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A joint report from
C-store Trip Drivers National Trip Insights Major Operator Dynamics Methodology How to Use
2,000
Total Sample
May 2026
Questions
CCRRC · C-store Trip Drivers Study

Understanding your C-store trip Drivers

How do 2,000 U.S. C-store shoppers choose where to stop, what to buy, and whether to return? Use the filters below to explore insights by age, income, region, family size, and size of operator.

Online survey responses collected May 2026
Age GroupIncomeRegionFamily SizeOperator SizeGender
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Age Group
Income
Family Size
Gender
Region
Operator Size
Showing 975 respondents
No filters applied · Full sample

Select a filter above to see how that segment compares to the total sample.

Trip Profile

Trips peak in the morning (39%), most often for coffee (24%) or a meal (21%) — and just 25% considered going elsewhere.

Single-Select
Considered Alternatives Before Stopping

Inside purchasers only (base n=1,750)
n = …
CQ22
Single-Select
Primary Intended Item

Inside purchasers only (base n=1,750)
n = …
CQ16
Single-Select
Time of Visit
n = …
CQ1
Visit Drivers & Barriers

Price cuts both ways: the #1 reason to visit more often (40%) and a top barrier holding shoppers back (32%).

Multi-Select
Visit Motivators
n = …
CQ62
Multi-Select
Visit Barriers
n = …
CQ61
Foodservice & Conversion

Value (40%) and freshness (39%) drive food choices, but 31% of fuel-only shoppers say nothing would bring them inside.

Multi-Select
Prepared-Food Priorities
n = …
CQ64
Multi-Select
Inside-Purchase Encouragers

Fuel-Only respondents only (n=250)
n = …
CQFO13
Improvement Opportunities

Convenience basics rule (80%+ for location, speed, in-stock); fresh snacks and fuel discounts lead as desired upgrades.

Multi-Select
Desired Product Improvements
n = …
CQ65
Multi-Select
Desired Loyalty Rewards
n = …
CQ68
Multi-Select
Importance of Store Attributes (T2B)
n = …
CQ38
Brand Loyalty

77% feel genuinely loyal to a specific C-store brand or chain (cq40) — among them, convenient location (44%) and consistent cleanliness (43%) are the top reasons why.

Single-Select
Brand Loyalty
n = …
CQ40
Multi-Select
Reasons for Brand Loyalty

cq40=Loyal (n=1,531)
n = …
CQ41
Store Experience & Preferences

86% hold a favorable opinion of C-stores, yet 58% of visits are quick grab-and-go — cleaner restrooms (44%) and self-checkout (32%) top shoppers' wish list.

Single-Select
Favorable Opinion of C-stores
n = …
CQ32
Multi-Select
In-Store Purchase Triggers

cq12=2 or 3 (decided in-store, n=527)
n = …
CQ14
Single-Select
Time Spent In Store

Inside purchasers only (base n=1,750)
n = …
CQ21
Multi-Select
Desired Services & Amenities
n = …
CQ66
Multi-Select
Cleanliness Priorities
n = …
CQ63
Single-Select
Main Reason for Visiting
n = …
CQ33
Source: Online Shopper Survey May 2026 · n=2,000 · Cadent Consulting Group
CCRRC · C-store Industry Briefing

National Trip Insights

What are 10 key facts to understand C-store trip drivers at a national level?

📊 n = 2,000 C-store Shoppers
📅 May 2026 Online Survey
62%
of shoppers visit C-stores weekly or more often — making C-stores a routine stop, not an occasional one.
IMPLICATIONFrequency creates loyalty opportunity. Brands and operators who win the weekly routine win the basket.
72%
Pre-planned their stop
Most C-store visits are intentional, not impulse
72% of shoppers planned to stop at this retailer specifically before arriving (cq6). The "impulse stop" narrative underestimates how purposeful C-store shoppers really are.
IMPLICATIONMarketing and app-based promotions can reinforce pre-trip intent. Meeting shoppers before they arrive — not just at the pump — drives incremental sales.
86%
Favorable opinion of C-stores
Goodwill is broad, but converting it into deeper engagement is the opportunity
86% of shoppers hold a favorable opinion of C-stores as a place to shop (cq32), including 48% who are "Very Favorable." But favorability alone isn't full engagement — long-standing perceptions around quality and value still hold many shoppers back from visiting more, making this broad goodwill the channel's biggest lever for growth.
IMPLICATIONAwareness and affinity aren't the barriers. The opportunity is in translating positive sentiment into more categories and more frequent inside purchases.
45%
Coffee/beverages top purchase
Beverages dominate the inside basket — led by coffee and fountain drinks
45% of inside purchasers (n=1,750) bought coffee or a fountain drink on their most recent visit — the #1 category by a wide margin. Salty snacks (31%) and tobacco/nicotine (27%) round out the top three.
IMPLICATIONBeverages are the anchor category. Strategies that bundle beverages with other categories (snacks, prepared food) or create beverage occasions drive basket size.
57%
Have loyalty app
Loyalty program enrollment is common, but uneven by operator
57% of shoppers are enrolled in their retailer's loyalty/rewards program (cq8), ranging from 48% among Individual Operators to 60% among National Chains.
77%
Brand loyal
Emotional loyalty outpaces program enrollment
77% feel genuine loyalty to a specific C-store brand or chain (cq40), yet only 57% hold a loyalty program — a 20-point gap between emotional and enrolled loyalty.
70%
Decided before entering
Most in-store purchase decisions are made before shoppers walk through the door
70% of inside purchasers (cq12) decided what to buy before arriving or after arriving but before going inside. Only 10% made the decision after browsing the store — the "browsing converts" segment is small.
IMPLICATIONForecourt and exterior messaging matter more than in-store merchandising for driving the purchase decision. Pump-top ads and app promotions reach shoppers before the decision is made.
82%
Location: most important attribute
Convenient location dominates store selection — but experience attributes are catching up
82% rate convenient location as Very/Extremely Important when choosing a C-store (cq38 T2B). Easy in/out (81%), in-stock items (80%), and cleanliness (78%) follow close behind — showing that execution matters at least as much as location.
IMPLICATIONLocation is table stakes. Stores that combine accessibility with clean, well-stocked, fast experiences win repeat visits even when they're not the nearest option.
31%
Visiting more often
Nearly one in three shoppers is visiting C-stores more frequently than a year ago
31% of shoppers (cq43) report visiting C-stores more in the past 12 months vs. the year prior — well above the 5% visiting less often. The category is growing its share of routine stops.
IMPLICATIONThe tailwind is real. Retailers who improve the in-store experience and expand their prepared food offer are best positioned to capture the growing trip frequency.
Source: Online Shopper Survey May 2026 · n=2,000 · Cadent Consulting Group
C-store Trip Drivers · Operator Size Comparison

Major Operator Dynamics

C-stores can look very different from one another. How do C-store trip drivers vary depending on the operator footprint?

Scroll down to follow the journey · Tap cards to see data
Total
n = 2,000
National Chains
n = 1,182
Regional Chains
n = 496
Individual Operators
n = 322
1
Pre-Trip Intent
Planning & loyalty before
72% pre-planned their stop
Tap for data
Planning & loyalty before · DATA
72%
Pre-planned their stop (cq6)
84%
Visit weekly or more (cq30)
57%
Have loyalty app (cq8)
Tap to flip back
Planning & loyalty before
72% pre-planned their stop
Tap for data
Planning & loyalty before · DATA
72%
Pre-planned their stop (cq6)
83%
Visit weekly or more (cq30)
60%
Have loyalty app (cq8)
Tap to flip back
Planning & loyalty before
73% pre-planned their stop
Tap for data
Planning & loyalty before · DATA
73%
Pre-planned their stop (cq6)
86%
Visit weekly or more (cq30)
53%
Have loyalty app (cq8)
Tap to flip back
Planning & loyalty before
70% pre-planned their stop
Tap for data
Planning & loyalty before · DATA
70%
Pre-planned their stop (cq6)
86%
Visit weekly or more (cq30)
48%
Have loyalty app (cq8)
Tap to flip back
2
Store Arrival
How shoppers get there & shop
88% made an inside purchase
Tap for data
How shoppers get there & shop · DATA
88%
Made inside purchase
89%
Gasoline/regular fuel
57%
Have loyalty app (cq8)
Tap to flip back
How shoppers get there & shop
88% made an inside purchase
Tap for data
How shoppers get there & shop · DATA
88%
Made inside purchase
88%
Gasoline/regular fuel
60%
Have loyalty app (cq8)
Tap to flip back
How shoppers get there & shop
87% made an inside purchase
Tap for data
How shoppers get there & shop · DATA
87%
Made inside purchase
92%
Gasoline/regular fuel
53%
Have loyalty app (cq8)
Tap to flip back
How shoppers get there & shop
87% made an inside purchase
Tap for data
How shoppers get there & shop · DATA
87%
Made inside purchase
88%
Gasoline/regular fuel
48%
Have loyalty app (cq8)
Tap to flip back
3
In-Store Decision
When and why to buy
70% decided before entering
Tap for data
When and why to buy · DATA
70%
Decided before entering store
30%
Decided at pump or in-store
97%
Found everything they needed
Tap to flip back
When and why to buy
70% decided before entering
Tap for data
When and why to buy · DATA
70%
Decided before entering store
30%
Decided at pump or in-store
98%
Found everything they needed
Tap to flip back
When and why to buy
70% decided before entering
Tap for data
When and why to buy · DATA
70%
Decided before entering store
30%
Decided at pump or in-store
97%
Found everything they needed
Tap to flip back
When and why to buy
68% decided before entering
Tap for data
When and why to buy · DATA
68%
Decided before entering store
32%
Decided at pump or in-store
93%
Found everything they needed
Tap to flip back
4
Purchase
What they bought & how much
45% bought coffee/fountain drink
Tap for data
What they bought & how much · DATA
45%
Bought coffee/fountain drink (cq15)
31%
Bought salty snacks
97%
Found everything needed (cq20)
Tap to flip back
What they bought & how much
47% bought coffee/fountain drink
Tap for data
What they bought & how much · DATA
47%
Bought coffee/fountain drink (cq15)
33%
Bought salty snacks
98%
Found everything needed (cq20)
Tap to flip back
What they bought & how much
48% bought coffee/fountain drink
Tap for data
What they bought & how much · DATA
48%
Bought coffee/fountain drink (cq15)
28%
Bought salty snacks
97%
Found everything needed (cq20)
Tap to flip back
What they bought & how much
36% bought coffee/fountain drink
Tap for data
What they bought & how much · DATA
36%
Bought coffee/fountain drink (cq15)
28%
Bought salty snacks
93%
Found everything needed (cq20)
Tap to flip back
5
Loyalty & Return
Repeat visit drivers
77% loyal to a brand or chain
Tap for data
Repeat visit drivers · DATA
77%
Loyal to a brand/chain (cq40)
57%
Enrolled in loyalty program
84%
Visit weekly or more (cq30)
Tap to flip back
Repeat visit drivers
75% loyal to a brand or chain
Tap for data
Repeat visit drivers · DATA
75%
Loyal to a brand/chain (cq40)
60%
Enrolled in loyalty program
83%
Visit weekly or more (cq30)
Tap to flip back
Repeat visit drivers
82% loyal to a brand or chain
Tap for data
Repeat visit drivers · DATA
82%
Loyal to a brand/chain (cq40)
53%
Enrolled in loyalty program
86%
Visit weekly or more (cq30)
Tap to flip back
Repeat visit drivers
75% loyal to a brand or chain
Tap for data
Repeat visit drivers · DATA
75%
Loyal to a brand/chain (cq40)
48%
Enrolled in loyalty program
86%
Visit weekly or more (cq30)
Tap to flip back
Source: Online Shopper Survey May 2026 · n=2,000 · Cadent Consulting Group
CCRRC · Study Methodology

Methodology

Survey Overview

A 20-minute online survey was fielded in May 2026 to n=2,000 U.S. convenience store shoppers ages 18–72, each of whom had purchased something from a convenience store within the past two weeks. The sample included 1,750 shoppers who made an in-store purchase beyond fuel and 250 fuel-only shoppers. Sample was structured to represent convenience store shoppers in the U.S., with regional targets based on NACS region share of store trips and gender, generation and income set against the observed convenience shopper base. Margin of error for the total sample is ±2.2% at the 95% confidence level.

NACS Regions

Regions mirror the 2026 NACS Regional Map. Respondents were grouped into six regions based on where their most recent C-store visit took place:

n = 522Region 1: Northeast
n = 417Region 2: Southeast
n = 404Region 3: Midwest
n = 284Region 4: South Central
n = 164Region 5: Central
n = 209Region 6: West
2026 NACS Regional Map
2026 NACS Regional Map
Source: Online Shopper Survey May 2026 · n=2,000 · Cadent Consulting Group
CCRRC · User Guide

How to Use This Dashboard

A quick guide to the filters, charts, and tabs across the site.

Using the Filters

On the C-store Trip Drivers tab, use the filter panel to explore results by Age Group, Income, Region, Family Size, Gender, and Operator Size. Up to two filter chips can be active at once, from any combination of groups — selecting a third chip automatically drops the oldest one. Click a selected chip again to deselect it, or click "All Respondents" to clear every filter and return to the full sample.

Reading the Charts

Every chart shows two bars per answer: a dark blue bar for the Total sample (always n = 2,000, unaffected by filters) and a light blue bar for your currently filtered segment. The sample size (n) for each chart updates as filters are applied, and some questions are based on a smaller group of respondents who were actually asked that question — the chart subtitle notes when that's the case.

National Trip Insights

This tab surfaces the ten most notable national-level facts from the study as standalone stat cards — no filters or interaction needed, just a quick scroll through the headline takeaways.

Major Operator Dynamics

This tab compares the shopper journey — from pre-trip intent through loyalty — across Total shoppers and the three Operator Size groups (National Chains, Regional Chains, Individual Operators). Tap any card to flip it over and reveal the supporting data points behind the headline.

Source: Online Shopper Survey May 2026 · n=2,000 · Cadent Consulting Group