Table of Contents
Executive Summary
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- The market
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- Figure 1: Total US convenience store sales and fan chart forecast, with best and worst cases, at current prices, 2008-18
- Market factors
- Consumer confidence and unemployment
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- Figure 2: University of Michigan’s index of consumer sentiment (ICS), January 2007-January 2014
- The growing Hispanic population
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- Figure 3: Hispanic population by age, 2009-19
- Lower mileage driven
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- Figure 4: Vehicle miles traveled per licensed driver (thousands of miles), 1970-2040 (fore)
- The consumer
- Hispanics and Blacks highest users of c-stores
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- Figure 5: Convenience store shopping frequency—Any usage, by race/Hispanic origin, January 2014
- Most visit c-stores to get gas, buy food and drink
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- Figure 6: Reasons for visiting convenience stores, January 2014
- Prepackaged food and drinks commonly purchased items at c-stores
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- Figure 7: Items purchased at convenience stores, January 2014
- Consumers seek healthier options at c-stores
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- Figure 8: Attitudes toward healthy food items at convenience stores, January 2014
- Lower prices would encourage consumers to shop at c-stores more often
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- Figure 9: Innovations/improvements desired at convenience stores, January 2014
- What we think
Issues and Insights
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- Why do people visit convenience stores?
- The issues
- The implications
- What is the impact of the growing Hispanic population?
- The issues
- The implications
- How are convenience stores innovating?
- The issues
- The implications
- What can c-stores do to encourage more visits?
- The issues
- The implications
Trend Application
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- Trend: FSTR HYPR
- Trend: Let’s Make a Deal
- Mintel futures: Generation Next
Market Size and Forecast
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- Key points
- Positive outlook for convenience stores
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- Figure 10: Total US convenience store sales and forecast, at current prices, 2008-18
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- Figure 11: Total US convenience store sales and forecast, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2008-18
- Gasoline represents bulk of c-store sales
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- Figure 12: Total US convenience store sales, by segment, at current prices, 2011 and 2013
- Tobacco represents bulk of c-store sales but declining slightly
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- Figure 13: Distribution of convenience store sales, by category, 2011-12
- Fan chart forecast
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- Figure 14: Total US convenience store and fan chart forecast, with best and worst cases, at current prices, 2008-18
Market Drivers
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- Key points
- Consumer confidence and unemployment
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- Figure 15: Consumer confidence and unemployment, 2000-13
- Smaller formats of large stores compete with convenience stores
- Hispanic population growth
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- Figure 16: US Hispanic population by age, 2009-19
- Lower mileage driven impacts convenience store visits
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- Figure 17: Vehicle miles traveled per licensed driver (thousands of miles), 1970-2040
Competitive Context
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- Key point
- Drug stores expand food and drink offerings
Retailer Overview
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- Convenience stores
- 7-Eleven
- ampm
- Casey’s General Store
- Chevron
- Cumberland Farms
- Hess
- Sheetz
- Speedway
- Sunoco
- Wawa
- Issues and opportunities for convenience stores
- Current retail model and key issues:
- Opportunities:
Innovations and Innovators
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- 7-Eleven offers KeyMe kiosks
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- Figure 18: Screen shot of KeyMe kiosk and locations, January 2014
- Convenience stores provide fresh produce in food deserts
- 7-Eleven adds private label, premium wines, better-for-you and gourmet snacks
- Tedeschi adds fresh flowers to product mix
Marketing Strategies
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- Overview
- Theme: Targeting Millennials
- Theme: Online promotions
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- Figure 19: Screen shot of Wawa.com, February 2014
- Figure 20: Screen shot of Caseys.com, February 2014
- Theme: Generate Loyalty
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- Figure 21: Screen shot of ampm app, February 2014
- Figure 22: Screen shot of Speedway app, February 2014
Social Media—Convenience Stores
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- Key points
- Key social media metrics
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- Figure 23: Key social media metrics, February 2014
- Market overview
- Brand usage and awareness
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- Figure 24: Brand usage and awareness for selected convenience stores, January 2014
- Interaction with convenience stores
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- Figure 25: Interactions with selected convenience stores, January 2014
- Online conversations
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- Figure 26: Number of mentions for selected convenience stores, Feb. 1, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014
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- Figure 27: Number of mentions for selected convenience stores, Feb. 1, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014
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- Figure 28: Online mentions around selected convenience stores, by month Feb. 1, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014
- Where are people talking about convenience stores?
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- Figure 29: Online mentions around selected convenience stores, by page type, Feb. 1, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014
- What are people talking about?
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- Figure 30: Topics of discussion among the selected convenience stores, Feb. 1, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014
- Analysis by brand
- 7-Eleven
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- Figure 31: Social media metrics—7-Eleven, February 2014
- Wawa
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- Figure 32: Social media metrics—Wawa, February 2014
- Circle K
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- Figure 33: Social media metrics—Circle K, February 2014
- ampm
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- Figure 34: social media metrics—ampm, February 2014
- Speedway
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- Figure 35: social media metrics—Speedway, February 2014
- Casey’s General Store
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- Figure 36: Social media metrics—Casey’s General Store, February 2014
Convenience Store Shopping Frequency
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- Key points
- More than eight in 10 have visited a convenience store in the last three months
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- Figure 37: Convenience store shopping frequency
- Gas station convenience stores see highest usage
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- Figure 38: Convenience store shopping frequency, January 2014
- 18-34-year-old men most likely to visit c-stores
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- Figure 39: Convenience store shopping frequency—Any usage, by gender and age, January 2014
- Household income has little impact on convenience store shopping frequency
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- Figure 40: Convenience store shopping frequency—Any usage, by household income, January 2014
Reasons for Visiting Convenience Stores
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- Key points
- Most visit c-stores to get gas, buy food and drink
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- Figure 41: Reasons for visiting convenience stores, January 2014
- Young adults visit c-stores for a variety of reasons
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- Figure 42: Reasons for visiting convenience stores, by gender and age, January 2014
- Lower-income shoppers more apt to buy food/drink, tobacco
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- Figure 43: Reasons for visiting convenience stores, by household income, January 2014
Items Purchased at Convenience Stores
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- Key points
- Prepackaged food and drinks commonly purchased items at c-stores
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- Figure 44: Items purchased, January 2014
- Younger men and women shop across categories at convenience stores
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- Figure 45: Items purchased, by gender and age, January 2014
- Lower-income consumers most likely to buy food/drink at convenience stores
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- Figure 46: Items purchased, by household income, January 2014
Reasons for Choosing Convenience Stores
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- Key points
- Convenience and gasoline primary reasons consumers choose which c-stores to visit
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- Figure 47: Reasons for choosing convenience stores, January 2014
- Young men most loyal, shop for groceries at c-stores
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- Figure 48: Reasons for choosing convenience stores, by gender and age, January 2014
- Convenience appeals to c-store shoppers of all income levels
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- Figure 49: Reasons for choosing convenience stores, by household income, January 2014
Innovations/Improvements Desired
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- Key points
- Lower prices would encourage consumers to shop at c-stores more often
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- Figure 50: Innovations/Improvements desired at convenience stores, January 2014
- Young men seek a variety of options to encourage more c-store shopping
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- Figure 51: Innovations/Improvements desired at convenience stores, by gender and age, January 2014
- Highest-income consumers seek promotions/coupons/offers
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- Figure 52: Innovations/Improvements desired at convenience stores, by household income, January 2014
Attitudes Toward Convenience Stores
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- Key points
- Consumers seek healthier options at c-stores
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- Figure 53: Attitudes toward convenience stores, January 2014
- Young men and women seek healthier foods, influenced by advertising
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- Figure 54: Attitudes toward convenience stores, by gender and age, January 2014
- Creating a unique in-store experience can appeal to higher-income shoppers
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- Figure 55: Attitudes toward convenience stores, by household income, January 2014
Impact of Race and Hispanic Origin
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- Key points
- Hispanics and Blacks highest users of c-stores
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- Figure 56: Convenience store shopping frequency—Any usage, by race/Hispanic origin, January 2014
- Hispanics visit c-stores for foodservice
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- Figure 57: Reasons for visiting convenience stores, by race/Hispanic origin, January 2014
- Hispanics purchasing across most categories at c-stores
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- Figure 58: Items purchased, by race/Hispanic origin, January 2014
- Hispanics more interested in product selection than non-Hispanics when choosing c-stores
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- Figure 59: Reasons for choosing convenience stores, by race/Hispanic origin, January 2014
- Blacks more likely than others to seek lower prices, self-checkouts
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- Figure 60: Innovations/Improvements desired at convenience stores, by race/Hispanic origin, January 2014
- Hispanics seek healthier foods at convenience stores
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- Figure 61: Any agreement with attitudes toward convenience stores, by race/Hispanic origin, January 2014
Cluster Analysis
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- Figure 62: Convenience store shopper clusters, January 2014
- Group 1: Not involved
- Characteristics
- Opportunities
- Group 2: Moderate users
- Characteristics
- Opportunities
- Group 3: Highly engaged
- Characteristics
- Opportunities
- Group 4: Price sensitive
- Characteristics
- Opportunities
- Cluster characteristics tables
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- Figure 63: Convenience store shopping frequency—Any usage, by Convenience store shopper clusters, January 2014
- Figure 64: Reasons for visiting convenience stores, by Convenience store shopper clusters, January 2014
- Figure 65: Reasons for choosing convenience stores, by Convenience store shopper clusters, January 2014
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- Figure 66: Innovations/Improvements desired at convenience stores, by Convenience store shopper clusters, January 2014
- Figure 67: Any agreement with attitudes toward convenience stores, by Convenience store shopper clusters, January 2014
- Cluster demographics tables
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- Figure 68: Convenience store shopper clusters, by demographic, January 2014
- Cluster methodology
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Appendix – Other Useful Consumer Tables
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- Convenience store shopping frequency
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- Figure 69: Convenience store shopping frequency, January 2014
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- Figure 70: Convenience store shopping frequency—Any usage, by marital/relationship status, January 2014
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- Figure 71: Convenience store shopping frequency—Any usage, by presence of children in household, January 2014
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- Figure 72: Convenience store shopping frequency—Any usage, by employment, January 2014
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- Figure 73: Convenience store shopping frequency—Any usage, by generations, January 2014
- Convenience store shopping frequency—heavy users
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- Figure 74: Convenience store shopping frequency—Heavy users, by gender and age, January 2014
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- Figure 75: Convenience store shopping frequency—Heavy users, by household income, January 2014
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- Figure 76: Convenience store shopping frequency—Heavy users, by race/Hispanic origin, January 2014
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- Figure 77: Convenience store shopping frequency—Heavy users, by generations, January 2014
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- Figure 78: Convenience store shopping frequency—Heavy users, by reasons for visiting convenience stores, January 2014
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- Figure 79: Convenience store shopping frequency—Heavy users, by reasons for visiting convenience stores, January 2014 (continued)
- Reasons for visiting convenience stores
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- Figure 80: Reasons for visiting convenience stores, by marital/relationship status, January 2014
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- Figure 81: Reasons for visiting convenience stores, by presence of children in household, January 2014
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- Figure 82: Reasons for visiting convenience stores, by employment, January 2014
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- Figure 83: Reasons for visiting convenience stores, by generations, January 2014
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- Figure 84: Reasons for visiting convenience stores, by to get gasoline, January 2014
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- Figure 85: Reasons for visiting convenience stores, by to buy tobacco products, January 2014
- Items purchased at convenience stores
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- Figure 86: Items purchased, by marital/relationship status, January 2014
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- Figure 87: Items purchased, by presence of children in household, January 2014
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- Figure 88: Items purchased, by employment, January 2014
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- Figure 89: Items purchased, by generations, January 2014
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- Figure 90: Convenience store shopping frequency—Heavy users, by items purchased, January 2014
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- Figure 91: Convenience store shopping frequency—Heavy users, by items purchased, January 2014 (continued)
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- Figure 92: Convenience store shopping frequency—Heavy users, by items purchased, part 3, January 2014
- Reasons for choosing convenience stores
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- Figure 93: Reasons for choosing convenience stores, by marital/relationship status, January 2014
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- Figure 94: Reasons for choosing convenience stores, by presence of children in household, January 2014
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- Figure 95: Reasons for choosing convenience stores, by employment, January 2014
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- Figure 96: Reasons for choosing convenience stores, by generations, January 2014
- Innovations/improvements desired at convenience stores
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- Figure 97: Innovations/Improvements desired at convenience stores, by marital/relationship status, January 2014
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- Figure 98: Innovations/Improvements desired at convenience stores, by presence of children in household, January 2014
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- Figure 99: Innovations/Improvements desired at convenience stores, by employment, January 2014
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- Figure 100: Innovations/Improvements desired at convenience stores, by generations, January 2014
- Attitudes toward convenience stores
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- Figure 101: Any agreement with attitudes toward convenience stores, by marital/relationship status, January 2014
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- Figure 102: Any agreement with attitudes toward convenience stores, by presence of children in household, January 2014
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- Figure 103: Any agreement with attitudes toward convenience stores, by employment, January 2014
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- Figure 104: Any agreement with attitudes toward convenience stores, by generations, January 2014
Appendix – Social Media
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- Brand usage or awareness
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- Figure 105: Brand usage or awareness, January 2014
- Figure 106: 7-Eleven usage or awareness, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 107: Circle K usage or awareness, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 108: ampm usage or awareness, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 109: Wawa usage or awareness, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 110: Casey’s General Store usage or awareness, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 111: Speedway SuperAmerica usage or awareness, by demographics, January 2014
- Activities done
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- Figure 112: Activities done, January 2014
- Figure 113: 7-Eleven—Activities done—I have looked up/talked about this brand online on social media, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 114: 7-Eleven—Activities done—I have contacted/interacted with the brand online on social media to, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 115: 7-Eleven—Activities done—I follow/like the brand on social media because, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 116: 7-Eleven—Activities done—I have researched the brand on social media to, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 117: Circle K—Activities done—I have looked up/talked about this brand online on social media, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 118: Circle K—Activities done—I have contacted/interacted with the brand online on social media to, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 119: Circle K—Activities done—I follow/like the brand on social media because, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 120: Circle K—Activities done—I have researched the brand on social media to, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 121: ampm—Activities done—I have looked up/talked about this brand online on social media, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 122: ampm—Activities done—I have contacted/interacted with the brand online on social media to, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 123: ampm—Activities done—I follow/like the brand on social media because, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 124: ampm—Activities done—I have researched the brand on social media to, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 125: Wawa—Activities done—I have looked up/talked about this brand online on social media, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 126: Wawa—Activities done—I have contacted/interacted with the brand online on social media to, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 127: Wawa—Activities done—I have researched the brand on social media to, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 128: Casey’s General Store—Activities done—I have looked up/talked about this brand online on social media, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 129: Casey’s General Store—Activities done—I have contacted/interacted with the brand online on social media to, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 130: Casey’s General Store—Activities done—I have researched the brand on social media to, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 131: Speedway SuperAmerica—Activities done—I have looked up/talked about this brand online on social media, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 132: Speedway SuperAmerica—Activities done—I have contacted/interacted with the brand online on social media to, by demographics, January 2014
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- Figure 133: Speedway SuperAmerica—Activities done—I follow/like the brand on social media because, by demographics, January 2014
- Figure 134: Speedway SuperAmerica—Activities done—I have researched the brand on social media to, by demographics, January 2014
- Online conversations
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- Figure 135: Number of mentions for selected convenience stores, Feb. 1, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014
- Figure 136: Number of mentions for selected convenience stores, Feb. 1, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014
- Figure 137: Online mentions around selected convenience stores, by month, Feb. 1, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014
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- Figure 138: Online mentions around selected convenience stores, by page type, Feb. 1, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014
- Figure 139: Topics of discussion among the selected convenience stores, Feb. 1, 2013-Jan. 31, 2014
Appendix – Trade Associations
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