The economy may still be sluggish, but things picked up for the convenience store (C-store) channel. The NPD Group states that traffic, sales and average visits increased in the second quarter of 2010. While store visits are increasing, pay-at-the-pump visits are steady and dual visits—pay-at-the-pump plus store—are declining. Grab-and-go eating is a continuing reason for consumers to patronize C-stores. Lower gas prices are also helping visits rebound.
- C-store traffic increased by 8% and sales by 11% for the quarter ending in June, 2010 in comparison to the June, 2009 quarter
- The average number of visits by consumers in a 30-day period went up from 6.1 in 2009 to 6.4 in 2010
- The top two reasons consumers continue to frequent C-stores are convenience in location and in-and-out quickness
- Threats to C-stores include grab-and-go offerings from other competitors and a minimal growth in miles driven by consumers
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