Convenience stores are increasingly competing with restaurants, quick-service restaurant chains and specialty beverage retailers as consumers visit stores for a wider range of needs beyond fuel purchases, according to a report released on Tuesday by Intouch Insight.
The 2026 C-store Trends Report from the Ottawa, Ontario-based data analytics firm found that the traditional gas-and-go model is giving way to a broader set of customer missions, with nearly 60% of convenience stores now offering made-to-order food.
“Convenience stores are no longer competing on proximity alone,” said Cameron Watt, president and CEO at Intouch Insight. “Customers are looking to c-stores for meals, beverages, health-focused options, EV charging and everyday services.”
The shift represents a major opportunity for operators, but only if they can deliver consistently across every location, Watt said.
The report identifies six trends shaping the convenience-store industry in 2026, including elevated foodservice standards, expanding beverage programs, a shift toward health-focused offerings, experience-led store formats, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and industry consolidation.
About 58% of consumers said they would choose a brand over a closer competitor because of exclusive food offerings, the report said.
“Unique offerings like Casey’s breakfast pizza, Wawa’s custom hoagies and 7-Eleven’s Slurpee demonstrate how proprietary, exclusive items can create a loyalty barrier that proximity alone cannot replicate,” the report said.
- 7-Eleven is No. 1 on CSP’s 2026 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count. Casey's is No. 3 and Wawa is No. 8.
Beverages are becoming a destination category. Intouch survey data showed that 75% of consumers had visited a convenience store at least once in the past 30 days primarily to buy a beverage without purchasing fuel or snacks.
Some c-store locations are beginning to function more like “third places,” offering customers reasons to stay longer and return more often, the report said.
“Customers are already looking to convenience stores for more varied missions, including coffee or fountain beverages, restrooms, prepared foods or fresh meals and loyalty program offers or app deals,” Intouch Insight said.
Rising demand for healthier food options, customized beverages, reliable EV charging and consistent store experiences are increasing operational pressure on c-store operators, the report said.
Survey data found that 30% of consumers have increased their preference for high-protein options or smaller, portion-controlled food packaging at convenience stores over the last 12 months.
Only 6% of c-store locations in a recent Intouch Insight audit had EV charging stations, indicating that many operators are still in the early stages of adapting the forecourt for longer, more experience-driven visits, the report said.
As convenience stores diversify their formats, performance measures may also need to evolve, Intouch Insight said.
“Execution is not only becoming more difficult but also more important as the c-store model increases in complexity,” said Watt. “As locations move beyond the traditional and begin functioning more like third places, operators need to define what great execution looks like for each format and customer mission.”
let me look
Intouch Insight built the report off 2026 consumer surveys and findings from mystery shopping and audits across major U.S. convenience brands.
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