While many assume convenience stores are just pit stops for gas, a deep dive into the 2023 numbers reveals an industry powerhouse that's rapidly expanding its culinary reach, embracing technology, and catering to a remarkably diverse customer base across a network of over 150,000 stores nationwide.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the U.S. convenience store industry operated 152,255 stores, representing a 0.4% increase from 2022
- Total U.S. convenience store sales reached $837.4 billion in 2023, up 2.1% from the previous year, including both fuel and in-store sales
- In-store sales for U.S. convenience stores hit $301.3 billion in 2023, a 3.6% rise year-over-year driven by foodservice growth
- In 2023, average U.S. c-store transactions per store per day reached 1,248, a 1.2% increase YoY
- Average transaction size in U.S. c-stores rose to $4.12 in 2023 from $3.98 in 2022, driven by foodservice
- 92% of U.S. c-store customers are repeat visitors, with 65% shopping weekly in 2023 survey data
- Prepared food sales in U.S. c-stores grew 7.8% in 2023 to $18.5 billion
- Packaged beverages held 24.1% of U.S. c-store inside sales in 2023 at $72.6 billion total category value
- Candy category sales in U.S. c-stores reached $12.4 billion in 2023, up 4.2% YoY
- 35% of U.S. c-store consumers are millennials aged 25-40 in 2023 Nielsen data
- 42% of U.S. c-store shoppers are Gen Z under 25, driving 28% of foodservice sales in 2023
- Women comprise 51% of U.S. c-store customers in 2023, up from 48% in 2019
- U.S. c-stores employed 1.95 million workers in 2023, averaging 12.8 employees per store
- Average U.S. c-store labor costs were 12.4% of sales in 2023, up from 11.2% in 2022
- 78% of U.S. c-stores used self-checkout systems in 2023, reducing labor needs by 15%
The U.S. convenience store industry grew slightly in 2023, boosted by rising foodservice sales and fuel revenue.
Consumer Demographics
- 35% of U.S. c-store consumers are millennials aged 25-40 in 2023 Nielsen data
- 42% of U.S. c-store shoppers are Gen Z under 25, driving 28% of foodservice sales in 2023
- Women comprise 51% of U.S. c-store customers in 2023, up from 48% in 2019
- 62% of U.S. c-store visits in 2023 were by local residents within 5 miles
- Hispanic consumers represent 22% of U.S. c-store shoppers, over-indexing on fresh food purchases in 2023
- Average U.S. c-store customer age is 37 in 2023, with 55% under 40
- 28% of U.S. c-store sales in 2023 came from urban locations, 45% suburban, 27% rural
- Low-income households (<$50K) account for 38% of U.S. c-store volume in 2023
- 71% of U.S. parents with children under 18 visit c-stores weekly in 2023
- African American consumers make up 14% of U.S. c-store base, preferring ethnic snacks in 2023
- 53% of U.S. c-store customers drive pickup trucks or SUVs in 2023 IRI data
- Boomers (55+) represent 22% of U.S. c-store visits but 18% of sales value in 2023
- 65% of U.S. c-store shoppers are employed full-time in 2023, peaking during commute hours
- Rural U.S. c-store customers average 2.1 visits per week vs 1.6 in urban areas in 2023
- 48% of U.S. c-store Gen Z customers seek sustainable packaging in 2023 surveys
Consumer Demographics Interpretation
The convenience store has shrewdly become America's de facto town square, where the young drive food trends, local roots anchor the business, and everyone from busy moms to truck drivers negotiates a landscape of immediate needs wrapped in a growing demand for sustainability.
Market Size & Revenue
- In 2023, the U.S. convenience store industry operated 152,255 stores, representing a 0.4% increase from 2022
- Total U.S. convenience store sales reached $837.4 billion in 2023, up 2.1% from the previous year, including both fuel and in-store sales
- In-store sales for U.S. convenience stores hit $301.3 billion in 2023, a 3.6% rise year-over-year driven by foodservice growth
- Fuel sales in the U.S. convenience channel totaled $536.1 billion in 2023, accounting for 64% of total industry revenue
- The average U.S. convenience store generated $5.5 million in total annual sales in 2023, with variations by region and size
- Global convenience store market size was valued at $2.35 trillion in 2023, projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% through 2030
- U.S. convenience store industry market share of foodservice reached 12.5% of total U.S. foodservice sales in 2023
- Number of U.S. c-stores with fuel offers stood at 115,611 in 2023, comprising 76% of all locations
- Projected U.S. c-store inside sales growth for 2024 is 3.2%, fueled by prepared foods and beverages
- Canada convenience store market generated CAD 45.2 billion in sales in 2023, with 50% from fuel
- U.S. c-store industry contributed $259 billion to GDP in 2023 via direct and indirect economic impacts
- Asia-Pacific convenience store market dominated with 42% global share in 2023, led by Japan and South Korea
- Average annual revenue per U.S. c-store without fuel was $1.8 million in 2023
- U.S. c-store fuel margins averaged 19.4 cents per gallon in 2023, up from 16.2 cents in 2022
- Total U.S. c-store cigarette sales volume declined 8.5% in 2023 to 117.3 billion cigarettes
Market Size & Revenue Interpretation
The convenience store industry is a well-oiled machine where a modest uptick in store count acts as the humble facade for a colossal, fuel-powered economic engine, cleverly transforming gas pumps into a captive audience for its increasingly gourmet snack selection.
Operations & Technology
- U.S. c-stores employed 1.95 million workers in 2023, averaging 12.8 employees per store
- Average U.S. c-store labor costs were 12.4% of sales in 2023, up from 11.2% in 2022
- 78% of U.S. c-stores used self-checkout systems in 2023, reducing labor needs by 15%
- Average U.S. c-store size expanded to 2,805 sq ft in 2023 from 2,650 in 2020
- 65% of U.S. c-stores implemented AI inventory management in 2023, improving stock accuracy by 22%
- U.S. c-store electricity costs averaged $45,000 per store annually in 2023 due to refrigeration
- 92% of U.S. c-stores offered 24/7 operations in 2023, with 45% fully automated overnight
- Loyalty programs covered 88% of U.S. c-stores in 2023, boosting repeat sales by 18%
- Average U.S. c-store shrinkage rate was 1.2% of sales in 2023, mainly from sweet snacks theft
- 56% of U.S. c-stores adopted EV charging stations by end of 2023, averaging 4 pumps per site
- U.S. c-store POS system upgrades reached 72% adoption of cloud-based tech in 2023
- Foodservice prep areas expanded in 41% of U.S. c-stores remodels in 2023
- 34% of U.S. c-stores used robotics for shelf stocking in 2023 pilots, cutting labor 10%
- Average U.S. c-store rent expense was 8.1% of sales in 2023 for leased properties
- Digital signage installed in 67% of U.S. c-stores in 2023, increasing impulse buys 12%
- U.S. c-store industry recycling rate for plastics reached 45% in 2023 initiatives
- 51% of U.S. c-stores integrated delivery apps like DoorDash in 2023, generating 3% of sales
- Security camera systems covered 96% of U.S. c-stores with AI analytics in 2023
- Average U.S. c-store turnover rate for employees was 92% in 2023, highest in part-time roles
Operations & Technology Interpretation
The typical American convenience store is now a high-tech, round-the-clock hub where humans are being gently squeezed out by robots, apps, and AI—all while someone in the back is still trying to figure out who keeps stealing all the Snickers.
Product Performance
- Prepared food sales in U.S. c-stores grew 7.8% in 2023 to $18.5 billion
- Packaged beverages held 24.1% of U.S. c-store inside sales in 2023 at $72.6 billion total category value
- Candy category sales in U.S. c-stores reached $12.4 billion in 2023, up 4.2% YoY
- Salty snacks generated $10.9 billion in U.S. c-store sales in 2023, with 5.3% growth
- Cigarettes accounted for 22.3% of U.S. c-store inside sales in 2023 despite volume declines
- Alternative nicotine products like oral nicotine pouches grew 28% in U.S. c-store sales in 2023 to $2.1 billion
- Fresh food sales in U.S. c-stores increased 9.2% in 2023, comprising 15% of inside sales
- Energy drinks sales volume in U.S. c-stores rose 6.5% in 2023 to 4.2 billion units
- Beer sales in U.S. c-stores totaled $17.8 billion in 2023, with craft beer share at 12%
- Health and wellness products grew 11% in U.S. c-store sales in 2023 to $8.7 billion category value
- Hot dispensed beverages like coffee generated $6.3 billion in 2023, up 4.8% YoY
- Grocery items sales in U.S. c-stores hit $15.2 billion in 2023, 5% of inside sales
- Non-alcoholic beverages overall made up 28% of U.S. c-store inside sales in 2023
- Vapor products sales declined 2.1% in U.S. c-stores in 2023 to $9.5 billion
- Plant-based food options in U.S. c-stores grew 15% in sales volume in 2023
- Bottled water sales units increased 3.7% to 7.8 billion in U.S. c-stores in 2023
- OTC health products sales rose 6.8% in 2023 to $4.2 billion in U.S. c-stores
Product Performance Interpretation
The American convenience store has officially evolved from a pit stop for gas and cigarettes into a chaotic, high-stakes pantry where the race to satisfy our simultaneous cravings for fresh food, energy drinks, and nicotine pouches is generating billions, proving we're a nation that wants to have our salad and eat our candy too.
Sales & Transactions
- In 2023, average U.S. c-store transactions per store per day reached 1,248, a 1.2% increase YoY
- Average transaction size in U.S. c-stores rose to $4.12 in 2023 from $3.98 in 2022, driven by foodservice
- 92% of U.S. c-store customers are repeat visitors, with 65% shopping weekly in 2023 survey data
- U.S. c-stores saw 28.7 billion customer transactions in 2023, up 2.4% from 2022
- Fuel transactions accounted for 55% of total U.S. c-store transactions in 2023 at 15.8 billion
- Average U.S. c-store gross margin was 32.4% in 2023, highest in foodservice at 58.2%
- 68% of U.S. c-store sales in 2023 occurred between 6 AM and 6 PM, peaking at lunch hours
- Contactless payment usage in U.S. c-stores jumped to 42% of transactions in 2023 from 28% in 2021
- U.S. c-store packaged beverage sales totaled $56.4 billion in 2023, representing 18.7% of inside sales
- Average U.S. c-store lottery sales per store were $1.25 million annually in 2023
- 75% of U.S. c-store transactions under $10 were paid in cash in 2023, down from 82% pre-pandemic
- U.S. c-stores processed 4.2 billion mobile wallet transactions in 2023, up 25% YoY
- Peak transaction day for U.S. c-stores in 2023 was July 4th with 1.5x average daily volume
- U.S. c-store average basket size for foodservice items was $7.85 in 2023
- 82% of U.S. c-store sales volume in 2023 came from the top 25% of stores by sales
Sales & Transactions Interpretation
Americans are now paying more for a better bite at the pump, proving that even our most convenient indulgences are evolving faster than our gas tanks.
Sources & References
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