US convenience stores sustain growth

There are 154,195 convenience stores operating across the United States as of December 31, 2015, according to the 2016 National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS)/Nielsen Convenience Industry Store Count. This is 0.91% up from 2014 as additional 1,401 stores were launched in 2015.

Convenience stores, 80.7% of which sell fuel, continue to dominate the retail market with more outlets than the total number of superettes, supermarkets, supercenters, drug stores, and dollar stores combined.

"Our continued growth shows that our industry’s core offer of convenience resonates with time-starved customers, whether they are searching for a fuel fill-up, a quick and healthy snack, a refreshing drink or for fill-in groceries or take-out meals,” NACS Chairman Jack Kofdarali, president of Corona, California-based J&T Management Inc.

Texas, California, Florida, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Pennsylvania continue to be 2015’s top 10 states with most number of convenience stores while Alaska, Wyoming, and Delaware have the fewest.

“The convenience retailing industry continues to be dominated by single-store operators, which account for 63.1% of all convenience stores (97,359 stores total) and 74.3% of store growth in 2015,” added the NACS report.