Industry Channels
- Research Topics:
- Industry Channels:
Convenience Stores
By addressing specific trends and behaviors in the convenience retail space, the Council provides valuable guidance that helps convenience stores meet the evolving needs of their customers and capitalize on growth opportunities. The Council conducts focused studies on convenience retail stores to better understand the unique dynamics and challenges of this fast-paced retail segment. Through its research, the Council analyzes key aspects such as consumer demand for convenience, quick shopping experiences, product assortment, and the integration of technology to streamline operations. The insights gained from these studies enable convenience store operators to enhance their service offerings, optimize store layouts, and improve the overall customer experience.
Conducted by
- Fighting What's Different Differently: Retention in the Grocery Front Line
- Fighting What's Different Differently: Retention in the Grocery Front Line
How can I grow my convenience store business?
Convenience stores logged 54 billion trips in 2025, but inside transactions have fallen 3.3% since 2022 as shoppers spread their trips across more places to shop. The Council's 2026 study lays out a roadmap for winning more of them: get the fundamentals right, choose a growth lever your store can execute, then build an experience shoppers seek out. It includes priorities for individual operators, regional chains, and national chains.
How can my convenience store’s foodservice compete with fast food?
Foodservice drives about 45% of in-store convenience trips and 39% of in-store gross profit, yet only 22% of shoppers say they trust convenience store food. The Council's 2026 study looks at why shoppers choose fast food for a meal, what they value most in prepared food, and how to close the credibility gap.
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How do I turn fuel customers into in-store shoppers?
Nearly 80% of all fuel is sold at convenience stores, and pump transactions made up about 13 billion of the channel's trips in 2025. The Council's 2026 study maps what brings those customers inside. Fuel shoppers who choose a convenience store are more likely than shoppers at other channels to say it's because they can grab food or a drink while they're there, and a clean store, a clean restroom, and friendly staff are what make the stop worth it.
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How can I improve employee retention in my convenience store?
Convenience store associate turnover averaged 141% in 2022, up from 86% in 2013, even though hourly wages rose nearly 70% over the past decade. Pay matters, but it isn't the whole story. The Council's 2024 action plan finds that managers, schedule flexibility, safety, and training all shape whether employees stay, and lays out steps for individual managers, companies, and the industry as a whole. Its earlier study of 20,000 convenience store employees and managers shows how engagement leads to faster service, more satisfied customers, and lower turnover.
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How do I connect with convenience store shoppers?
Loyalty programs are one of the channel's most underused advantages. In the Council's 2026 study, 71% of convenience shoppers said loyalty programs influence where they shop, and fuel discounts and free food or drinks top the list of rewards that would bring them back more often. The opportunity is especially strong with Millennials: 51% say they're very loyal to a particular brand or chain, compared with 42% of all shoppers. Earlier Council research explores how shoppers' cooking, shopping, and eating habits are changing, and with them the nature of convenience itself.
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How do convenience store shoppers think about sustainability?
Convenience store shoppers are increasingly aware of sustainability and often seek products that are environmentally friendly, such as those with minimal packaging or made from recycled materials. They appreciate stores that implement sustainable practices, such as energy-efficient lighting and waste reduction programs, as these efforts align with their values and contribute to a positive shopping experience. Additionally, providing clear information about the sustainability attributes of products and company initiatives helps build trust and can influence purchasing decisions in favor of more responsible consumption.
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