3 Big Numbers is a weekly column that looks at a few key details from around the c-store industry.
While M&A may make the bigger headlines, new store openings are a vital part of what keeps the c-store industry vibrant and innovating. It’s also happening constantly — last year, QuikTrip and Wawa both opened more than one new store a week, on average, according to NACS data.
But while they may be ubiquitous, NTIs also spur in-store innovation and help retailers reach growth milestones.
In this week’s “3 Big Numbers,” we check in on new openings from three major c-store companies, including a Korean juggernaut that recently entered the U.S.
5
The number of countries where CU currently operates.
South Korean convenience retail giant CU has more than 19,000 stores across five countries, making it one of the largest chains in the world. But while it may be a large fish in its home market — more than 18,000 of its locations are in South Korea — it’s just starting to make inroads into the U.S.
The company opened its first c-store in Hawai’i in November, and its second followed on Feb. 25, according to an Instagram post.
CU has more growth plans in Hawai’i, though it has not publicly shared how extensive those plans may be. The industry will be watching to see how its approach to the c-store space in Asia resonates in Hawai’i, and if it will bring its ramen stations and Korean snacks to the mainland. Unlike 7-Eleven, which is trying to incorporate popular Japanese foods and approaches to existing stores, CU has built its offering into the marrow of its Hawai’ian stores.
1,200
The number of total stores QuikTrip had as of Feb. 20.
QuikTrip has quietly become a big growth story in the c-store space over the past couple years.
The company opened its 1,200th store on Feb. 20 in the Atlanta Metro area. While it opened its first location in 1958, a big chunk of its growth has come in the past three three years. According to NACS data, QuikTrip had 972 stores at the start of 2023, meaning that it has increased its store count by over 23% since then.
With the company planning on adding at least 80 new stores during this calendar year, QuikTrip is keeping the expansion energy high going forward
3
The number of miles Kentucky’s latest Wawa is from the Ohio border.
Wawa’s massive growth plans have been a topic of regular industry conversation. The East Coast retailer operated in six states and the District of Columbia in mid-2023, and plans to open hundreds of stores in eight new states over the next few years.
One of those states is Kentucky, which got its first Wawa in July. Up until last week, it had opened a total of five stores in the Bluegrass State — three in the Louisville area and two more in Lexington.
Its sixth and most recent store opening is Wawa’s first site in northern Kentucky. How northern? It’s in Hebron, less than three miles from the Ohio River where it runs alongside the southern side of Cincinnati. It’s a helpful reminder that Wawa wasn’t just entering new states, but also rapidly making itself a significant presence within those states.
