3 Big Numbers is a weekly column that looks at a few key details from around the c-store industry.
While it’s always fun when convenience retailers debut or expand a proprietary foodservice program, the industry is also rife with fascinating QSR partnerships.
Many retailers have deals with a who’s-who of major QSRs like Burger King, Subway, Arby’s and McDonald’s. Other times, they partner with local eateries, like when Gas N’ Wash added Mickey’s Greek-style restaurant or Circle K partnered with Arizona-based Burrito Express.
In this week’s “3 Big Numbers,” we revisit some QSR partnerships from earlier this year and how both sides benefited.
15
The number of hot specialty subs Firehouse Subs offers on its menu.
Bolla Market, which operates roughly 240 convenience stores across New York and New Jersey, recently added Firehouse Subs to its QSR lineup. The debut site is in Hicksville, New York, which is on Long Island. A second site is slated to open in Farmingdale, New York, next month.
Firehouse is no stranger to convenience retail sites, though it’s tough to tell just how many of its 1,300-plus locations are in or alongside c-stores. The QSR offers a broad menu in a relatively small footprint.
In addition to its build-your-own sub options, Firehouse offers 15 hot specialty subs for various tastes, including the Spicy Cajun Chicken for customers seeking a little heat alongside more traditional fare like an Italian or steak and cheese option.
The partnership is already poised to grow, with Bolla planning “several more” Firehouse Subs, Sean O’Neill, chief development officer for parent company Bolla Oil, said in a statement.
20
The number of states that now have a Mooyah QSR.
While c-stores benefit from getting the brand recognition and established menus of QSRs, those restaurants also can reap their own unique rewards.
When Texas-based burger chain Mooyah opened a restaurant alongside a Flint, Michigan, Marathon site, it represented a pair of firsts for the QSR. Not only was it the first site that followed a new design intended to operate alongside c-stores, but it was also the company’s first location in Michigan.
The restaurant decided to test this format to “capture consistent daily traffic, provide a high-quality dining option in an underserved channel, and open in markets where traditional real estate may be limited or cost prohibitive,” a Mooyah spokesperson said in a statement.
It’s no surprise that the restaurant is already looking to open more of these c-store-adjacent locations.
334
The number of QSRs that Love’s has added updated ordering tech to in 2025.
Once a QSR and c-store have formed a partnership, it might be tempting to rest on their laurels. But as technology improves, it makes a lot of sense to upgrade the stores to keep up with consumer expectations.
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores has been walking that walk this year, updating the technology at multiple of its QSRs. Things got rolling in June when the retailer added kiosks and order-ahead capabilities to its Arby’s locations. That was followed less than a month later by the same additions at Carl’s Jr. locations. In September, Hardee’s sites were upgraded as well.
Love’s upgraded at least 334 QSR sites in 2025, underlining its dedication to keeping its QSR program competitive.
