Nearly 100 convenience store chains representing some 23,000 convenience stores nationwide came together to identify the key suppliers in two dozen in-store categories as part of Convenience Store Decisions’ 2010 Reader’s Choice Awards.
This study was designed and conducted by Hagen Marketing Research Inc. in cooperation with CSD. The primary purpose of the study was to determine which manufacturers are effectively calling on convenience store chains and to understand how retailers feel about the merchandising programs offered by their supplier partners.
The information was obtained through surveys with buyers and merchandisers of the specific products studied. Interviews were conducted at both headquarters and regional offices of top convenience store chains (those operating at least 50 stores) as well as with smaller chains (those operating between 10 and 49 stores). Interviews were conducted from Oct. 9 to Nov. 3, 2009.
Hagen’s results, available in CSD’s Brand Preference Study, serves as the backbone of the Reader’s Choice Awards. While garnering supplier support is important, it’s the response from retailers of which CSD is most proud. Strong retailer participation is the core value of this report and serves as an indication of just how hard suppliers are working to earn retailers’ respect.
Aside from listing the top suppliers the study is a reminder that convenience stores remain an important stop for the nation’s consumers and their daily needs. The industry represents a powerful sales opportunity for suppliers’ products and services. Yet, the information gleaned from leading retailers indicates that store operators are not receiving information on new products and promotions on a timely basis showing that there is still work to be done to maximize the industry’s sales potential.
Consider that just 38 companies operate 49,800 stores and another 125 companies operate 12,300 stores, and you quickly realize that enormous buying decisions are carried out by relatively few people. Overlooking any of them could lead to a significant amount of lost business.
CSD would like to thank the following chains for their participation in the 2010 Brand Preference Study:
7-Eleven Inc. 7-Eleven Northeast Acorn Markets Inc. Albemarle Oil Co. Albertsons Alimentation Couche-Tard Aloha Petroleum Ltd. American General Investments Bountyland Quick Stops Brookshire Grocery Co. Caseys General Stores CC Food Marts Inc. Chevron Corp. Circle K Midwest Circle K West Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Inc. Coborn’s Inc. Cogos Co. Consun Food Industries Inc. Country Express Inc. Country Fair Inc. Country Store Inc. Crown Central LLC Dixie Oil Co. of Alabama Inc. |
Dodge’s Stores E. J. Pope & Son Inc. Elliott Oil Co. Englefield Oil Co. Exxon Mobil Fuels Marketing E-Z Stop Food Marts Inc. Family Express Fast Track Inc. First Coast Energy LLP Fisher Oil Co. Forrest City Grocery Co. Friendly Mart Inc. Grand River Mini Mart Inc. Herndon Oil Corp. HMS Host Illinois Ayers Oil Co. J Mart Inc. Jay Petroleum JFM Inc. Jopo Inc. Kidd-Jones Oil Co. Kroger Co. Kum & Go Kwik Trip Inc. |
Landmark Industries Little Stores LLC Love’s Travel Stops Martin & Bayley Inc. Maverik Inc. Mercury Fuel Service Inc. Minute Serv Dairy Inc. Moyle Petroleum Co. Nella Oil Co. New England Pantry Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes Niemann Foods Pacific Pride Parker Oil Co. PDQ Food Stores Inc. Petro Serve USA Pilot Travel Centers Polk Oil Co. Inc. Quick Chek Food Stores Quick Stop Markets QuikStop Markets Inc. R & C Petroleum R H Foster Energy LLC Shop Quik Stores LLC |
Sinclair Oil Co. Smith-Rogers Oil Co. Southwest Convenience Stores Stamart Convenience Centers Steinmans Inc. Stewarts Shops Corp. Sun Pacific Energy Inc. Tar Heel Convenient Mart Inc. Taylor Oil Co. Tesoro Corp. The Stop Inc. Titletown Oil Corp. Tom Hudson Corp. Tom’s Country Stores True North Energy Twin Lakes Convenience Inc. United Energy Valero Energy Corp. Virginia Oil Co. Inc. Vulcan A Mart Winnsboro Petroleum Co. Wolfes Markets Workman Oil Co. Worsley Operating Corp. |