Places like Wawa and Buc-ees have elevated the convenience store from a quick stop for a hot dog on a roller grill to an entity now competing with quick-service and fast casual restaurants, writes John Ludwig, CEO of Push, a restaurant-centric branding and marketing agency.
Convenience stores are “rewriting the rules and competing head-on for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner,” he wrote.
The stores continue to promote location, speed, and value while upgrading menus and experiences.
More than seven in 10 consumers now say that convenience stores are a true alternative to fast food chains.
C-stores are going after the breakfast crowd with fresh coffee programs, hot sandwiches, and special deals that undercut quick service restaurants.
Wawa’s breakfast hoagies and custom coffee program are a signature draw, while Buc-ee’s has created a breakfast destination with oversized stores, fresh bakery items, and brisket tacos.
Lunch menus have also expanded, and while dinner is the biggest hurdle, pizza, hot entrees, and expanded evening hours are luring those customers in as well.
Going forward, the biggest disruption for the restaurant industry may not come from delivery apps or AI kitchens, “but from the gas station down the street,” Ludwig wrote.
Read more of John Ludwig’s observations about the convenience store business at his LinkedIn site.
