C-Stores Offer More Than Convenience

Convenience stores offer speed of service to time-starved consumers who want to get in and out of the store quickly. These shoppers recognize this channel of trade for its convenient locations, extended hours of operation, one-stop shopping, grab-and-go foodservice, variety of merchandise and fast transactions. Here's more interesting facts about this dynamic industry: 

• Of the 152,255 convenience stores in the United States, 121,852 locations sell fuel.
• The convenience store industry is a destination for food and refreshments. Foodservice sales, which includes prepared food; commissary; and hot, cold, and frozen dispensed beverages, accounted for 28.7% of in-store sales and 39.6% of in-store gross margin dollars at convenience stores in 2024. Most foodservice sales are from prepared food. In 2024, prepared food accounted for 68.4% of foodservice sales.
• The U.S. convenience store industry conducts approximately160 million transactions per day.
• Self-serve is a part of most convenience stores' fueling operations. The first self-serve gas station was opened by Hoosier Petroleum Co. in 1930, but was closed by the fire marshal for being a fire hazard. Frank Ulrich reintroduced the idea in 1947 at the corner of Jilson and Atlantic in Los Angeles. Modern self-serve began in 1964 with the introduction of remote fueling; an attendant was no longer required to reset the pumps after each transaction. Today, self-serve is still prohibited in New Jersey.