market Force. “With drivers having so many options to choose from, gas stations and convenience stores must excel in areas beyond price, such as offering multiple payment options or specialty foods to attract loyal, repeat customers.”
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