• by Sarah Mahoney , 8 hours ago

Buc-ee’s isn’t just pumping gas — it’s pumping up brand love. The Texas-based chain topped Dunnhumby’s latest ranking of America’s convenience stores, outscoring all 40 competitors by a wide margin. Sheetz came in second, followed by Wawa, Kwik Trip, and Walmart c-stores.

Dunnhumby’s brand equity index measures how well chains build loyalty and drive traffic beyond fuel sales, showing how fast convenience retail is evolving from pit stop to food and lifestyle destination.

The analysis covered the full spectrum of players in the $860 billion industry, including national and regional operators, as well as chains that extend core grocery or gas brands.

“We're at an inflection point in convenience retail. The stores that are thriving aren't just keeping pace — they're reimagining what matters most to their customers,” said Matt O’Grady, Dunnhumby’s president of the Americas, in the report.

While overall channel growth has been flat, top performers are pulling away. Those with a five-year annual growth rate in foot traffic up 7.2%, according to Placer.ai data, far outpaced the bottom tier’s 2.5% growth. The research identified three key differentiators:

• They’ve become food destinations. Smart c-stores recognize that about 30% of customers head to a fast-food restaurant just after gassing up — taking about $130 billion with them. Top performers now compete directly with QSR brands by offering higher-quality meals. “Retailers who have over half of their customer base using them for an occasional meal destination are thriving when the industry as a whole is treading water or declining,” the report notes.

• They’ve upgraded quality. Stores with better food, merchandise, and in-store experiences outperform 90% of peers. Buc-ee’s, Stewart’s Shops, and Kwik Trip lead here, with Buc-ee’s ranking first or second in six key quality measures.

• They’re clean and frictionless. Leaders like Buc-ee’s, Kwik Trip, and Sheetz excel at easy ordering, quick pickup, and spotless stores.

And while more traditional national names scored better on value — including Walmart, Arco, Safeway, 76, and Sinclair — many national brands landed in the index’s bottom tier.