As prime destinations for everything from ready-made meals to affordable treats, today’s c-stores are a far cry from the pit stops of yesteryear. But how has the segment performed in recent months – and what lies ahead for it in 2025? We dove into the data to find out.
Segment Strength Through the Years
The c-store segment has undergone a transformation in recent years as many category leaders significantly elevated their food, beverage, and experiential offerings, leaning into growing demand for affordable, convenient groceries and takeaway. Today, convenience stores can often be exciting destinations in their own rights – and eager customers are paying attention.
Analyzing visitation trends to c-stores highlights just how successful this reinvention has been for the category. Monthly c-store visits have surged past the segment’s pre-pandemic baseline, with November 2024 c-store traffic 15.5% higher than in November 2018.
Still, the data also indicates that growth has plateaued – year-over-year (YoY) traffic for the c-store segment has remained relatively flat in 2024, with November 2024 visits down 3.3% YoY. But diving into the individual chains’ visitation patterns reveals that many chains, including Buc-ee’s, Circle K, Kwik Trip, Maverik, and are outperforming the wider segment and continuing to see impressive YoY growth – in large part thanks to aggressive expansions.
Nationwide Demand for C-Store Experiences
Looking at the most visited c-store chain in each CBSAs out of the chains analyzed in the graph above reveals that most CBSAs are home to a growing c-store chain. Maverik gets the most visits in the Southwest, while Kwik Trip’s is more popular in the Midwest. Buc-ees has a stronghold on the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, while Circle K receives traffic all over the country. This suggests that demand for c-store offerings are growing nationwide – despite the plateauing of category-wide visits – and that c-store brands that can offer consumers innovative products and experiences are well-positioned to continue thriving in 2025 and beyond.
Looking Ahead
C-stores have demonstrated incredible resilience and adaptability, cementing their roles as key destinations for price-conscious shoppers eager to stretch their dollars – without compromising on quality. With regional markets still brimming with opportunities, which chains will lead the way in redefining convenience for 2025?
For more data-driven consumer insights, visit placer.ai.
