C-Store Industry Statistics and Market Size

This article was written by our expert who is surveying the industry and constantly updating the business plan for a convenience store.

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The Dojo Business Team

A team of financial experts, consultants, and writers

We're a team of finance experts, consultants, market analysts, and specialized writers dedicated to helping new entrepreneurs launch their businesses. We help you avoid costly mistakes by providing detailed business plans, accurate market studies, and reliable financial forecasts to maximize your chances of success from day one—especially in the convenience store market.

What is the current total market size of the convenience store industry in both revenue and number of outlets?

The global convenience store market was about USD 1.86 trillion in 2024, with the U.S. counting roughly 152,396 stores in 2025.

In the U.S., industry sales are also supported by fuel, which can represent most topline revenue even if profits skew in-store. Globally, the store base continues to expand across North America, Europe, and Asia as urbanization and on-the-go consumption rise.

For planning, anchor your sizing to your country’s latest fuel and in-store sales split, then benchmark against national averages for store count density. Use local trade data to refine the catchment area and potential sales per store.

You’ll find detailed market insights in our convenience store business plan, updated every quarter.

These figures give you a reliable baseline to size demand before you commit to a lease.

How has the market size changed over the past five years, and what is the annual growth rate?

Over 2020–2025, the U.S. convenience store market grew at roughly a 4.7% CAGR, while global estimates generally sit in the 4–7% range depending on methodology.

North America revenues advanced from about USD 536.7 billion to 601.9 billion between 2021 and 2025, reflecting resilient demand for fuel and food-to-go. Pandemic-era shifts toward local shopping also aided traffic and basket size.

For a new convenience store, assume mid-single-digit industry growth and model your upside from mix improvements (foodservice, beverages, services). This approach reduces reliance on macro growth alone.

This is one of the strategies explained in our convenience store business plan.

Use a conservative CAGR for base-case projections and stress-test margins.

What are the projections for market size and growth over the next five to ten years?

Global market size is projected to reach roughly USD 3.12 trillion by 2035, implying about 4.8% CAGR from 2024 levels.

Some forecasts show faster trajectories (about 6.5–6.8% CAGR through 2028–2033) depending on whether fuel is included and how Asia’s expansion is weighted. Expect stronger growth in emerging urban markets where modern trade penetration is still rising.

At the store level, growth will be less about macro expansion and more about mix—especially hot and cold prepared food, premium beverages, and digital convenience.

We cover this exact topic in the convenience store business plan.

Plan for steady growth, and build yield via higher-margin categories.

What are the average sales per store and per square foot in the convenience store industry?

In the U.S., average in-store sales per convenience store are about USD 1.94 million annually as of 2024.

Internationally, productivity varies; for example, a typical store in Japan generates around USD 5,765 in sales per day, reflecting high-density urban trade and strong foodservice. Monthly revenue ranges widely, often USD 75,000–154,000 depending on location, fuel, and foodservice intensity.

Translate these into sales per square foot using your floor area: foodservice-forward formats can substantially lift sales density versus pure ambient grocery plus fuel.

Get expert guidance and actionable steps inside our convenience store business plan.

Use local comps, not just national averages, for site selection.

What is the breakdown of revenue by product category (fuel, packaged goods, fresh food, services)?

Fuel often represents the majority of topline revenue in U.S. convenience stores, while profits lean toward in-store categories like foodservice and beverages.

Across in-store, tobacco can account for a large revenue share, with foodservice commonly 25–30%, packaged beverages 15–20%, and snacks 8–10%. Services (lottery, bill pay, ATMs, delivery fees) add incremental income with little labor.

What share of total retail sales does the convenience store industry represent versus supermarkets, hypermarkets, and online?

Convenience stores command a meaningful slice of retail in markets where fuel is included, though the exact share varies by country and methodology.

In the U.S., combined fuel plus c-store sales are substantial, but online channels and large-format grocers capture larger shares of total retail spend. Use country-level retail censuses to quantify local channel mix for your catchment.

For a new convenience store, your competitive set is less “all retail” and more the immediate-consumption missions that c-stores dominate: quick meals, beverages, nicotine, emergency top-ups, and services.

It’s a key part of what we outline in the convenience store business plan.

Benchmark against nearby supermarkets and QSRs to position your offer.

Which regions or countries have the most convenience stores, and where is growth fastest?

North America holds the largest share by revenue, with Europe and Asia-Pacific also significant; China, the U.S., Japan, and India are key countries by store count.

Fastest growth continues across Asia-Pacific—especially in urban corridors of Vietnam and China—supported by rising middle-class demand and modern trade penetration. Emerging markets add locations while mature markets optimize mix and services.

What trends are influencing market size (digital payments, self-checkout, delivery)?

• Digital payments and wallet adoption speed up checkout and enable loyalty personalization.
• Self-checkout and AI loss-prevention raise labor productivity and shrink control.
• Delivery and last-mile partnerships extend the store beyond four walls.
• EV charging repositions forecourts as dwell-time destinations for food and coffee.
• Health-leaning and fresh prepared offers expand basket value and frequency.

Who are the largest operators and what market share do they control?

The largest global operators include 7-Eleven, Alimentation Couche-Tard (Circle K), Murphy USA, Parkland, and other regional leaders.

7-Eleven operates more than 13,000 stores in the U.S., with broad international scale; other groups combine company-operated and franchised models. Despite large leaders, the market remains fragmented across many independents.

What is the average profit margin, and how does it differ between independents and chains?

Overall industry profit margins typically run 2–5%, with chains outperforming independents due to scale, sourcing, and systems.

Foodservice gross margins often reach 34–40%, while tobacco is lower despite high revenue share. Mix, shrink control, and labor productivity drive most of the variance you will see store to store.

What consumer demographics drive most convenience store sales, and how is this shifting?

Core customers are urban populations and working adults seeking speed, proximity, and extended hours.

Health-conscious consumers are buying more fresh, prepared, and better-for-you items; beverage variety and premium coffee continue to win share. Younger cohorts are highly responsive to mobile loyalty, delivery, and frictionless checkout.

Design your offer for quick missions (coffee, snacks, lunch, dinner substitutes) and attach a beverage or dessert to every prepared item.

This is one of the many elements we break down in the convenience store business plan.

Keep planograms tight and rotate innovation visibly.

What external factors (regulations, fuel prices, inflation) have the biggest impact on size and performance?

Fuel price swings move topline for fuel-anchored stores, while profits depend on in-store mix and cents-per-gallon.

Inflation affects input costs and retail prices; category elasticity differs (tobacco vs. foodservice vs. beverages). Regulations on tobacco, food safety, labor, and payments can alter margins and required investments.

Scenario-plan your P&L for fuel volatility and wage changes, and build a price architecture that protects value perception.

We cover contingency playbooks in the convenience store business plan.

Keep a rolling 12-week cash plan to navigate shocks.

For clarity, can you show a five-year view of recent U.S. market growth?

Yes—use a simple year-by-year view to visualize the ~4.7% CAGR trend.

Can you summarize sales productivity benchmarks by market?

Below are practical productivity touchpoints you can use to sanity-check your plan.

Conclusion

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. We accept no liability for any actions taken based on the information provided.

Sources

1. Spherical Insights – Global Convenience Stores Outlook
2. IBISWorld – U.S. Convenience Stores Industry Report
3. NACS – U.S. C-Store Sales Insights
4. Yahoo Finance – Convenience Stores Market Growth
5. Cognitive Market Research – Market Report
6. Renub Research – Market Forecast
7. Technavio – Market Analysis
8. Statista – In-Store Sales per U.S. Convenience Store
9. Seven & i Holdings – 2024 IR Data
10. Grand View Research – Industry Analysis