Convenience Stores

The 65,068 convenience store companies in the US sell a limited selection of merchandise in high-traffic locations. The majority of convenience stores in the US sell gasoline. Most convenience stores are independent operators – 60% of c-stores have a single location.

Reliance on Volatile Fuel Sales

Managing fuel sales is a critical yet risky part of c-store operations.

Rising Credit Card Fees 

The cost of credit/debit fees continues to grow and can exceed the pre-tax profits for a c-store.

Oct 18, 2026 - 1H 2026: A Bumpy Ride for C-Stores

• Convenience stores faced a challenging first half of 2026, with sales weakness across many product categories as consumers pulled back on spending or traded down to lower-priced alternatives, according to Convenience Store News' 2026 Midyear Report Card. Most cold beverage segments experienced declines in both dollar sales and unit volume, although energy drinks stood out, with sales rising 6.3% and unit volume increasing 4.6%. Beer and malt beverages continued to disappoint. Tobacco products also faced pressure, but smokeless tobacco alternatives performed well, posting a 22.6% increase in dollar sales and a 16.8% gain in unit volume. The findings suggest convenience store operators need to pay close attention to changing consumer preferences and adjust their product mix accordingly. Expanding shelf space for growing categories, particularly energy drinks and nicotine alternatives, could help retailers offset weakness elsewhere and improve sales performance.
• New USDA stocking requirements could cause thousands of convenience stores to stop accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Reuters reports. Beginning November 4, SNAP retailers must offer at least seven varieties in each of four staple food categories: dairy, fruits or vegetables, grains, and protein. Convenience store operators say USDA has not provided sufficient guidance and are requesting a six-month enforcement delay to give them time to source products, negotiate with distributors, and adjust store inventory. More than 117,000 convenience stores accept SNAP, representing nearly half of all SNAP-authorized retailers. Stores that cannot meet the requirements risk losing SNAP authorization, potentially reducing sales and customer traffic, particularly in lower-income areas. Compliance could also raise inventory costs, require additional shelf or refrigeration space, and increase spoilage risks for stores that must carry more fresh and perishable products.
• Foodservice remained the brightest spot for convenience stores in 2025, creating a key opportunity to offset weaker fuel and merchandise sales, according to the recently-released 2026 Convenience Store News Industry Report. Average foodservice sales per store rose 4.2% to $455,925, lifting foodservice's share of in-store sales to a five-year high of 23.3%. Prepared food led the category with 5.5% sales growth, while cold and frozen dispensed beverages also posted gains. Although overall industry sales declined because of lower fuel prices, foodservice helped drive a 1% increase in in-store sales and generated higher-margin revenue. For convenience store operators, continued investment in prepared meals, beverages, and food quality offers one of the strongest opportunities to increase customer traffic, improve profitability, and reduce reliance on volatile motor fuel sales.
• Producer prices for gasoline stations rose 4.5% in August compared to a year ago, after falling 1% in the previous August-to-August annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Producer prices for gas stations sit at near historically high levels largely because the 2026 Middle East conflict has sharply increased both crude-oil and wholesale gasoline costs, while unusually tight global refining capacity has kept gasoline margins elevated. Employment by convenience retailers grew 1.6% year over year in July, while the average industry wage jumped 12% over the same period to a record high of $18.62 per hour, BLS data show.

Industry size & Structure

An average convenience store sells gas, operates out of 1-2 locations, employs 6 full-time workers, and generates almost $6.5 million annually.

• The convenience store industry consists of about 65,00 companies with over 137,000 stores, which generate about $860 billion annually and employ 165,700 workers, according to the Census Bureau.
• The average convenience store had 5,103 transactions (at the pump and in-store) per week in 2025, or 729 per day.
• Single-store operators account for roughly 60% of all c-stores, and 88% employ fewer than 10 workers.
• The average c-store chain has about 50 individual stores.
• Foodservice sales accounted for 28.5% of in-store sales and 38.9% of in-store gross margin dollars at convenience stores in 2025, per the National Association of Convenience Stores.
• Large companies include 7-Eleven, Couche-Tard, Casey's General Stores, and EG America (Cumberland Farms, Kwik Stop, Turkey Hill).