Dive Brief:
- 7-Eleven and Circle K are trailing several major convenience retail competitors when it comes to lunchtime traffic, according to a new report from location intelligence firm Placer.ai.
- The report analyzed c-store visits from January through August between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. While chains such as Casey’s General Stores and Sheetz recorded year over year traffic gains during the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. window, visits to the nation’s two largest operators declined, according to the study.
- These declines could be troubling for 7-Eleven and Circle K, both of which are investing heavily in upgraded foodservice operations to drive growth in the U.S.
Dive Insight:
7-Eleven’s lunchtime traffic fell 2.5% year over year and Circle K’s declined 1.6%, while every other chain in the report posted gains. Buc-ee’s led with 7.6% growth, followed by Casey’s at 5.1%, Sheetz at 3.9%, Wawa at 2.7%, QuikTrip at 1.9% and Kwik Trip at 0.6%.
It wasn’t just year-over-year change in lunchtime visits where 7-Eleven and Circle K fell short. Both retailers accounted for the lowest share of lunchtime visits during the same January to August window, with 7-Eleven at 25.7% and Circle K at 26%, according to the report. In comparison, Buc-ee’s had the highest overall lunch share percentage at 30.8%, followed by Kwik Trip, Wawa, QuikTrip, Sheetz and Casey’s.
Placer.ai did not address the reasons behind 7-Eleven's and Circle K’s declines, but pointed to their regional competitors’ reputable food businesses and ongoing expansions as reasons for their strong lunchtime traffic.
“These food-forward chains’ strong lunch business suggests they are meeting demand for affordable, convenient meals as dining out grows more expensive — giving customers another reason to stop by,” Placer.ai said in its report.
Still, there’s reasons for optimism for 7-Eleven and Circle K, as both chains are “finding ways to draw crowds,” according to the report.
For example, 7-Eleven’s annual Slurpee Day this year drew its strongest turnout since 2019, while Circle K’s nationwide loyalty-member-only fuel promotions in May and August each generated more traffic than the chain’s successful July Fourth weekend, according to the report.
