Placer.ai: Food, fuel discounts helping boost C-store traffic
Regional convenience chains with strong food offerings are seeing store visits outperform national competitors.
That’s according to a recent report from retail data firm Placer.ai, which found that the six regional chains with the highest lunchtime shares (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.) all saw visits grow year over year from January to August as well. Meanwhile, national brands 7-Eleven and Circle K had the lowest lunch shares and recorded modest visit declines.
Fan-favorite retailer Buc-ee’s, known for its Texas barbecue offerings, had a lunchtime visit share of 30.8%, while year-over-year visits rose 7.6%. Casey’s and Sheetz recorded the next highest year-over-year change in visits at 5.1% and 3.9%. The two retailers had lunchtime visit shares of 26.7% and 27.1%, respectively.
While Circle K (26%) and 7-Eleven (25.7%) captured a similar share of lunchtime visits, the two chains saw visits drop 1.6% and 2.5%, respectively, compared to the January - August period last year.
“These food-forward chains’ strong lunch business suggests they are meeting demand for affordable, convenient meals as dining out grows more expensive – giving customers another reason to stop by,” said Lila Margalit, content manager at Placer.ai.
Despite a dip in year over year visits, big national chains are also finding ways to draw crowds. On July 11, for example, 7-Eleven celebrated its annual Slurpee Day, offering a free small Slurpee at participating stores. Slurpee Day 2026 drew its strongest turnout since 2019, which was aided by 7/11 falling on a Saturday. Visits were 79.2% above the chain’s Saturday average, and 90.7% above its daily average for the preceding 12 months.
[READ MORE: ACSI: C-store satisfaction sees small dip in 2026]
Fuel discounts are also playing a role in attracting customers, especially with gas prices remaining high. On May 7, Circle K offered up to 40 cents off per gallon at more than 5,000 stores, with Inner Circle loyalty members receiving early access before the discount opened to all customers from 4 to 7 p.m.
On Aug. 13, the chain repeated the 40-cent discount as an all-day offer exclusively for Inner Circle members. Both Thursdays drew outsized crowds, with visits increasing 20.8% in May and 24% in August.
“From quick meals to signature treats and fuel discounts, c-stores are giving budget-conscious consumers reasons to pull in,” added Margalit. “Can these draws help keep visits coming as pressure at the pump persists?”
