5 C-Stores Upping Their Delivery, Curbside Pickup Game Amid COVID-19

CHICAGO — As people across the country shelter in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, convenience stores are finding safe ways for people to buy groceries and snacks.

Chains have expanded on their current delivery options and started new delivery or curbside pickup programs to help keep customers from congregating in stores.

Click through to see what’s new …

Casey’s General Stores, Ankeny, Iowa, has expanded its partnership with DoorDash to provide delivery to 579 locations, up from approximately 400 stores,across the company’s 16-state footprint. An additional 50 grocery items will also be available for delivery.

Casey’s pizza, select appetizers and 20-ounce sodas will immediately be available for delivery, and additional grocery and household items—including candy, salty snacks and ice cream—will be available from Casey’s through DoorDash starting in mid-April.

• Casey’s General Stores is No. 4 on the Top 40 update to CSP’s 2019 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by number of retail outlets. CSP will release the complete 2020 list in June.

QuikTrip Corp., Tulsa, Okla., has launched an on-lot pickup service nationwide, covering more than 800 stores in 11 states. The service was recently tested in QuikTrip’s Tulsa market.

To place a pickup order, customers must download the QT mobile app, choose the on-lot pickup option at a participating store and then select their items. Those items will them be delivered to their vehicle in QuikTrip’s lot.

Items available for pickup include the full QT Kitchens menu, bottled soda, Chapstick and more, according to the chain.

• QuikTrip Corp. is No. 11 on the Top 40 update to CSP’s 2019 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by number of retail outlets. CSP will release the complete 2020 list in June.

Waltham, Mass.-based Global Partners’ “fresh convenience market” concept Alltown Fresh has introduced a curbside pickup program. 

Those looking for groceries to be delivered to their car can place an order online, according to the chain’s Twitter account. Customers call Alltown Fresh once they arrive at the store, and the groceries will be brought out to their car.

Alltown Fresh also offers delivery through Grubhub. 

• Global Partners LP is No. 26 on the Top 40 update to CSP’s 2019 Top 202.

Lou Perrine’s, Kenosha, Wis., introduced Lou’s to Go Boxes during the coronavirus crisis to help customers stock up on essentials.

Included in the box for $30 is bacon, a dozen eggs, a gallon of milk, a box of cereal, two frozen pizzas, a loaf of bread, Jif Peanut Butter, Smucker’s Jelly, a bunch of bananas and two slices of Mama P’s HoHo Cake.

Lou Perrine’s announced on Twitter April 1 that it would be doing a test run and boxes would be available while supplies last. The chain also offers delivery service.

Kum & Go is testing full-service fuel and curbside pickup in select locations in the greater Des Moines area, officials said. The program is part of a broader effort by the convenience-store chain to give customers more fueling and buying options during the COVID-19 pandemic, it said.

• Kum & Go is No. 18 on the Top 40 update to CSP’s 2019 Top 202.

For full-service fueling, the customer calls the main store number upon arrival at the pump. The customer then hands their card or cash to the associate, who will run the transaction and do the fueling. Associates will wear a new pair of gloves with each transaction. For food orders, customers can call the main store number and associates will bring the purchase out when customers arrive, the company said. Thirteen stores are involved in the new services.