Inflation may have come down, but higher prices, consumer price sensitivity and growing labor costs continue weighing on convenience retailers.
That means operators must focus on cutting expenses and increasing revenue, as nearly half of c-store retailers rank high operating costs as a top business challenge heading into 2026, according to a joint survey from fueling tech company Dover Fueling Solutions and NACS.
The survey, which asked retailers how they plan to improve their finances, included representatives from more than 70 c-stores, ranging in size from one store to around 500. Below are some of the top ways these companies are looking to boost sales and profitability.
Smarter spending
Optimizing data was the top money-saving strategy for c-stores, with 58% of retailers with 10 or fewer sites saying they plan to use analytics to cut waste. That rose to 72% among larger retailers in the survey.
Data can be applied in a number of ways, from predictive analytics that help retailers order the right amounts of products to HR-related programs that streamline hiring and training.
Top c-store cost-saving plans
Increased preventative maintenance, where companies regularly check big systems like HVAC, refrigeration and car washes to catch small problems before they become bigger and more costly, came in second, with 43% of respondents saying they’re employing such initiatives to cut costs. This was more popular among smaller retailers, with 52% of those with between one and 10 stores highlighting preventative maintenance.
The third most popular cost-cutting method was consolidating and streamlining vendors and procurement, according to the survey. One way retailers are doing this is by switching to vendors that offer multiple services, as well as using vendors that highlight integrations with popular point of sale and other technical systems.
Catching customers
While cutting costs can boost a retailer’s bottom line, organic growth is another way to improve finances.
Expanding food offerings topped the list of ways retailers are growing gross profit, according to the report, with 60% of respondents saying they were taking advantage of that avenue.
This can take the form of creating new programs, as EG America did with grab-and-go and GPM Investments’ launch of a made-to-order program. Retailers with existing foodservice programs can update menus or test LTOs.
Meanwhile, nearly half of the companies surveyed said they increased profits by making improvements to their stores or other facilities and roughly a third focused on tech-enabled loyalty or promotions.
“These types of investments are what create more convenient, personalized and elevated customer experiences that drive loyalty over time and help fuel retailers stand out from the competition,” the report noted.
