Sales surge to continue for convenience stores

Convenience stores are poised for another strong quarter.



A combination of low gas prices, strong consumer confidence and warmer weather is expected to continue the year’s already strong sales at convenience stores into the second quarter of 2017, according to the results of a survey of c-store owners conducted by NACS.



A full 80% of convenience retailers expect in-store sales to increase this summer compared to last year, and 57% expect their fuel sales to increase compared to last summer.



Nearly half (47%) of retailers surveyed say that low gas prices helped to grow sales in 2017 helping to grow sales, and 42% say that low gas prices grew fuel sales over the first three months of the year. (Convenience stores sell 80% of the fuel purchased in the United States.)



Seventy-six percent of the retailers are optimistic about the economy and 73% are optimistic about the convenience store industry in general and their own business prospects (73%) over the next three months.



In other findings:


*An increasing percentage of retailers are optimistic about food sales: 53% of all retailers optimistic about their business prospects cite food sales as the reason. Overall, 57% of retailers say that sandwiches and meals will grow their sales, with 35% citing healthy packaged snacks and 28% citing fruits and vegetables.



*Convenience stores also sell more beverages as the weather heats up, and retailers are expecting the same to happen this quarter: 63% say packaged beverage sales (soda, bottled water, teas) will increase, and 43% say that fountain drinks (both cold and frozen) will increase.



The quarterly NACS Retailer Sentiment Survey tracks retailer sentiment related to their businesses, the industry and the economy as a whole.