Convenience Stores on the Move: Embracing Technology to Survive and Thrive in a Competitive Market

The convenience store industry has been in flux in recent years, with the number of locations fluctuating around the 150,000 mark. Despite being one of the largest retail channels in the United States, the industry is still working to fully embrace and utilize technology in its operations. With a significant market share, convenience stores sell a majority of transportation fuel and nicotine products in the country, as well as a large portion of fast food, beer, and packaged beverages. This translates to serving over 160 million consumers daily at roughly 152,000 locations across the U.S.

Executive Director Gray Taylor highlighted this fragmented nature during the 2024 Conexxus Annual Conference in Arlington on April 29. Despite its size and influence, the industry is considered small in comparison to other retail sectors, making it vulnerable to larger competitors. Taylor emphasized the need for resilience and unity in order to assert its collective power and importance in the market. The goal is to show that despite being small individually, together convenience stores are a force to be reckoned with in the retail landscape.