Two growing convenience-store chains are called out in a new Placer.ai report as among "10 Regional Powerhouses to Watch." Buc-ee's and Sheetz are featured as top regional convenience stores.
Buc-ee's
"It's not just [Buc-ee's] White House-sized stores that differentiate the brand from other c-stores," the Placer.ai white paper said. "The chain, which has branched out of Texas and into South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, and Alabama, is known for its amenities, which range from its renowned clean bathrooms and showers to a delicious array of food options."
Placer.ai foot traffic data indicates that the chain is outperforming the c-store category nationwide. January 2023 visits to Buc-ee's were 112.1% higher than three years prior, compared to a 22.8% year-over-three-years increase for the category nationwide, according to the report.
- Lake Jackson, Texas-based Buc-ee's is No. 157 on CSP’s 2022 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by company-owned store count.
Sheetz
Meanwhile, the report says Sheetz is part of a "c-store food revolution" that is lifting the profile of c-stores.
"While Sheetz is technically considered a gas station that offers food at each location, its wide array of made-to-order menu items might make the gas station aspect more of an afterthought for many Sheetz customers," says the report.
That aspect has put Sheetz ahead of other familiar convenience-retail brands in terms of foot traffic, the report states.
"In 2022, only 4.3% of Sheetz visitors continued to a dining location immediately after their visits, compared to 6.3% for 7-Eleven, 8.1% for QuikTrip, and 8.3% for Circle K."
- Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz is No. 12 on CSP’s 2023 Top 40 update of the largest U.S. convenience-store chains by company-owned store count.
Placer.ai's key takeaway about c-stores: Convenience stores are becoming food destinations. Buc-ee’s and Sheetz draw in their customers by offering plenty of food that’s more than a cut above the convenience store average.
Other retail channels addressed in the "10 Regional Powerhouses to Watch: Top Brands Dominating Local Markets" report include grocers, food and dining chains and apparel, among others. Click here to read the complete report.
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