Top 40 convenience-store chains ranked: A 2026 update

In the aftermath of two of the largest U.S. convenience-store chains locking horns in an unwelcomed takeover attempt, 2025 became an unlikely calm for mergers and acquisitions, as potential buyers and sellers paused to let the dust settle.

When the parent of the Circle K chain began its bold takeover bid for the parent of 7-Eleven in 2024, the potential of the No. 2 and No. 1 largest U.S. convenience chains making a single behemoth shook the industry to its retail core. When the offers and counter moves abruptly ended in July 2025 with Laval, Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard breaking off the charge, the heat cooled and Tokyo-based Seven & i Holding Co. Ltd. announced new goals for 7-Eleven in the United States, inclusive of an IPO, leadership changes and the intention to add 1,300 more stores in North America by 2030.

“We did not see a real blockbuster deal [in 2025], as we have seen in previous years,” said Dennis Ruben, executive managing director, NRC Realty & Capital Advisors, LLC, Chicago. “The potential acquisition of Seven & i … captured much of the attention and headlines over the last 14 to 20 months.” 

Some say the M&A “pause” was due in part to the potential divestment fallout that would have occurred if the merger went through, according to Steve Morris, president and CEO of Retail Management Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota. “Knowing there would be forced divestitures created uncertainty as to what … would be available for inventory. It’s difficult to [navigate] what could have been an unknown glut.”

• See the 2025 Top 40 update here. 

That’s not to say M&A completely stopped, because a handful of acquisitions closed in 2025 while another deal took c-store M&A to a new level. 

One of the largest acquisitions to close in 2025 came to light the year before, with Dallas, Texas-based Sunoco LP’s acquisition of Calgary, Alberta-based Parkland Corp. for $9.1 billion. That courtship was underway for almost a year before it closed last October, making Sunoco the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas.

Another deal came with Worcester, Massachusetts-based Nouria Energy closing its purchase of Savannah, Georgia-based Enmarket and its 133 stores. And a third with the closing of Upland, California-based Anabi Oil’s acquisition of Henderson, Nevada-based Green Valley Grocery and its 87 locations.

But by far the most out-of-the-box transaction of 2025 was Atlanta-based RaceTrac purchasing the fast-casual sandwich chain, Potbelly Corp. for $566 million, with the convenience chain gaining foodservice and branding expertise with the deal.

Still, overall, industry observers point to other areas of uncertainty that gave buyers and sellers reason to pause in 2025. The introduction of President Donald Trump’s tariff policy was a “significant shock to the overall stock market and had a chilling effect on M&A,” said Roger Woodman, managing director, Raymond James, Atlanta. “But when the administration softened its rhetoric, the stock market began setting records and M&A rebounded.”

• See the 2025 Top 202 list here.

Other factors unique to 2025 will continue to stir the mix, observers said. For instance, changes in tax law will allow companies to claim 100%, year-one depreciation of qualified property, such as c-stores, acquired and placed in service after Jan. 19, 2025, Ruben of NRC said. At the same time, he said fuel margins in 2025 were the highest on record, keeping potential sellers from leaving the business.

With the United States taking military action against Iran, the situation with gasoline here at home could change. Ruben said oil prices have gone over $100 a barrel, levels “unseen” in years and already leading to increases at the pump by as much as 60 cents a gallon. The volatility may affect everything from margins to traffic both outside and inside the store.

“Although the administration contends that the war will be ‘short lived’, it remains to be seen whether the effects on oil and gasoline prices will also be short lived,” Ruben said.

Generally, retailers find themselves forever stuck in that awkward, go-or-grow threshold, said Morris of Retail Management. “The biggest operating cost is maintenance for things with no ROI,” he said. “One team leader may want a new coffee program and … the IT guys come in wanting to invest in security technology. It’s marketing vs. maintenance. You must prove an operational return or a consumer return, because there’s only so much capital to go around.”

Despite contradictory forces constantly at play, Woodman of Raymond James is optimistic. “The c-store channel remains resilient,” he said, “with operators bullish on the industry going into the future.”

Chains: 7-Eleven, Speedway, Stripes

No. of Stores: 12,700

2026 Ranking: 1

Ranking the Previous Year: 1

Headquarters: Irving, Texas

Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd., the parent company of Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven Inc., announced a sweeping “transformation” of 7-Eleven, which includes actions at all levels of the organization. The announcement followed a $47.2 billion takeover attempt by global c-store retailer and Circle K owner Alimentation Couche-Tard that collapsed in August 2025.

Part of those plans were to open approximately 1,300 new large-format, food-focused U.S. c-stores by 2030. The new initiative also includes investing in stores and equipment for distinctive food offering to address the need to draw customers with more differentiation.

While the chain kept low key regarding M&A last year, 2026 began with the acquisition of 15 gas stations and convenience stores from Henderson, Nevada-based Short Line Express Market.

In addition to its announced growth strategies, 7-Eleven closed out 2025 with leadership changes, approving a new board of directors and naming Stephen Hayes Dacus its first foreign-born CEO. Then in late December, longtime 7-Eleven Inc. CEO Joe DePinto announced he would retire at the end of 2025 after more than two decades at the helm. 

7-Eleven President Stan Reynolds and Executive Vice President and COO Doug Rosencrans are serving as interim co-CEOs while the company’s board of directors and an executive search firm identify DePinto’s successor. Reynolds has been president of Seven & i since 2023, where he was responsible for various responsibilities, including finance, accounting, mergers and acquisitions, strategy and the Speedway integration. He joined Seven & i in 1997 and has served in numerous executive roles, including as CFO. Rosencrans has been the executive vice president and COO for Seven & i since 2022.

At the store level, 7-Eleven has expanded its fresh food lineup with the rollout of a Japanese-style egg salad sandwich, bringing a popular item from its Japanese stores to participating U.S. locations. Now available nationwide at select 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes stores, the launch reflects the retailer’s strategy to diversify its ready-to-eat offerings and tap into global food trends that resonate with American consumers.

Another business initiative in 2025 included a North American initial public offering (IPO) for 7-Eleven. In March of last year, CSP Daily News reported that the company would pursue an IPO of 7-Eleven Inc., its convenience-store business in North America, by the second half of 2026 on one of the major U.S. stock exchanges.

7-Eleven—known for its Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp brands—operates, franchises or licenses stores in the United States and Canada. In addition to 7-Eleven, the company operates and franchises Speedway and Stripes c-stores and the Laredo Taco Company and Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits restaurant brands.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Circle K, GetGo, Holiday Stationstores

No. of Stores: 7,308

2026 Ranking: 2

Ranking the Previous Year: 2

Headquarters: Laval, Quebec

Even while abandoning its takeover bid for rival 7-Eleven in 2025, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. would go on to close a significant acquisition last year with GetGo Café + Market, the food-forward convenience chain from the retail family of Pittsburgh-based grocer Giant Eagle. The $1.57 billion sale of convenience-store chain included about 270 GetGo and WetGo locations.

Couche-Tard created a new business unit to operate the GetGo, and would put at the helm Mike Maraldo, a 33-year Giant Eagle veteran who has been vice president of operations for GetGo since 2022.

Regarding the failed attempt to buy Tokyo-based Seven & i, officials with Couche-Tard said the parent of Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven as showing “a lack of constructive engagement.”

Alain Bouchard, founder and executive chairman of the board at Couche-Tard, and Alex Miller, president CEO, said in a joint statement, “We continue to believe that a combination of Seven & i Holdings and Alimentation Couche-Tard would create a global leader in convenience with the ability to better serve our stakeholders, grow the 7-Eleven brand and generate value for our respective shareholders.”

Couche-Tard operates in 29 countries and territories, with more than 16,700 stores globally. With its Circle K banner, it is one of the largest independent convenience-store operators in the United States.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Casey’s General Stores, CEFCO, goodstop

No. of Stores: 2,921

2026 Ranking: 3

Ranking the Previous Year: 3

Headquarters: Ankeny, Iowa

Casey’s General Stores continued its growth strategy of mixing acquisitions and new builds through 2025, saying it expects to open at least 80 stores in their 2026 fiscal year. The company said it will complete its three-year plan with approximately 500 stores.

Last year, the company spent time rebranding  198 CEFCO Convenience Stores it acquired in late 2024, said Darren Rebelez, chairman, president and CEO the Ankney, Iowa-based Casey’s.

Casey’s acquired the CEFCO stores when it purchased Fikes Wholesale for $1.145 billion in November 2024. In addition to 148 locations in Texas, a highly strategic market for Casey’s, the acquisition included stores in the southeastern states of Alabama (27 stores), Florida (13) and Mississippi (10).

Known as much for handmade pizza as its rural roots, Casey’s had historically preferred new-builds in small towns and neighboring regions to its Iowa base. In recent years, the company has transformed into an active, national acquirer, purchasing 63 locations from Westborough, Massachusetts-based EG America in 2023 and 94 stores from Omaha, Nebraska-based Buchanan Energy in 2021.

Darren Rebelez, who became Casey’s CEO in 2019 and was named CSP's Retail Leader of the Year in 2024, vowed to “contemporize” the venerable chain. In 2020, Casey's updated its logo for the first time in 50 years and launched a new loyalty program. 

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Murphy, Murphy Express, QuickChek

No. of Stores: 1,800

2026 Ranking: 4

Ranking the Previous Year: 4

Headquarters: El Dorado, Arkansas

Murphy USA opened 51 new-to-industry convenience stores in 2025, exceeding its goal by one store. And it has plans for more growth in 2026 through both new builds and acquisitions.In 2026, it opened two stores and it has another 18 under construction, Donnie Smith, chief accounting officer and interim CFO said in prepared remarks for the company’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2025. 

“Our pipeline remains healthy and we are on track to deliver 45 to 55 new stores in 2026, with the lower-end of the range representing our internal organic growth plan and the higher-end representing the ability to bolt-on a few stores through opportunistic acquisition in strong markets, much as we did in 2025 with the purchase of four stores in the Denver area,” Smith said. “In addition, we expect to undertake up to 30 raze and rebuild projects in 2026.”

Smith said Murphy’s primary focus remains adding 2,800 square foot stores to its network as part of its long-term goal of building 500 or more new stores over the next decade. That square footage could change depending on the market, he said. 

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: ampm, Thornton’s, TravelCenters of America

No. of Stores: 1,708

2026 Ranking: 5

Ranking the Previous Year: 5

Headquarters: Chicago

In 2025, talk of a merger between bp and Shell began to swirl. However, a bp spokesperson declined to comment on “rumor or market speculation.” Officials with Houston-based Shell said, “as we have said many times before, we are sharply focused on capturing the value in Shell through continuing to focus on performance, discipline and simplification.”

For the most part, bp has been quiet on the M&A front since it closed on its $1.3 billion acquisition of TravelCenters of America Inc. in 2023. The acquisition marked a “milestone” for the U.S. in the growth of bp’s strategic convenience and mobility business, according to bp. The transaction added a network of about 280 travel centers, located on major highways across United States.

Chicago-based bp also owns convenience-store brands ampm, based in La Palma, California, and Thorntons, Louisville, Kentucky, which it acquired in August 2021. The ampm brand expanded to the East Coast in August 2022 with a store opening in New York City. The brand emphasizes coffee, bakery, fresh sandwiches and hot prepared foods. A large fountain program offers up to 24 varieties of soda and proprietary drinks. Stores have an open floor plan, with some featuring open-air refrigerated cases carrying a selection of fresh sandwiches, fruit and yogurt.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Cumberland Farms, Certified Oil, EG America, Fastrac, Kwik Stop, Loaf ‘N Jug, Minit Mark, Quik Stop, Sprint, Tom Thumb, Turkey Hill 

No. of Stores: 1,464

2026 Ranking: 6

Ranking the Previous Year: 6

Headquarters: Westborough, Massachusetts

In 2025, EG America continued investing in foodservice expansion, loyalty and store rebranding. Using its Cumberland Farms monicker, the company has made progress throughout the year, with additional conversions planned for 2026. Last year, the company rebranded 15 Tom Thumb locations to Cumberland Farms in the Florida Panhandle and Gulf Coast, bringing the total converted to 46. The remaining 64 sites are scheduled for completion by the first half of 2027.

The company also opened a flagship next-generation store in Panama City, Florida, advancing its premium site model and supporting its strategy to increase foodservice penetration across the network.

Currently, EG Group operates 1,464 sites in the United States, including company-operated locations, proprietary fuel sites and food outlets. That number could soon growth though. In March, Cumberland Farms said it agreed to acquire Canonsburg, Pennsylvania-based convenience-store chain Coen Markets. The deal includes Coen Markets’ 54 sites in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, plus three new-to-industry stores under development, the chain said. 

EG’s SmartRewards loyalty program surpassed 4.7 million members in January, with growth in fuel gallons, daily active users and loyalty transactions.

Inside the stores, foodservice gross profits rose 10%, due in part from U.S. initiatives such as the rollout of the Krispy Krunchy Chicken brand. The program has moved beyond its pilot phase, with 22 locations currently operating and plans to expand to 150 by the end of 2026. Early stores have delivered “compelling returns” and helped boost fuel and in-store sales at established sites, officials said.

The chain’s parent company, Blackburn, England-based EG Group, was founded in 2001 by Mohsin and Zuber Issa. The brothers grew the business into a leading independent convenience retailer, which has established partnerships with global brands, as well as a focused portfolio of proprietary brands. EG Group currently employs more than 50,000 colleagues working in over 6,600 sites across Australia, Europe, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

EG America began with an initial acquisition in the United States of Cincinnati-based Kroger Co.’s 762 convenience stores in April 2018. It made several acquisitions in 2019, including 566 locations from Westborough, Massachusetts-based Cumberland Farms.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chain: QuikTrip

No. of Stores: 1,196

2026 Ranking: 7

Ranking the Previous Year: 9

Headquarters: Tulsa, Oklahoma

QuikTrip Corp. continued its new-build growth strategy in 2025, having 1,196 stores as of January 1 of this year. The company opened its 1,200th store in Morrow, Georgia, this past February, highlighting a growth milestone nationwide. The new location marks QuikTrip’s 181st store in that state, having entered the Georgia in 1986.

“The Atlanta metro area and the state of Georgia have been incredibly important to QuikTrip for nearly 40 years,” said QuikTrip Atlanta Director of Operations Robert Smith. “Reaching our 1,200th store is a milestone that reflects the strength of our business model—one built on taking care of employees, earning customer trust and showing up consistently for the communities we serve.

Recent growth with new-to-industry locations has occurred in Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada and Texas. It announced in January that it would be opening its first store in Utah in 2026. QuikTrip has more than 80 new stores scheduled to open in 2026, part of a growth strategy built on operational consistency, employee retention and strong customer demand, the company said.

A privately held company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and founded in 1958, the QuikTrip footprint expands across 17 states. 

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chain: Wawa

No. of Stores: 1,189

2026 Ranking: 8

Ranking the Previous Year: 10

Headquarters: Wawa, Pennsylvania

Wawa Inc. opened its first Indianapolis location last year, with the Wawa, Pennsylvania-based company also building stores in Daleville, Noblesville, Clarksville, Brownsburg, Cumberland, Plainfield and Westfield. Over the next six years, the company plans to open between eight and 12 stores annually, with a goal of reaching 60 locations in Indiana, officials said. Known as a chain focused on organic growth, Wawa Inc. began expansions into Alabama, Indiana, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Ohio in recent years. 

Wawa is one of the nation’s most well-respected convenience-store chains, particularly when it comes to foodservice. In addition to a slew of fresh foods and beverages, Wawa sells a wide selection of private-label products, such as bagged Wawa coffees, dairy products and teas.

In 2025, Wawa officially opened its first travel center located in Hope Mills, North Carolina, with two more planned. Fuel includes six high-speed diesel fuel lanes for professional tractor-trailer drivers, accepting over-the-road (OTR) payments, as well as 20 fuel spots for passenger drivers. With more than 8,000 square feet of space, the travel center offers Wawa’s fresh food and beverage offer.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chain: ExtraMile

No. of Stores: 1,174

2026 Ranking: 9

Ranking the Previous Year: 8

Headquarters: Pleasanton, California

ExtraMile Convenience Stores, operating exclusively at Chevron and Texaco branded locations, has reached 1,174 stores nationwide and will surpass 1,200 by April 2026, officials said. The network continues to scale rapidly across the West and Southeast, solidifying its position as one of the fastest-growing convenience retail brands.

Over the past two years, ExtraMile has completed its systemwide interior refresh and is now finishing exterior imaging upgrades across the network. The modernization focuses heavily on elevating foodservice and creating a more consistent customer experience across all locations.

A major pillar of the brand’s growth strategy is the full-site rewards program built around ExtraMile Rewards, which connects fuel and in-store value into a single, frictionless customer journey. The program is designed to strengthen loyalty, drive repeat visits and differentiate the ExtraMile experience.

ExtraMile successfully opened 70 new locations in 2025 and is positioned to open another 100-plus stores this year. Looking ahead, the company has outlined a five-year plan to reach 1,800 locations nationwide, supported by continued franchise expansion, upgraded brand standards and an enhanced foodservice platform.

As the network grows, ExtraMile remains committed to supporting and deeply engaging its franchisee community, providing resources, training and operational alignment to ensure consistency across all markets. Strengthening the operator relationship continues to be a cornerstone of the brand’s approach, reinforcing a collaborative model that fuels long-term success for both franchisees and the broader ExtraMile system. Headquartered in Pleasanton, California, ExtraMile is a joint venture owned by Houston-based Chevron and Meridian, Idaho-based Jacksons Food Stores.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: fas mart, shore stop, Scotchman, BreadBox, Young's, Li'l Cricket, Next Door Store, Village Pantry, Apple Market, Jiffi Stop, Admiral, Roadrunner Markets, Jiffy Food Marts, E-Z Mart, 1 Stop, TownStar, ExpressStop and Handy Mart

 No. of Stores: 1,118

2026 Ranking: 10

Ranking the Previous Year: 7

Headquarters: Richmond, Virginia

As part of the company’s ongoing transformation plan, GPM Investments LLC converted 62 retail stores to dealer locations during the fourth quarter, and 256 store conversions for the year ended Dec. 31, bringing total conversions since program inception in the middle of 2024 to 409 sites.

The company has approximately 120 additional sites committed either under letter of intent, under contract or already converted since Dec. 31. It expects to complete these conversions, along with additional conversions, by the end of 2026.

GPM officials said they expect its channel optimization will deliver an operating income benefit of more than $20 million, with additional capital placed towards its retail stores.

In June of 2025, the company introduced its new “fas craves” format designed to elevate the customer experience and better reflect its commitment to foodservice, convenience, efficiency and value. Since the launch of the flagship location, the company completed several additional remodels. Early results from remodeled stores have shown double-digit increases in merchandise sales and fuel gallons, improved category performance across multiple departments, and positive impact on basket size and traffic, officials said.

The company is planning approximately 25 remodels, all which will feature the fas craves food and beverage elements. It also plans to expand components of fas craves food and beverage to certain non-remodeled stores.

GPM also continued to expand its network through new-to-industry (NTI) retail stores, opening two new retail stores and a Dunkin’ store in 2025. Three new retail stores are expected to open in 2026, of which two opened thus far in 2026, as well as three Dunkin' stores.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Kwik Star, Kwik Trip, Tobacco Outlet Plus, Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery, Kwik Spirits, Stop-N-Go

No. of Stores: 919

2026 Ranking: 11

Ranking the Previous Year: 11

Headquarters: La Crosse, Wisconsin

In 2025, Kwik Trip opened its second distribution center in DeForest, Wisconsin, with talk of a third one to support its growing network of stores. Officials said their plan is to build 400 to 500 new stores over the course of the next decade. With these new stores, there could potentially be a need for us to build more distribution centers to help with this growth, the company said.

In 2023, Kwik Trip announced that it would be investing more than $151 million to expand operations throughout Wisconsin, expanding dairy, commissary and bakery facilities in La Crosse; buying and renovating a commercial office building in Onalaska; and building the new satellite distribution center.

A family-owned business, La Crosse, Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip is one of the largest independently held convenience-store chains in the country, producing more than 80% of the products sold in its stores with support coming from foodservice production facilities and a logistics network.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chain: Maverik

No. of Stores: 818

2026 Ranking: 12

Ranking the Previous Year: 12

Headquarters: Salt Lake City

In November 2025, the last two Kum & Go stores closed, then reopened as part of the Maverik brand. 

In 2023, Krause Group sold Kum & Go, a regional chain of about 400 stores, to Salt Lake City-base Maverik for an estimated $2 billion, doubling the number of Maverik locations. 

In 2024, Crystal Maggelet stepped into the role of CEO and “chief adventure guide” at Maverik. At CSP’s 2025 Outlook Leadership conference, she said the decision to go with one brand was a difficult one, but the challenge of maintaining two distinct brands became too big of an obstacle.

In 2025, Maverik also shed some locations from the Kum & Go purchase, selling 24 locations in Iowa and Nebraska to Omaha, Nebraska-based Mega Server; while Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey’s General Stores bought four in South Dakota.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chain: Sheetz

No. of Stores: 815

2026 Ranking: 13

Ranking the Previous Year: 13

Headquarters: Altoona, Pennsylvania

Sheetz celebrated the opening of its 800th store in 2025 and rounded out the year with 815. That store was in Raleigh, North Carolina. Further north in Michigan, the Altoona, Pennsylvania-based retailer said it has plans to bolster their presence in that state, building up to 60 locations in the Detroit area over the next five to six years.

The new locations planned for 2026 span multiple municipalities, including Eastpointe, Ypsilanti, Warren, Taylor, Novi, Fraser, Orion Township, Macomb, Shelby Township, Belleville and Royal Oak, officials said.

Sheetz’ footprint spans several states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland.

Meanwhile, a new distribution center in Findlay, Ohio, remains on track for completion in 2026. The new facility will support about 20 new locations planned for Dayton, Ohio, over three years. 

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Love’s Travel Stops

No. of Stores: 668

2026 Ranking: 14 (Tie)

Ranking the Previous Year: 15

Headquarters: Oklahoma City

In 2025, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores opened 18 new locations, the company said.

This number falls slightly short of the Oklahoma City-based travel stop chain’s goal that it set in January to open 20 new stores in 2025. But, Love’s officials said it had several more stores under construction, and that it plans to open four locations and start construction on 10 more in first-quarter 2026.

For 2026, the chain plans to add 20 new travel centers and a new Love’s Rewards app. It’s also expanding its foodservice offerings through new quick-service restaurant (QSR) partners and innovations to its Love’s Fresh Kitchen menu. 

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Rocket

No. of Stores: 668

2026 Ranking: 14 (Tie)

Ranking the Previous Year: 14

Headquarters: Long Beach, California

United Pacific is based in Long Beach, California, and operates 668 gas stations and convenience stores. The stores operate throughout Southern and Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. They offer motor fuel products under the 76, Conoco, Chevron, Shell and United Oil flags.

Last year, the chain introduced a media engagement strategy for its pumps and video displays called, “Rocket Engage.” In the video, someone knocks on the screen and jumps up and down to get the customer’s attention. They tell the customer that in addition to the promotion the ad just offered, they can get another deal by clicking on a button that prints out an extra coupon. United Pacific guides its customers with a retail media journey leading up to and throughout the store.

In 2023, Greenwood Village, Colorado-based Alta Convenience merged with United Pacific to operate a combined 675 sites in 11 states. Prior to the merger, each company was owned by respective joint venture entities between affiliates of New York-based Fortress Investment Group and a subsidiary of Houston-based Phillips 66 Co.

In 2022, the company rolled out its Rocket convenience-store brand to all company-operated sites.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Pilot, Flying J, One9 and Shell Flying J 

No. of Stores: 658

2026 Ranking: 16

Ranking the Previous Year: 16

Headquarters: Knoxville, Tennessee

Pilot Co. has 658 travel centers, including owned-and-operated Pilot, Flying J, One9 and Shell Flying J locations.

In 2025, Pilot launched mobile ordering at its travel centers and revamped its loyalty app and website, officials said. The new mobile ordering feature at Pilot allows customers to order more than 100 items ahead of time, including a hot meal, snacks and truck and automotive supplies. Mobile ordering is available online or through the Pilot app in select markets, with plans to expand to nearly 400 locations by the end of 2025, the Knoxville, Tennessee-based retailer said.

Pilot operates one of the largest networks of travel centers in the country. Founded in1958, Pilot is a wholly owned subsidiary of Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway and employs approximately 30,000 team members. 

In recent years, Pilot began a financial transition culminating with the investment-holding giant Berkshire Hathaway, gaining total ownership of Pilot in 2024. The investment firm bought a 38.6% stake in Pilot Flying J in October 2017 for $2.76 billion, then grew its ownership stake to 80% in 2023, buying more of what had then become Pilot Co. Finally, in January 2024, Berkshire Hathaway acquired Pilot's remaining 20% interest.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: 7-Eleven, Anabi Oil, Rebel

No. of Stores: 627

2026 Ranking: 17

Ranking the Previous Year: 18

Headquarters: Upland, California

In 2025, Anabi Oil, which owns Rebel convenience stores, closed on a deal to acquire Green Valley Grocery. The acquisition that included 87 Green Valley Grocery convenience stores across southern Nevada, the company said. Anabi Oil had 627 stores as of Jan. 1, 2026.

The Green Valley Grocery c-store chain was founded in 1978 by Richard T. Crawford. Over the next five decades, Crawford grew the company into a household name recognized for its customer service, convenience and community support, Anabi Oil said. 

Las Vegas-based Green Valley Grocery and Rebel each bring unique strengths to the Las Vegas market, officials said, and the combined network will drive innovation, expand loyalty programs and create efficiencies that position the business to honor Green Valley Grocery’s legacy while investing in its future. Officials said they intend to keep the Green Valley Grocery brand.

Anabi Oil has locations spanning from California and the Midwest to the East Coast and Florida. The company has a large footprint in California, selling and delivering fuel from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Regarding fuel brands, Anabi is the largest Shell distributor in California but also distributes Sinclair, 76 and unbranded fuels. Anabi acquired the Rebel brand from Las Vegas-based Rebel Oil Co. in 2016.

The family has owned and operated Anabi Oil since 1991, starting with one station in Baldwin Park, California. It began as a fuel wholesaler, working with independent retailers throughout the Golden State. Over the years, the company has grown by buying and selling stations, converting bays into convenience stores, adding car washes, partnering with fast food brands and building ground-up new-to-industry locations.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: RaceTrac, RaceWay

No. of Stores: 611

2026 Ranking: 18

Ranking the Previous Year: 17

Headquarters: Atlanta

RaceTrac’s first North Carolina convenience store opened in 2025, with the chain also recently expanding into Indiana, Ohio and South Carolina.

The Atlanta-based chain became an outlier in 2025, opting to push beyond the channel with its purchase of the Potbelly sandwich chain for $566 million. The deal included 445 company- and franchisee-owned Potbelly restaurants across the United States. Officials called the acquisition a “natural evolution” of its growth strategy, bringing fast-casual and branding expertise to RaceTrac’s competitive arsenal.

The acquisition, first announced in September of last year, strengthens RaceTrac’s position in the evolving retail landscape, the company said, and combines both brands’ capabilities in real estate, franchising, operations, food innovation and marketing to drive growth and customer loyalty. Potbelly has a long-term goal of reaching 2,000 shops.

Serving customers since 1934, RaceTrac has about 850 retail locations representing the RaceTrac and RaceWay brands (ranked at No. 34) across the southeast, offering customers an affordable one-stop shop featuring a wide selection of food and beverage favorites, as well as competitively priced fuel. 

In 2023, RaceTrac purchased the Gulf Oil brand in 2023. As part of the transaction, RaceTrac acquired Gulf's nationally recognized fuel brand across the United States and U.S. territories, all of Gulf's branded distributor and license agreements and the exclusive rights to market fuel at Gulf's retail locations along the Massachusetts Turnpike.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chain: Unbranded

No. of Stores: 448

2026 Ranking: 19 (Tie)

Ranking the Previous Year: 20

Headquarters: Doral, Florida

Sunshine Gasoline Distributors Inc. owns and operates convenience stores, while also supplying 600 service stations under the brands Chevron/Texaco, Exxon/Mobil, Shell, Marathon, bp and CITGO. The Doral, Florida-based operator said it would move its car wash business to the tunnel format going into the future, with approximately 100 car washes in its current network.

Cuban-American Maximo Alvarez owns the convenience and fueling platform.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Allsup’s, Yesway

No. of Stores: 448

2026 Ranking: 19 (Tie)

Ranking the Previous Year: 19

Headquarters: Fort Worth, Texas

Yesway opened two, new-to-industry, Allsup’s convenience stores in the fourth quarter of 2025, bringing its Texas store count to 250 locations and its total store count to 448. The newest Allsup’s stores opened in Odessa and Monahans, Texas.

Each store is 6,277 square feet and operates 24/7. They offer Allsup’s World Famous Burritos, a full selection of Yesway private-label products, fresh groceries, beer caves, ATMs, Western Union service and digital and cryptocurrency ATM options.

Fort Worth, Texas-based Yesway also did some downsizing, selling 29 locations in Iowa and Kansas to Omaha, Nebraska-based Mega Savers. The deal significantly expands Mega Saver’s c-store count in Iowa and introduces the company to Kansas.

Established in 2015, Yesway is a multi-branded platform operating in Texas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Nebraska. The company operates its portfolio primarily under two brands, Yesway and Allsup’s.

Last year, Yesway continued its campaign to grow its store count and financial performance through the completion of new stores and raze-and-rebuild projects across its portfolio and geographic footprint. Yesway skyrocketed its growth in 2019 when it acquired Clovis, New Mexico-based Allsup's and its 304 stores in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

Yesway is owned by BW Gas & Convenience Holdings, Fort Worth, Texas, which joined the convenience-store industry in late 2015 with ambitions of operating up to 1,000 stores. The company is an affiliate of Beverly, Massachusetts-based Brookwood Financial Partners, a real estate and private-equity investment and asset management company with more than $2.6 billion in holdings.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Country Fair, Kwik Fill, Red Apple Food Marts

No. of Stores: 414

2026 Ranking: 21

Ranking the Previous Year: 21

Headquarters: Warren, Pennsylvania

Warren, Pennsylvania-based United Refining Co. is an independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products and the parent company of multiple convenience-store chains in Pennsylvania and portions of Ohio and New York. 

Its store count remained the same in 2025 from the year prior. The chain’s last acquisition was in 2024, when it acquired the convenience retail assets of Pump N’ Pantry Inc., a regional chain with 14 convenience stores throughout central Pennsylvania.

United Refining operates gas stations, convenience stores, truck stops, restaurants and garages. The c-stores are branded Kwik Fill, Red Apple Food Marts and Country Fair. Each is a separate retail division, operated independently, with separate company headquarters and management staffers.

Kwik Fill’s locations include full-service diesel truck stops, mini truck stops, restaurants and truck-stop motels, the company said. Kwik Fill operates in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, supporting local businesses, economies and local charities.

John Catsimatidis, CEO of the Red Apple Group Real Estate Co., bought United Refining Co. in 1986. Country Fair opened its first store in 1965 in Erie, Pennsylvania.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chain: Stewart’s Shops

No. of Stores: 404

2026 Ranking: 22

Ranking the Previous Year: 22

Headquarters: Ballston Spa, New York

Family- and employee-owned convenience store chain, Stewart’s Shops continued its expansion throughout upstate New York and Vermont last year. Headquartered just outside Saratoga Springs, New York, Stewart’s now serves communities in three states, with the recent addition of two shops in western New Hampshire.

In 2025, Stewart’s continued to expand its food-to-go menu, introducing a larger variety of sandwiches, soups and private label beverages, while maintaining its strong dairy focus. Stewart’s produces its own milk and ice cream, both of which were recognized for their quality by winning multiple state and national awards.

While chairman Bill Dake and his son, chief executive Gary Dake, remain heavily involved in the business, Stewart’s reached another milestone in 2025, promoting chief operating officer Chad Kiesow to president, making him the first nonmember of the Dake family to serve as president of Stewart’s Shops.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: ExtraMile, Power Market

No. of Stores: 368

2026 Ranking: 23

Ranking the Previous Year: 23

Headquarters: Orange, California

While H&S Energy Group’s did not change in 2025, it doubled its convenience-store network a year earlier, when it announced its acquisition of the retail convenience-store, fuels distribution, cardlock, fleet card, commercial fueling, car wash, lubricants and transportation businesses of Andretti Petroleum Group.

Eureka, California-based Andretti had 170 retail convenience stores and fuel distribution assets in California, Oregon and Washington. At the time, it was one of the largest convenience retail and fuel distribution businesses on the West Coast and Pacific Northwest, operating in northern California, Oregon and Washington.

H&S Energy Group was established in 1996 by Sal Hassan, with the inaugural station being a ground-up construction in Cypress, California. Since then, the company has expanded its footprint both organically by building new sites and through acquisitions. H&S Energy represents major fuel brands such as Chevron, Texaco, Shell and 76. Additionally, it operates as a franchisee of ExtraMile, with most of its convenience stores featuring the proprietary Power Market brand.

Earlier this year, H&S Energy announced that its CFO, Moe Haris, will step down from the role he had held for 28 years. Amir Hassan assumed the role of interim CFO, while continuing in his position as president of operations, company officials said.

The stores under the H&S Energy umbrella offer a diverse range of options for customers, including deli kitchens, fresh produce, hot food, bean-to-cup coffee, car wash services and service stations. Moreover, the company boasts an extensive wholesale network, facilitated by its transportation arm, Arrow Logistics, through which it supplies customers with branded fuel and other products. The combined company also has a fleet of fuel delivery trucks, a lubricants business and fuel bulk plants.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chain: Bolla Market

No. of Stores: 352

2026 Ranking: 24 (Tie)

Ranking the Previous Year: 27

Headquarters: Garden City, New York

The New York-based Bolla Oil Corp. has been expanding its network of upscale gas station markets across the region, increasingly integrating branded quick-serve options like Tim Hortons and Pizza Hut into its newer locations.

Tim Hortons, the Canadian coffee giant, and Pizza Hut have become regular features at Bolla Markets, aiming to turn everyday fuel stops into full-service convenience experiences.

Founded in 1989, Bolla Oil Corp. operates gas stations, convenience stores, auto repair and car washes throughout the New York and New Jersey metro areas. Additionally, Bolla operates Bolla Transport and Bolla Construction, focusing on the development of corporate locations, as well as a dealer and franchise business.

Bolla Market became a franchise in 2015, with the company also operating as a franchisee of Burger King, Tim Hortons, Pizza Hut, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Red Mango since 2017. These franchised foodservice brands work as nontraditional partners within Bolla Market locations.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Hy-Miler Convenience, Joe’s Kwik Mart, One Stop, Rocky Top Markets, One Stop Food Stores, Uni-Mart, Zoomerz

No. of Stores: 352

2026 Ranking: 24 (Tie)

Ranking the Previous Year: 24

Headquarters: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown, Pennsylvania-based CrossAmerica Partners LP  said in its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings that it continued optimizing its portfolio through site conversions, changing dealer sites to grow its company-operated footprint.

In 2025, the company also divested non-core locations, generating over $100 million in proceeds to reduce debt and enhance its financial flexibility, the company said. The fuel distributor and convenience-store operator also reported that inside sales on a same-site basis were slightly higher compared to fourth-quarter the year prior.

CrossAmerica is a leading wholesale distributor of motor fuels, convenience-store operator, and owner and lessee of real estate used in the retail distribution of motor fuels. Formed in 2012, the company distributes branded and unbranded petroleum for motor vehicles in the United States. In 2026, the company named Maura Topper as its new president and CEO. Previously the company’s CFO, Topper succeeded Charles Nifong, who has served as president and CEO of Allentown, Pennsylvania-based CrossAmerica since Nov. 19, 2019. 

In 2024, CrossAmerica Partners LP and its Lehigh Gas Wholesale Services Inc. subsidiary acquired 59 convenience stores from Applegreen Midwest and Applegreen Florida for $16.9 million, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Applegreen convenience stores are in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida. 

Formed in 2012, CrossAmerica Partners LP is a distributor of branded and unbranded petroleum for motor vehicles in the United States and distributes fuel to approximately 1,750 locations and owns or leases approximately 1,100 sites. With a geographic footprint covering 34 states, it has relationships with several major oil brands, including ExxonMobil, bp, Shell, Chevron, Sunoco, Valero, Gulf, CITGO, Marathon and Phillips 66.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Gasamat, Havana Manor, Smoke ‘N Go, Smoker Friendly, Tobacco Depot 

No. of Stores: 335

2026 Ranking: 26

Ranking the Previous Year: 26

Headquarters: Boulder, Colorado

The Cigarette Store Group spent 2025 evaluating its portfolio and “digesting” properties acquired in recent years, officials said, noting how every acquisition comes with “underperforming assets.”

Doing business as Smoker Friendly, the company was founded in 1991, growing to operate a mix of convenience stores, tobacco stores, cigar lounges, liquor stores and fueling locations under the names Smoker Friendly, Tobacco Depot, Smoke ‘N Go, Havana Manor and Gasamat.

In 2024, The Cigarette Store Group bought 54 stores from Richmond Master Distributors Inc., South Bend, Indiana, doing business as Low Bob’s Discount Tobacco. The acquisition brought the chain's store count to 80 in the state, officials said.

In August 2022, the retailer acquired 79 Tobacco Superstores, headquartered in Forrest City, Arkansas. Then in November 2022, it acquired 30 tobacco stores across Indiana and Kentucky from Seymour, Indiana-based Collett Enterprises Inc. 

Investment firm Main Street Capital Corp., Houston, made a $51.7 million investment in Smoker Friendly, taking a minority stake in the company in January 2021. The investor provided a revolving line of credit to support its working capital needs and assist with its acquisition growth strategy.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Alltown, Alltown Fresh, Convenience Plus, Fast Freddie’s, Honey Farms, Jiffy Mart, Mr. Mike’s, T-Bird, P&H Truck Stop, XtraMart

No. of Stores: 334

2026 Ranking: 27

Ranking the Previous Year: 25 

Headquarters: Waltham, Massachusetts

Global Partners LP and its Alltown Fresh convenience-store chain reported 334 directly operated convenience stores, primarily in the Northeast, along with gas stations in Texas operated through a joint venture, Spring Partners Retail LLC.

The company reported that station operations’ product margin, which includes convenience stores and prepared-food sales, sundries and rental income, decreased by $2.2 million to $65.7 million in their fourth quarter due in part to a lower company-operated site count, as a result of the sale and conversion of certain company-operated sites.

As one of the region's largest independent fuel and convenience retailers, Global Partners owns, leases or supplies gas stations and convenience stores under multiple brands, including Alltown Fresh, Honey Farms, Jiffy Mart and XtraMart.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chain: Jackson Food Stores

No. of Stores: 324

2026 Ranking: 28

Ranking the Previous Year: 28

Headquarters: Meridian, Idaho

In 2025, Jacksons Food Stores Inc. acquired the convenience retail assets of Redwood Oil Co. Inc. Rohnert Park, California-based Redwood Oil operated 23 Redwood Market convenience stores in northern California that offer the Aztec Grill proprietary food offering. The deal also included one ExtraMile c-store in Cotati, California, for a total of 24 locations.

The Meridian, Idaho-based Jacksons Food Stores celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. John Jackson, at age 20 in 1975, leased his first location, a Texaco service station in Caldwell, Idaho. He purchased more stores, and as Jacksons Food Stores reaches 50 years, the company has continued to expand. The company operates 324 convenience stores under the Jacksons Food Stores and ExtraMile by Jacksons brands. It serves customers in Arizona, Idaho, California, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

In December 2024, it acquired the retail, wholesale and transportation assets of Hi-Noon Petroleum Inc., Missoula, Montana, including Noon’s three convenience stores, 46 dealer accounts and its entire transportation fleet. Jacksons Food Stores is one of the largest privately held corporations in Idaho. 

The company is also part of a joint venture operating the ExtraMile chain of convenience stores, co-owning the network with Houston-based Chevron.

The vertically integrated company also supplies fuel to more than 1,300 locations in nine states through Jacksons Energy and Jackson Energy Logistics, store supplies and full-line grocery through Capitol Distributing, fresh food products through Capitol Kitchen and tobacco and alcohol in four states through Jacksons BevCo. Jacksons has been dedicated to the communities it serves through volunteer efforts and charitable causes, including local chapters of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. 

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Nouria, Enmarket

No. of Stores: 321

2026 Ranking: 29

Ranking the Previous Year: 29

Headquarters: Worcester, Massachusetts

In 2025, Nouria Energy Corp. completed its purchase of Savannah, Georgia-based Enmarket convenience stores from Colonial Group Inc. The transaction included 133 Enmarket locations and 25 car washes, nearly doubling Nouria’s footprint to 319 stores and expanding the chain’s presence into the Southeast.

Earlier this year, CSP named Joe Hamza, chief operating officer of Nouria Energy, as its 2026 Retail Leader of the Year. Hamza has served as COO of the Worcester, Massachusetts-based company for the past decade. He was involved in the c-store chain’s 2018 rebrand from the Lil’ Mart name, which the company had used for most of its stores for 30 years. The new Nouria concept added a brighter, more modern store design, an expanded focus on fresh and healthy foods and the introduction of Cafe Nouria, featuring specialty coffee, fresh bakery items, grab-and-go meals and dine-in seating.

In addition to the Retail Leader accolade, Nouria was the 2025 and 2024 CSP Intouch Insight Mystery Shop winner, achieving top scores in a competition that evaluates convenience-retail chains on cleanliness, employees and other operational qualities.

Nouria is a family-owned and operated business that has grown to include convenience stores, car washes and wholesale fuel supply, with a significant number of branded dealers throughout the Northeast. Nouria founder and CEO Tony El-Nemr set an aggressive goal for Nouria to grow fourfold over 10 years. In 2023, the company acquired H.A. Mapes Inc., Springvale, Maine. The acquisition included 13 “owned series locations” and nine stores previously branded Harry’s, as well as other dealer locations. Other acquisitions include Mulligan's, a “one-stop shop” c-store in Manchester, Maine, in 2022 and 17 VERC c-stores (two included car wash operations) and four Mega X locations in 2020.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chain: Royal Farms

No. of Stores: 314

2026 Ranking: 30

Ranking the Previous Year: 30

Headquarters: Baltimore, Maryland

Royal Farms opened its first convenience store in Baltimore in 1959 under the name White Jug. Today, the mid-Atlantic chain has 314 locations in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

In 2025, Royal Farms added electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at eight sites in Maryland in partnership with Electrify America, an EV charging network based in Reston, Virginia. The charging stations feature hyper-fast chargers capable of speeds up to 350 kilowatts. 

The Baltimore-based convenience-store chain expanded into North Carolina in 2023, with the opening of a new store in the community of Grandy. Other communities targeted for expansion were New Bern, Greenville, Lumberton, Kinston and Jacksonville.

Store menus focus on the retailer’s “world-famous” chicken, which was awarded “best fast-food fried chicken” by Food and Wine magazine. Royal Farms also offers a variety of side dishes, such as macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes, and customers can take a complete meal or platter home. Other foodservice offers include Royal Farms’ hot or iced coffee from bean-to-cup machines and f'real milkshakes at the blending station. Every location features surcharge-free ATMs, air-pump stations, lottery and fuel. Car washes are available at select locations.

Royal Farms launched an updated mobile app with a point system and other new capabilities in early 2022. It includes mobile ordering that allows customers to order ahead for delivery or pickup.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Shell, Timewise

No. of Stores: 298

2026 Ranking: 31

Ranking the Previous Year: 38

Headquarters: Houston, Texas

In 2025, Houston-based Equilon Enterprises, doing business as Shell Oil Products US, signed an agreement to acquire the Fuel Rewards loyalty program from PDI Technologies and Excentus Corp., a leading provider of loyalty and coalition marketing solutions for the U.S. retail, grocery, national brands and convenience retail segments that PDI acquired in 2018.

The oil giant’s purchase of the loyalty program will allow the company to further develop the program and to deliver future enhancements and value to wholesalers and members, Shell said in a statement.

In 2024, Houston-based major oil company Shell bought 45 stations from Albuquerque, New Mexico-based Brewer Oil, making it Shell's first retail-operated presence in that state. Returning to retail has been a recent phenomenon for the oil company. 

In 2022, Shell Retail and Convenience Operations LLC, the wholly owned subsidiary of Shell Oil Products US, Houston, acquired 248 fuel and Timewise convenience stores from the Landmark group of companies. The deal also included supply agreements with an additional 117 independently operated fuel and convenience stores from Landmark, which is also based in Houston.

Shell had largely exited retailing in the United States in the early 2000s, opting instead to pursue upstream profits rather than downstream retail opportunities. The Landmark acquisition marked Shell’s first major acquisition in recent years, with the retail network serving as the foundation for growth in company-operated stores in the United States.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: MAPCO, Hop In, Maritime Farms, other brands

No. of Stores: 291

2026 Ranking: 32

Ranking the Previous Year: 31

Headquarters: Lawrenceville, Georgia

In 2025, Majors Management, LLC, completed its acquisition of 35 retail fuel and convenience store locations across Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania from Laval, Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., operator of the Circle K convenience-store chain.

The expansion of Major Management’s MAPCO c-store brand will bring its signature MYReward$ loyalty program to new customers, allowing them to earn points on every purchase and redeem them for exclusive savings in-store and at the pump, the company said. The stores will feature clean, modern environments, grab-and-go meals, fresh coffee, and a customer-first approach that has earned MAPCO recognition as one of the premier convenience retailers in the Southeast.

Majors Management, Lawrenceville, Georgia, is the owner and operator of retail fuel centers and convenience stores, as well as a fuel distributor serving independent operators nationwide. Majors' current markets include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

Under its MAPCO brand, Majors operates hundreds of stores across the Southeastern United States and is recognized for a customer-first loyalty program, fresh food offerings, and quality-guaranteed fuel.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Aloha Island Mart, APlus, Farstad Oil, Harts, KB Oil, and KJ's Super Stores, Rhinehart Oil, Superpumper

No. of Stores: 275

2026 Ranking: 33

Ranking the Previous Year: 96

Headquarters: Dallas, Texas

Sunoco LP completed its acquisition of Calgary, Alberta-based Parkland Corp. in 2025. The $9.1 billion deal includes Parkland’s 650 retail outlets and 1,830 dealer sites. Parkland is the second-largest c-store operator in Canada and operates more than 200 stores in the United States under Parkland USA. The acquisition boosts Dallas-based Sunoco’s total number of U.S. convenience stores to about 275.

Sunoco had tried several times to buy Parkland before the companies agreed to the acquisition. 

Before the deal was announced, Parkland had conducted a strategic review of its business, with having undergone several leadership changes and pushback from some of its largest shareholders. 

Sunoco sold 204 c-stores to 7-Eleven Inc. in January 2024, including Stripes convenience stores and Laredo Taco Company restaurants, for approximately $1 billion. That left Sunoco with 75 company-owned retail stores, including 54 Aloha Island Mart c-stores in Hawaii. 

Parkland is an international fuel distributor, marketer and convenience retailer with operations in 26 countries across the Americas. It is the second-largest c-store operator in Canada, with 650 retail outlets and 1,830 dealer sites. Parkland USA operates about 211 U.S. stores, under brands including On the Run.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: RaceTrac, RaceWay

No. of Stores: 244

2026 Ranking: 34

Ranking the Previous Year: 34

Headquarters: Atlanta

RaceWay operates 244 stores in 11 states in the Southeast. Although part of the RaceTrac network, RaceWay is a separate chain run by the Atlanta-based RaceTrac chain, which appears in this list at No. 18.

When the RaceWay chain exited the Houston market in 2020, it grew its portfolio of stores through organic new-builds and acquisitions. RaceWay’s locations average 2,900 square feet.

In July, RaceWay launched a customer loyalty program, RaceWay Rewards, in partnership with Par Technology Corp., to deliver personalized offers and drive repeat visits across its network of convenience stores. The program uses personalization and automation to provide members with exclusive offers, tailored deals and targeted communications. RaceWay said the platform aims to create immediate value for consumers while helping franchisees increase engagement and drive traffic.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: BrakeTime, Loaf ‘N Jug, Minit Mart

No. of Stores: 243

2025 Ranking: 35

Ranking the Previous Year: 33

Headquarters: Houston, Texas

Brake Time Corner Market LLC (BTCM) leapt onto CSP’s Top 202 ranking of convenience-store chains with two significant acquisitions in 2024. The Houston-based chain purchased 23 Loaf N’ Jug stores in June, also from Westborough, Massachusetts-based EG America LLC. Then later in the year, it acquired 39 convenience stores operating under the Minit Mart brand in central and northern Illinois, again from EG America LLC, the U.S. unit of U.K.-based EG Group Ltd.

BTCM rebranded the Minit Mart stores to its BrakeTime name, enhanced the merchandise selection and retained all existing team members, reinforcing its commitment to community integration and employee retention, the company said. The company that would become BTCM bought its first convenience store in Houston in 1999. Established as BTCM in 2004, it has emerged as a multifaceted enterprise specializing in the operation and management of gas stations, convenience stores, retail shopping centers, office buildings and the acquisition of land for retail development.

BTCM and the BrakeTime brand are not related to Columbia, Missouri-based MFA Oil Co.’s Break Time convenience-store brand.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Meijer Express, Meijer Gas

No. of Stores: 241

2025 Ranking: 36 (Tie)

Ranking the Previous Year: 35

Headquarters: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Meijer Gas Stations and Meijer Express convenience stores are part of the Meijer Inc. company portfolio, which also includes grocery stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Brands include Fresh From Meijer grocery, whose items include deli, bakery, meat, products and snacks; Purple Cow ice cream; Frederick’s by Meijer higher-end food and beverage items; and True Goodness by Meijer organic offerings.

The company’s store count rose by two locations in 2025. 

Meijer’s gas stations offer Top Tier gasoline and diesel fuel, and the convenience stores carry a wide variety of beverages, snacks and fresh-prepared and packaged food. The convenience stores range in size from about 2,500 square feet up to 5,500 square feet at newer locations. Stores are open 24 hours a day and offer fuel discounts for Meijer credit card and fleet card holders.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Double Quick, Refuel Market

No. of Stores: 241

2026 Ranking: 36 (Tie)

Ranking the Previous Year: 37

Headquarters: North Charleston, South Carolina

In 2025, Refuel Operating Co. LLC acquired eight convenience stores in Mississippi. The c-stores are in the greater Meridian and Jackson market, continuing Refuel’s expansion across the Southeast, the North Charleston, South Carolina-based company said. The stores will be part of Refuel’s Double Quick brand. 

Refuel is a retail and wholesale fuel distribution and convenience-store business in five states. Its Refuel Market and Double Quick convenience stores aim to provide clean and attractive locations with hot and fresh foods and grab-and-go snacks. In 2025, Refuel's store count grew by a total of 11 locations.

The company has a history of growth through acquisition. In 2023, Refuel acquired eight convenience stores through two separate deals. In 2022, Refuel made several acquisitions. The company acquired two convenience stores in Mississippi from Temple, Texas-based Fikes Wholesale Inc.’s CEFCO Convenience Stores. Then it closed on the acquisition of assets of Embark Energy, including 11 convenience stores in the greater Austin, Texas, market operating under the Fast Break brand, along with four company-owned, dealer-operated locations. The company also acquired six GreatStops convenience stores from Premier Stores in the Greensboro, North Carolina, market and three stores from The Whalen Corp. in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, market.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: Alon, 7-Eleven, DK, OXXO

No. of Stores: 240

2026 Ranking: 38

Ranking the Previous Year: 32

Headquarters: Brentwood, Tennessee

Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA), a beverage bottler and convenience-store retailer, has set its sights on becoming a major player in the United States after its 2024 acquisition of 249 Delek locations, officials said. The $385 million deal with Delek US Holdings, Brentwood, Tennessee, established FEMSA in the southwest United States, primarily in Texas but also in New Mexico and Arkansas. The stores, previously operated under the DK Convenience brand, are transitioning to OXXO. The chain will retain a branded fuel partnership with Alon and DK Fuel, owned by Delek.

Monterrey, Mexico-based FEMSA owns the world’s largest Coke bottler, Coca-Cola Mexico. Its Proximity Americas Division operates the OXXO convenience-store chain and related retail formats in Mexico, Central America and South America, and now in North America. Its Proximity Europe Division operates Valora, its European retail c-store unit.

The company has roughly 24,600 locations in South America, including about 23,000 in Mexico, 550 in Brazil, 550 in Colombia, 200 in Peru and 300 in Chile.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chain: Par Mar Stores

No. of Stores: 239

2026 Ranking: 39

Ranking the Previous Year: 34

Headquarters: Marietta, Ohio

Since being acquired in 2016 by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Croton Holding Co., Par Mar Oil Co. has grown from a 52-store chain to 239 locations operating in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky and Virginia.

In addition to Par Mar Stores, Marietta, Ohio-based Par Mar Oil Co. operates quick-service restaurants under the Arby’s, A&W, Dairy Queen, IHOP, Papa John’s and Subway brands, as well as Par Mar's proprietary PM Kitchen Brand.

In 2023, Par Mar added 34 locations. The next year it added another eight locations, including a new-to-industry 18-acre truck stop operating under the TravelCenters of America flag located off Interstate 77 just south of Parkersburg, West Virginia.

In addition to Par Mar Oil Co., Croton Holding owns Countywide Petroleum, a leading petroleum wholesaler providing branded offerings of BP/Amoco, Marathon, Sunoco, Exxon, CITGO and Valero. Countywide Petroleum supplies over 450 locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Kentucky.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Chains: ExtraMile, G&M Food Mart

No. of Stores: 228

2026 Ranking: 40

Ranking the Previous Year: 39

Headquarters: Huntington Beach, California

Founded in Orange County, California, in 1969, G&M Oil has proudly served Southern California for more than 55 years. G&M is one of California’s largest independently owned fuel retailers with 228 locations throughout Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego and Ventura Counties. G&M partners with Chevron and ExtraMile and is consistently recognized for excelling in their Retail Excellence programs, receiving hundreds of top awards for high-quality customer and service standards, the company said.

G&M fueling stations offer a wide variety of fueling options, including alternatives such as biodiesel, E-85, hydrogen and EV charging, while retail stores prioritize convenience, cleanliness and customer service to ensure customers leave “full-filled.”

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2026.