America Has A New Favorite Convenience Store

The American Customer Satisfaction Index released its 2026 Convenience Store Study on October 6, and the chain that topped the national rankings is not the one that most people would guess. Meijer, a regional grocery chain headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that also operates Meijer Express gas stations, scored an 82 out of 100, the highest customer satisfaction rating of any convenience store brand in the United States this year, up five points from its 2025 score. The survey was conducted over a 12-month period ending September 2026, based on 9,475 email surveys of actual convenience store customers, and measured store hours, locations, coffee freshness, bathroom cleanliness, food quality, wait times, mobile app usability, loyalty programs, and speed of checkout. Meijer operates primarily across six states: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Kentucky, meaning a significant portion of Americans have never encountered one. It displaced Kwik Trip, the Wisconsin-based fuel chain that led the industry in 2025 with an 84, but dropped six points this year to land tied for fifth. QuikTrip, Sheetz, and Wawa each scored 80, tying for second place nationally. Buc-ee's, the Texas-based beaver-themed chain with arguably the most passionate fanbase in American retail, scored 77, landing tied for seventh.

The regional picture adds more texture to the national result. In the Midwest, Sheetz led with an 83, actually edging out Meijer in its own backyard by a single point. Wawa took the top spot in both the Northeast and the South, where it edged out Buc-ee's by a single point, a margin that will not sit well with the devoted Buc-ee's faithful who consider any competition with their chain a form of provocation. In the West, Maverik and QuikTrip tied for first. The ACSI study's broader finding about the industry is worth noting: overall customer satisfaction with convenience stores fell one percent this year to 75, dragged down by declining scores in mobile app quality, store cleanliness, and employee interactions, while food, convenience of hours, and checkout speed held steady. The ACSI researcher behind the report described the convenience store industry as one undergoing a fundamental transformation, no longer just a place to buy gas and a snack but increasingly a genuine food service destination, with 15 percent of prepared-food visits now going to convenience stores instead of quick-service restaurants. Meijer scored highest in the year that data landed. The grocery chain from Michigan that most Americans outside the Midwest have never visited is, by the numbers, running the best convenience store operation in the country right now. Buc-ee's fans have been notified.

Source:https://www.the-independent.com/us/money/america-favorite-convenience-store-gas-b3062384.html