Fueling Up

The main reason convenience stores live up to their name is to provide travelers with liquid sustenance, be it gasoline or a more humanly palatable refreshment. According to retail surveys conducted by Meyers Research Center, Inc., gas is easily the primary purpose for a C-store stop, with beverages the only other category pulling in more than half of those surveyed.

More customers stop for cigarettes and tobacco or lottery tickets -ah, vices – than newspapers or any snack category. More substantial food purchases, including deli and bakery items, are a bigger draw than Power Ball, but less enticing than Camels.