Convenience stores continued to shave off foodservice market-share increases in the Latest Year. Wawa Inc. took the top position in the C-Store segment in percentage of unit growth and estimated sales per unit.
The C-Store segment contributed a 2.6-percent share of total Top 100 sales in the Latest Year, rising from 2.5 percent the Preceding Year.
The largest contributor was still 7-Eleven, with 38 percent market share from among the five C-Store brands in the census. Wawa gained share, rising to 25.5 percent in the Latest Year, from 24.1 percent in the Preceding Year. Casey’s General Store, Circle K and Sheetz rounded out the five companies in the C-Store segment.
Wawa first opened in Folsom, Pa., in 1964, as an outlet for milk products from the dairy farm of owner George Wood. The privately owned company has since grown to 721 units, offering food, beverages and surcharge-free ATMs. More than half of Wawa units sell gasoline. Wawa stores are located in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
At the end of the Latest Year, Wawa had 721 units, rising from 680 locations the Preceding Year. The company is based in Wawa, Pa.
Keys to growth:
Robust estimated sales per unit. Among the five C-Store brands, Wawa maintained the highest estimated sales per unit in the Latest year, hitting $2.3 million. The average for the segment is $932,500, an increase of 6.3 percent from the Preceding Year. That followed on the heels of a 7.3-percent increase in ESPU from the Prior Year.
Highest percentage growth in U.S. units. In the Latest Year, Wawa led C-Store segment growth in U.S. units of 6 percent, followed by Sheetz, at 5.2 percent, and Circle K, at 3 percent. At the fiscal year ended in December 2015, Wawa had 721 units, an increase from 680 locations at the end of the Preceding Year. The segment was still led in the Latest Year by 7-Eleven, with 7,825 U.S. units, Circle K, with 3,831 locations and Casey’s General Store, with 1,932 outlets.
Branded food items. Wawa offers a broad selection of fresh prepared food, including made-to-order hoagies, freshly brewed coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, specialty beverages and an assortment of soups, sides and snacks.
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