Ranking the Top 40 C-Store Chains: A 2023 Update

Consolidation slowed somewhat in 2022. Still, the list of largest convenience-store chains in the industry was shaken up by several smaller deals that moved Par Mar Oil into the Top 40 for the first and pushed The Cigarette Store/Smoker Friendly up 13 positions.

CSP’s complete 2023 Top 202 list of the largest chains in the United States will be released in June, but we offer this early look at the current top 40 based on store counts as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Click through for a closer look at the Top 40 U.S. c-store chains by store count as they stand today …

Chains: 7-Eleven, Speedway, Stripes

No. of Stores: Nearly 13,000

2023 Ranking: 1

Ranking the Previous Year: 1

Headquarters: Irving, Texas

What’s New: 7-Eleven is among the world's largest and most widely recognized and iconic retailers, both inside and outside the convenience-store channel. While 2022 was a quiet growth year for 7-Eleven, the previous year's $21 billion acquisition of Marathon Petroleum’s Speedway's nearly 3,900-store retail network by 7-Eleven reverberated into 2022 when in July, 7-Eleven—deep into its integration process—laid off nearly 900 members of its corporate, field and support staffs.

Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven operates or franchises more than 13,000 c-stores in the United States, including approximately 9,500 under the 7-Eleven banner, around 3,800 under the Speedway banner and about 500 under the Stripes flag.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Circle K, Holiday Stationstores

No. of Stores: 7,008

2023 Ranking: 2

Ranking the Previous Year: 2

Headquarters: Laval, Quebec

What’s New: The largest convenience-store operator in Canada, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. is also a major force in the U.S. and global c-store markets. Couche-Tard’s 24-country network includes c-stores in the United States under the Circle K and Holiday Stationstores banners and in Canada under the Circle K, Mac’s and Couche-Tard banners. In Europe, under the Circle K and other banners, Couche-Tard operates retail networks in Scandinavia, Ireland, Poland, the Baltics and Russia. Including licensing agreements in 15 other countries and territories, Couche-Tard’s total worldwide network consists of about 14,300 mostly Circle K-branded c-stores.

For 2023, Entrepreneur magazine named Circle K to its Franchise 500; YouGov put Circle K on its list of most popular grocers; BrandSpark placed Circle K in its most trusted grocers ranking; and Payless Power put Circle K on its favorite fuel stops list. Also, Women in Governance awarded Couche-Tard bronze-level certification for its progress towards gender parity in the workplace.

Couche-Tard also created a new chief operating officer position, promoting Alex Miller to the role.

Working with Mashgin, Circle K has begun deploying touchless checkout technology to more than 7,000 stores in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Circle K launched its first U.S. nationwide advertising campaign, “Fueled by Circle K,” focusing on the brand’s fuel, available in more than half of its locations. Meanwhile, Couche-Tard has begun deploying electric-vehicle fast chargers in the United States, planning 200 North American units over the next two years.

The company has also expanded its partnership with cannabis retail and technology platform Fire & Flower in Canada and the United States. It is also investing in food delivery services and ghost kitchens.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Casey’s, GoodStops

No. of Stores: 2,470

2023 Ranking: 3

Ranking the Previous Year:3

Headquarters: Ankeny, Iowa

What’s New: Casey’s General Stores targets small towns and rural areas for its c-stores, now in 16 states. It is the fifth-largest seller of pizza in the United States.

Darren Rebelez, who became the new CEO in 2019, has vowed to “contemporize” the venerable chain. In 2020, Casey’s updated its logo for the first time in 50 years and launched a new loyalty program. Casey’s Rewards enrollment surpassed 5 million members in mid-2022.

The company also is breaking with tradition and acquiring more stores in larger deals rather than in single-store deals. In 2021, Casey’s acquired Buchanan Energy, owner of Bucky’s Convenience Stores, in what the company called its most significant transaction in its history. The transaction included 94 convenience stores and 79 dealer locations, as well as multiple parcels of real estate for future new-store construction.

That deal led to the creation of the GoodStops c-store sub-brand, which Casey’s is using for sites where its pizza and foodservice program will not fit. Also in 2021, Casey’s closed on the purchase of 48 stores from Alimentation Couche-Tard and on the acquisition of 40 c-stores from Pilot.

Casey’s is also expanding in Michigan, where it opened one store in 2018. It opened its second store in the state at the end of 2022, with more planned. The company also opened a store in Des Moines, Iowa, in 2022 that does not offer fuel, a first for the chain.

Casey’s is introducing its own retail media network (RMN), called Casey’s Access, in early 2023, an end-to-end retail media business bringing together convenience customer data and Casey’s pizza offering. It will create opportunities for brands to leverage Casey’s scale and capabilities through an omnichannel presence with in-store, online and at-the-pump transaction opportunities; onsite owned media, in-store media and offsite paid media providing first-party data; and campaign measurement and analytics to enable ongoing investment optimization.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains:Murphy USA, Murphy Express, QuickChek

No. of Stores: 1,700

2023 Ranking: 4

Ranking the Previous Year: 5

Headquarters: El Dorado, Arkansas

What’s New: In 2022, Murphy USA continued to build its QuickChek stores and complete raze-and-rebuilds of Murphy USA stores. The rebuilds will replace high-performing kiosk stores with larger 1,400-square-foot stores that feature a broader assortment of higher-margin merchandise and better grab-and-go food items, according to the company’s President and CEO Andrew Clyde.

Murphy USA in early 2021 completed its acquisition of QuickChek Corp., a $645 million all-cash deal that added 157 c-stores in the Northeast.

Murphy USA operates 1,700 stores under the Murphy USA, Murphy Express and QuickChek banners. In the third quarter of 2022, Murphy USA reported net income of $219.5 million, up from the $104 million in net income for the same quarter in 2021.

Murphy USA stations are typically near Walmarts, while Murphy Express stores are stand-alone gas stations and c-stores. Murphy USA stations tend to be smaller, kiosk-format stores, while Murphy Express stations are larger, traditional convenience-store formats. It operates in 27 states.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: EG America, Cumberland Farms, Certified Oil, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf N’ Jug, Minit Mart, Quik Stop, Sprint, TomThumb, Turkey Hill

No. of Stores: 1,682

2023 Ranking: 5

Ranking the Previous Year:4

Headquarters: Westborough, Massachusetts

What’s New: EG America’s store count declined by 68 sites in 2022. A division of U.K-based EG Group, EG America made its way into the top rankings of CSP’s Top 202 in short order, starting with its initial acquisition in the United States of Kroger Co.’s 762 convenience stores in April 2018. The international retailer, with global headquarters in Blackburn, U.K., has continued to acquire U.S. chains since.

Notably in 2018, EG Group acquired TravelCenters of America’s 225 stand-alone Minit Mart c-stores. Then in 2019, EG Group acquired 54 Fastrac locations, 69 Certified Oil locations and 566 Cumberland Farms locations.

In 2022, EG Group began rebranding its Tom Thumb locations to its Cumberland Farms brand. The $50 million project will span two years and include 113 Tom Thumb locations and new locations across Florida and Alabama. Also in 2022, analysts and media outlets began reporting that EG Group was interested in selling off some or all of its U.S. assets. As of press time, no deals or negotiations had been confirmed.

EG Group was founded as Euro Garages in 2001, when it acquired a single gas station near Manchester, U.K. Euro Garages acquired sites over the next decade until it was merged with European Forecourt Retail Group, with more than 1,100 sites split between Belgium and France, in 2014. The combined companies became EG Group.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Fas Mart, Shore Stop, Pride, Scotchman, BreadBox, Young's, Li’l Cricket, Next Door Store, Village Pantry, Apple Market, Jiffi Stop, Admiral, Roadrunner Markets, Jiffy Food Marts, E-Z Mart, 1 Stop, TownStar and more

No. of Stores: 1,404

2023 Ranking: 6

Ranking the Previous Year: 6

Headquarters: Richmond, Va.

What’s New: GPM Investments LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arko Corp. An aggressive acquirer, in 2022, it completed a handful medium to large purchases. At the same time, the company moved many sites from owned and operated to dealer status, resulting in a decrease in total operated stores from a year ago from 1,415 to 1,404 this year, according to a spokesperson.

In September, GPM agreed to acquire 350 wholesale and retail sites, including 150 company-operated c-stores under the Flash Market banner and several other brands in Alabama and Mississippi from Transit Energy Group, Greenville, S.C., for $375 million.

In October, GPM agreed to acquire Pride Convenience Holdings LLC, which operates 31 convenience stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut, for $230 million.

In December, GPM agreed to acquire the retail, wholesale and fleet fueling assets of WTG Fuels Holdings LLC, a Midland, Texas-based c-store operator with 24 company-operated Uncle’s Convenience Stores across western Texas, for $140.4 million. The transaction also includes nine independent dealer locations, 57 proprietary Gascard-branded fleet fueling cardlock sites and 52 private cardlock sites.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: ampm, Thorntons

No. of Stores: 1,224

2023 Ranking: 7

Ranking the Previous Year:7

Headquarters: Chicago

What’s New:bp showed a reinvigorated interested in embracing its retail sector in 2022. The Chicago-based company owns convenience-store brands ampm, based in La Palma, California, and Thorntons, Louisville, Kentucky, which it acquired in August 2021.

The ampm brand expended to the East Coast in August 2022 with a store opening in New York City. The brand’s key focus is foodservice, with a program that emphasizes coffee, bakery, fresh sandwiches and hot prepared foods. A large fountain program offers up to 24 varieties of soda and proprietary drinks. Stores have an open floor plan, with some featuring open-air refrigerated cases carrying a selection of fresh sandwiches, fruit and yogurt.

Since it acquired the chain in 2021, bp has been integrating Thorntons into its business. The legacy the Thorntons family established was one of the reasons why the chain was attractive to bp, and the minimal number of changes made to the stores in the last few years was by design, Greg Franks, senior vice president of mobility and convenience for the Americas, told CSP. Franks says the company has been going through an incorporation process to tweak and integrate ampm and Thorntons, along with bp’s legacy bp and Amoco dealer business, to make the businesses scalable.

bp is also moving to redefine its relevance as a provider and enabler of mobility through a strategic repositioning that has seen the company investing aggressively in convenience, delivery, electric-vehicle (EV) charging, self-checkout and more as it implements the new tagline and strategy: Reimagining Energy.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: ExtraMile

No. of Stores: 1,037

2023 Ranking: 8

Ranking the Previous Year:8

Headquarters: Pleasanton, California

What’s New: ExtraMile Convenience Stores is a joint-venture franchising company with ownership and governance shared between Chevron USA, San Ramon, Calif., and Jacksons Food Stores, Meridian, Idaho. It is focused on growing the ExtraMile c-store brand within the Chevron and Texaco fuels network through franchising.

The stores are in seven western states—California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada and Arizona—and two southeastern states, Alabama and Mississippi. As it continues to expand in both existing and new geographies, ExtraMile plans to grow to 1,500 sites by 2027.

In late 2019, ExtraMile began an image refresh program, completely redesigning the interior of its stores to offer a modern design aesthetic that calls out key areas in the store such as MileOne Coffee, Toasty Treats (hot food), Fizz (cold and frozen dispensed beverages) and the Recharge Zone (cold drinks). The company expects to complete the updates by early 2023.

In addition to an assortment of national branded goods, ExtraMile also offers a proprietary line of candies, sweets and snacks under the ExtraGood banner. The stores also feature Krispy Krunchy chicken.

ExtraMile is also focusing heavily on its digital platforms such as ExtraMile Extras Rewards, a customer loyalty platform that rewards customers for shopping at their locations. And it uses its ExtraMan superhero mascot frequently to promote the stores’ offerings. The chain’s delivery platform has more than 600 locations. In late 2022, ExtraMile opened a checkout-free store in California using technology from Grabango.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chain: Wawa

No. of Stores: 988

2023 Ranking: 9

Ranking the Previous Year:9

Headquarters: Wawa, Pennsylvania

What’s New: Wawa Inc. is one of the nation’s leading convenience-store chains, particularly when it comes to foodservice. In addition to a slew of fresh foods and beverages, Wawa also sells a wide selection of private-label products, such as bagged Wawa coffees, dairy products and teas.

The chain grows almost exclusively through construction of new stores in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C.

In 2022, Wawa revealed plans to launch its first convenience stores in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee, part of the chain’s long-term expansion plan to fuel store growth in adjacent and new markets set to take place after 2025.

The chain also unveiled its plan to open non-traditional travel centers in North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio in the coming years. Travel centers will help close the gap in Wawa outposts between its Mid-Atlantic and Florida markets, according to the company.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chain: QuikTrip

No. of Stores: 963

2023 Ranking: 10

Ranking the Previous Year:10

Headquarters: Tulsa, Oklahoma

What’s New: QuikTrip added 44 new stores in 2022. The chain’s footprint has grown significantly in its 64-year history, opening its first c-stores in Colorado in 2022 and revealing plans to open three new stores in Illinois in 2023.

In 2023, QT was named to Insider Monkey’s list of the 25 Largest Privately Held Companies in the U.S., and to BrandSpark’s list of the most-trusted grocers in the convenience-store channel.

The convenience-store chain also adopted Amazon’s “just walk out” technology in a Tulsa, Oklahoma store this year.

In 2020, QuikTrip began work to grow beyond the c-store channel, opening a MedWise urgent care clinic in Tulsa, Okla. The chain sold four stores to Hy-Vee in early 2020 as it seeks to grow its count of new, larger footprint Generation 3 stores.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Tobacco Outlet Plus, Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery, Kwik Spirits, Stop-N-Go

No. of Stores: 847

2023 Ranking: 11

Ranking the Previous Year: 11

Headquarters: La Crosse, Wisconsin

What’s New: Family-owned Kwik Trip, La Crosse, Wisconsin, was named the nation’s best gas station brand for the third straight year in a USA Today readers’ choice survey in 2022. It’s one of the biggest independently held convenience-store chains in the country, employing more than 32,000, and serves customers in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin under the under the banners Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Kwik Spirits, Stop-N-Go, Tobacco Outlet Plus and Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery. Later in 2023 it will enter South Dakota, opening four Kwik Star locations in the Sioux Falls area.

Kwik Trip, which owned and operated 847 stores as of Jan. 1, 2023, produces more than 80% of the products sold in its stores, supplied by its own bakery, commissary, dairy and distribution center.

Kwik Trip/Kwik Star earned a 2023 Renewable Fuels Marketing Award from the Iowa Department of Agriculture at the start of 2023. The awards recognize fuel marketers that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to promote and sell renewable fuels.

Kwik Trip CEO and President Donald Zietlow retired from the chain at the end of 2022. He led the convenience-store chain for 22 years and worked there for 52 years. He was replaced by second-generation owner Scott Zietlow, Donald’s son.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chain: Sheetz

No. of Stores: 670

2023 Ranking: 12

Ranking the Previous Year: 13

Headquarters: Altoona, Pa.

What’s New: Sheetz added 40 new stores in 2022, growing to 670 sites and rising one position to No. 12 on CSP's list. In 2022, Sheetz announced plans for aggressive new-store growth in western Pennsylvania and Ohio, and to expand into Michigan for the first time.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Pilot Travel Centers, Flying J Travel Centers

No. of Stores: 641

2023 Ranking: 13

Ranking the Previous Year: 12

Headquarters: Knoxville, Tennessee

What’s New: Pilot Co. in late 2022 announced it is moving its newly established Team Member Experience department forward with the addition of a new key leader: Angie Cody, director of inclusion, diversity and equity. In this new leadership position, she will create strategic programs that foster a more inclusive environment among team members.

The retailer in 2022 partnered with two automakers on EV-charging networks, first with General Motors and charging network EVgo to build out a network of 350-kilowatt EV chargers, and a few months later with Volvo Group to develop a high-performance charging network open to all battery-electric Class 8 truck brands.

In April, the company announced its $1 billion three-year New Horizons initiative “to create an outstanding experience for our guest,” CEO Shameek Konar said. While initiative enhancements include an array of items such as interior and exterior improvements to make stores more welcoming, “by far, we’re most excited about the expansion of our food,” said Allison Cornish, vice president of store modernization, who is leading New Horizons.

Pilot Co. in recent years began an ownership transition culminating in the company becoming majority owned by investment holding giant Berkshire Hathaway in 2023. Berkshire Hathaway bought a 38.6% stake in Pilot Flying J in October 2017 for $2.76 billion. While having little involvement in strategy at Pilot Co., according to company executives, Berkshire Hathaway will grow its ownership stake to 80% over the next year.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores

No. of Stores: 607

2023 Ranking: 14

Ranking the Previous Year:14

Headquarters: Oklahoma City 

What’s New: Love’s opened 29 locations in 2022, including the company’s first store in Connecticut in July and the milestone of opening its 600th location in October in its home state of Oklahoma. The company also opened 40 restaurants and added new fresh food items like breakfast bowls and new fruit and veggie tray, salad and sandwich options.

In 2021, Love’s installed the Shop Connect View platform at Love’s Truck Care and Speedco locations. The cloud-based system allows fleets to better manager maintenance needs on the web or through a new app. The company also expanded its Mobile to Go Zone in 2021, adding about 100 new items, including Bluetooth neckband earbuds, quad wall chargers and wireless charging pads for every phone type.

Love’s prides itself on its numerous types of stores and services, including its Country Stores, Travel Stops, a growing interstate hotel business and storage facilities. It has stores in 41 states across the country.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chain: RaceTrac

No. of Stores: 566

2023 Ranking: 15

Ranking the Previous Year:15

Headquarters: Atlanta

What’s New: RaceTrac owns and operates 566 convenience stores in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Tennessee. In early 2023, it announced it was eyeing expansion into South Carolina, with two stores proposed for the capital city of Columbia.

It opened a new store in Gardendale, Ala., in the Birmingham market, on Jan. 13, 2021, marking the chain’s reentry into the Alabama market after 15 years. The company plans to build more stores in Alabama through 2025, including other locations already in the permitting phase in the Irondale, Alabaster, Gadsden, Huntsville and Muscle Shoals areas.

In July 2021, RaceTrac launched the RaceTrac Rewards + Debit card, which saves customers up to 27 cents per gallon at the fuel pump. It combines the chain’s Fuel Rewards, Rewards VIP and Debit Rewards offers into a single program.

New RaceTrac locations offer Grab & Go pizza and sandwiches made in-house; whole and cut fruit and salads, made and delivered fresh daily; the retailer’s Swirl World frozen treat stations offering a variety of ice creams, yogurts and sorbets with 28 toppings; six blends of Crazy Good Coffee with creamers, sweeteners and toppings; foods including roller-grill favorites such as Nathan’s Famous 100% Premium All Beef Hot Dogs, tamales with traditional corn husk wraps and stuffed with seasoned pork and taquitos featuring battered, and fried tortillas filled with meats, cheeses and spices.

RaceTrac also owns RaceWay c-stores, which are listed separately at No. 36.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chain: Rocket

No. of Stores: 503

2023 Ranking: 16

Ranking the Previous Year: 16

Headquarters: Long Beach, Calif.

What’s New: United Pacific is based in Long Beach, California, and operates 503 gas stations and convenience stores, a small decline from 511 a year ago, having closed eight stores in 2022. The store count includes 453 company-operated stores and 50 fee-operated locations throughout Southern and Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada. It offers motor fuel products under the 76, Conoco, Chevron, Shell and United Oil flags.

Also in 2022, the company rolled out its Rocket convenience store brand to all company-operated sites.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Anabi Oil, Rebel, 7-Eleven

No. of Stores: 490

2023 Ranking: 17

Ranking the Previous Year: 17

Headquarters: Upland, Calif.

What’s New: Anabi Oil added 15 new stores to its portfolio in 2022 and now operates 490 sites across the country, with locations spanning from California to the East Coast and Florida. Anabi Oil has a large footprint in California, selling and delivering fuel from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Anabi is the largest Shell distributor in California. Besides Shell, Anabi also distributes Sinclair, 76 and unbranded fuels. Anabi owns the Rebel convenience-store brand, which it acquired from Las Vegas-based Rebel Oil Co. in 2016.

Family-owned Anabi buys and sells stations with existing c-stores, car washes and quick-service restaurants. The company supports operators with financing options and guidance on facility branding and upgrades. In 2022, Rebel Convenience Stores forged a national agreement with Waitr Holdings Inc. for delivery and pickup services.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Yesway, Allsup's

No. of Stores: 425

2023 Ranking: 18

Ranking the Previous Year:21

Headquarters: Fort Worth, Texas

What’s New: Yesway is among the chains that gained the most stores in 2022. In September, Yesway acquired Tres Amigos Convenience Stores, a San Angelo, Texas-based chain with nine locations in Texas. The company also reached a milestone in 2022 of having 425 c-stores in nine states, opening 39 new-to-industry and relocated stores this past year.

Yesway applied to go public in September 2021, but in December 2022, the company filed a registration withdrawal request due to “current market conditions.”

Yesway skyrocketed its growth in 2019 when it acquired Clovis, N.M.-based Allsup’s and its 304 stores in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, catapulting the chain into the 2020 top 20 of CSP’s list. In 2020, Yesway set to work integrating the Allsup’s brand into its network. Yesway is owned by BW Gas & Convenience Holdings, which joined the convenience-store industry in late 2015 with ambitions of operating up to 1,000 stores.

The retailer opened Allsup’s Express, a concept store adjacent to the campus of Texas Tech University, in Lubbock, Texas, in 2022, and the company also announced openings of new Allsup's stores in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

The company is an affiliate of Beverly, Massachussetts-based Brookwood Financial Partners, a real-estate and private-equity investment and asset management company with more than $2.6 billion in holdings. Brookwood Financial Partners LLC formed BW in 2015 and announced its c-store brand—Yesway—in summer 2016.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chain: unbranded

No. of Stores: 415

2023 Ranking: 19

Ranking the Previous Year: 20

Headquarters: Doral, Fla.

What’s New: Sunshine Gasoline Distributors Inc., owned by Cuban-American Maximo Alvarez, owns 415 convenience stores, up from 404 sites a year ago. The store count breaks down to 378 company own and operated sites and 37 company-owned and dealer-operated sites. The company also supplies another 175 independent dealer sites. All owned sites are branded major fuel brands, including Chevron, Texaco, Shell, Exxon, Mobil, Marathon, CITGO or BP.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Kwik Fill, Red Apple Food Marts, Country Fair

No. of Stores: 404

2023 Ranking: 20

Ranking the Previous Year: 19

Headquarters: Warren, Pennsylvania

What’s New: Warren, Pennsylvania-based United Refining Co. is an independent refiner and marketer of petroleum products and the parent company of convenience stores in Pennsylvania and portions of Ohio and New York. The company operates gas stations, convenience stores, truck stops, restaurants and garages. The c-stores are branded Kwik Fill, Red Apple Food Marts and Country Fair. Each is a separate retail division, operated independently, with separate company headquarters and management staffs.

Kwik Fill’s locations include four full-service diesel truck stops, four mini truck stops, two restaurants and two truck stop motels, according to the company’s website. Kwik Fill employs more than 2,300 people in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, supporting local businesses, economies and local charities.

John Catsimatidis, CEO of the Red Apple Group Real Estate Co., bought United Refining Co. in 1986. Country Fair opened its first store in 1965 in Erie, Pennsylvania.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chain: Maverik

No. of Stores: 397

2023 Ranking: 21

Ranking the Previous Year: 22

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah

What’s New: Maverik in 2022 was voted the fifth-best gas station brand in the United States, according to the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

In partnership with Feeding America, Maverik in late 2022 expanded its food-waste reduction program that supports communities in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming through distribution to five member food banks. Launched in 2021, the program now donates surplus food from 87 stores, and as of November 2022, Maverik had donated 276,878 pounds of surplus food equaling 230,732 meals.

Maverik operates stores in 12 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The brand targets adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts by establishing itself as a “base camp” to fuel up for activities such as off-roading, biking, canoeing and mountain climbing, while reflecting the natural beauty of the local communities’ favorite outdoor adventures in the stores’ design and incorporating them into the stores’ concept and decor.

Maverik is known for its BonFire food offerings, made fresh daily, and its values on fuel, drinks and snacks. Maverik sells exclusive products such as burritos, sandwiches, pizzas, cookies and coffee blends from around the world. Loyalty members using their Adventure Club or Nitro cards can use Trail Points collected on their app to enter for a chance to win adventure-themed prizes in the chain’s series of sweepstakes presented in partnership with popular product brands.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chain: Kum & Go

No. of Stores: 393

2023 Ranking: 22

Ranking the Previous Year: 18

Headquarters: Des Moines, Iowa

What’s New: Kum & Go in December said it was shuttering all but one of its five nonfuel convenience stores because they no longer fit the retailer’s growth strategy.

Elsewhere, Kum & Go partnered with fleet payments platform AtoB to cut fuel costs when customers use AtoB’s Visa fleet card. Cardholders now can save 10 cents per gallon on all fuel purchases at more than 400 Kum & Go convenience stores. Through the partnership, AtoB cardholders will automatically receive the discount on every gallon of gasoline and diesel purchased. Savings are applied automatically, and operators can apply for AtoB’s fuel card on its website.

The retailer also announced continuing its expansion into Michigan with a set of Detroit-area convenience stores it expects to open in 2024, with plans for more than 50 total locations in the market over the next several years. It opened its first Michigan location on Jan. 19, 2023, in Walker, Michigan. This is Kum & Go’s 13th state of operation.

Kum & Go also partnered with Upside to bring that company’s consumer technology approach to driving store traffic to more than 200 of its convenience stores. Upside identifies nearby users, driving them to participating locations through its mobile app and encouraging them to transact using personalized cash-back offers.

In 1959, W.A. “Bill” Krause and T.S. Gentle formed a partnership and created convenience-store chain Kum & Go. The two, a father-in-law and son-in-law, created Hampton Oil Co. in Hampton, Iowa, which became the Krause Gentle Corp. and later Kum & Go LC. Krause Group is parent company to a diverse set of businesses that include convenience retail, logistics, Italian wineries and hospitality, real estate, agriculture and soccer clubs.

Kum & Go has long been dedicated to the communities it serves, sharing 10% of its profits with charitable causes. Leadership speaks out on issues such as racial and sexual equality and racial injustice.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Stewart’s Shops

No. of Stores: 357

2023 Ranking: 23

Ranking the Previous Year: 23

Headquarters: Ballston Spa, New York

What’s New: Stewart’s Shops milk was named the best in New York State in 2022 as judged by Cornell University’s Department of Food Science. The chain last won this award in 2020.

In addition, the convenience-store chain launched an online shop Nov. 28 on Cyber Monday, selling limited-edition Stewart’s Shops-branded items, coffee and My Money/Gas Cards. Items included a rhinestone tumbler, a baby bodysuit, pom-pom winter hats, socks, an ice cream car sticker and coffee. Stewart’s said there will be multiple limited-run edition merchandise drops throughout the year.

The chain traditionally offers ice cream promotions honoring veterans on Nov. 11, for Father’s Day and on St. Patrick’s Day.

While Stewart’s Shops is mostly owned by the family of chairman William Dake, employees also own about 40% of the company through an employee stock ownership plan. Stewart’s is known regionally for its milk, ice cream, coffee, food to go, gasoline and other convenience items. The company has an extensive production, distribution and warehousing network that supplies its stores. As a result, the chain is unusual in the number of products it produces in its own facilities, including 20-ounce “refresher” teas and dairy drinks.

Founded in 1945, the Ballston Spa, N.Y.-based chain operates in upstate New York and southern Vermont.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Alltown, Alltown Fresh, Convenience Plus, Fast Freddie’s, Honey Farms, Jiffy Mart, Mr. Mike’s, P&H Truck Stop, T-Bird, XtraMart

No. of Stores: 353

2023 Ranking: 24

Ranking the Previous Year: 26

Headquarters: Waltham, Massachusetts

What’s New: Global Partners owns, leases or supplies almost 1,700 locations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, of which 353 are company operated.

One of the region’s largest independent owners, Global Partners supplies and operates gas stations and c-stores under several retail brands, including Alltown Fresh, Honey Farms and XtraMart.

In summer 2022, a new partnership between Alltown Fresh and online wholesale platform Mable brought more local specialty foods to the convenience-store retailer’s shelves. Alltown Fresh supports communities by sourcing products from local farms, bakeries and vendors, and Mable offers 3,000-plus local, emerging brands.

Global Partners for more than 75 years has focused on community, safety and creating stability for our stakeholders, its website says.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chain: Jacksons Food Stores

No. of Stores: 315

2023 Ranking: 25

Ranking the Previous Year:25

Headquarters: Meridian, Idaho

What’s New: Jacksons Food Stores operates c-stores in seven western states. Jackson’s family of companies owns, operates or supplies more than 1,997 stores across nine western states. The companies are vertically integrated, with fuel supplied to more than 1,100 locations in eight states by Jacksons Energy, full-line grocery and supplies distributed through Capitol Distributing and fresh food products supplied through Capitol Kitchens.

In 2017, Jacksons entered a joint-venture partnership with San Ramon, California-based Chevron Corp. to franchise and grow the oil company’s ExtraMile c-store brand. Jacksons Food Stores Inc., a private company, manages its own stores, while the joint-venture entity, called ExtraMile Convenience Stores (No. 8 here), oversees its ExtraMile locations as a franchisor.

Jacksons Energy is a jobber for more than 1,150 dealer sites, delivering fuel brands 76, Chevron, Conoco, Exxon, Mobil, Phillips 66, Shell and Texaco.

Jackson BevCo Inc., a subsidiary, has partnered with CordovaCann Corp. to open cannabis retail stores within or beside its c-stores.

Jacksons c-stores debuted football trading cards in 2022 for schools in its marketing areas.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chain: Bolla Market

No. of Stores: 312

2023 Ranking: 26

Ranking the Previous Year: 27

Headquarters: Garden City, N.Y.

What’s New:Founded in 1989, Bolla Oil Corp. operates gas stations, convenience stores, auto repair and car washes throughout the New York and New Jersey metro areas. Additionally, Bolla operates Bolla Transport and Bolla Construction, focusing on the development of corporate locations, as well as a dealer/franchise business.

Bolla Market became a franchise in 2015. Bolla has operated as a franchisee of Burger King, Tim Hortons, Pizza Hut, Moe's Southwest Grill and Red Mango since 2017, developing as a nontraditional partner within Bolla Market locations.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chain: Mapco Express

No. of Stores: 304

2023 Ranking: 27

Ranking the Previous Year:24

Headquarters: Franklin, Tennessee

What’s New: Owned by Chilean retail and fuel company Compania de Petroleos de Chile (COPEC), MAPCO operates convenience stores in the United States under the MAPCO Express banner.

In early 2022, MAPCO exited the Louisville, Kentucky, and greater Little Rock, Arkansas, markets, selling those stores to focus on innovation in its core Southeast markets.

After introducing the concept in 2021, including at its rebuilt Nashville flagship location, MAPCO in mid-2022 came out with its “Store of the Future” design that includes an open floor plan and new technology options. At 50 stores, customers can download the MAPCO Scan app, which allows them to check out through their smartphone as they shop. The chain is also offering cashierless checkout through Grabango. MAPCO alsooffers self-checkout options for customers at six of its stores with plans to expand this service to more than 40 existing locations, as well as in all new stores. Amazon lockers are also available at 22 MAPCO stores. New-to-industry store are also using digital signage.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Smoker Friendly, Tobacco Depot, Smoke ‘N Go, Havana Manor and Gasamat

No. of Stores: 291

2023 Ranking: 28

Ranking the Previous Year:41

Headquarters: Boulder, Colorado

What’s New: A handful of acquisitions over the past two years have catapulted The Cigarette Store Corp. to spot No. 28 on the Top 40 list. The company, doing business as Smoker Friendly, operates tobacco outlets with a mix of tobacco stores, cigar lounges, liquor stores and gas stations under brands including Smoker Friendly, Tobacco Depot, Smoke ‘N Go, Havana Manor and Gasamat.

In August 2022, the retailer acquired 79 Tobacco Superstores, based in Forrest City, Arkansas. In November, it acquired Collett Enterprises Inc.’s 30 tobacco stores across Indiana and Kentucky.

Investment firm Main Street Capital Corp. made a $51.7 million investment in Smoker Friendly, taking a minority stake in the company, in January 2021. The investor provided the chain a revolving line of credit to support its working capital needs and assist with its acquisition growth strategy.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: TA, TA Express

No. of Stores: 281

2023 Ranking: 29

Ranking the Previous Year:28

Headquarters: Westlake, Ohio

What’s New: TravelCenters of America LLC (TA) signed 30 new franchise agreements in 2022 and opened three new franchised sites. It plans to open 20 franchised locations in 2023. TA is focused on acquisitions for network growth and has acquired seven existing travel centers—six with truck maintenance facilities—which began operating as TA or Petro locations in 2022 and three standalone truck service facilities, which began operating as TA Truck Service during the year.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Royal Farms

No. of Stores: 268

2023 Ranking: 30

Ranking the Previous Year: 30

Headquarters: Baltimore

What’s New: Royal Farms is an operator of neighborhood c-stores throughout Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The chain said it will enter the North Carolina market for the first time in early 2023 with a new-build location in Grandy. It will follow with additional stores opening in New Bern, Greenville, Lumberton, Kinston and Jacksonville. Royal Farms has plans to open more locations in other areas of the state, as well.

Store menus will be centered around the retailer’s “world-famous” chicken, which was awarded “best fast-food fried chicken” by Food and Wine magazine. Royal Farms will also offer a variety of side dishes, such as macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes, so customers can take a complete meal or platter home. Other features will include Royal Farms’ hot or iced coffee from bean-to-cup machines and f'real milkshakes at the blending station. Every location will also feature surcharge-free ATMs, air-pump stations, lottery and fuel. Carwashes will be available at select locations.

Royal Farms launched an updated mobile app with a point system and other new capabilities in early 2022. It includes mobile ordering that allows customers to order ahead for delivery or pickup. Customers with the app can earn Royalty Points on all purchases—two with every dollar they spent on food and groceries, and one with every gallon of fuel they purchase. The customer can get free products based on the number of points they save. There are four tiers ranging from 50 points to 400 points, with each tier providing a different choice of free items including coffee and fountain drinks to breakfast sandwiches, chicken salad and chicken.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: GetGo Cafe and Market

No. of Stores: 263

2023 Ranking: 31

Ranking the Previous Year:29

Headquarters: Pittsburgh

What’s New: GetGo, the convenience-store division of the Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle supermarket chain, owns and operates stores in five states, primarily focused in the metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus and Indianapolis.

A new leadership team of industry veterans began executing on a growth plan this year, aiming to open more than 20 new GetGo stores each year. GetGo’s car wash business, WetGo, had its own expansion in 2022, with the first standalone WetGo location opening and more to come.

GetGo’s myPerks loyalty program, which GetGo shares with Giant Eagle and Market District supermarkets, allows members to earn perks on all purchases at any of the Giant Eagle locations. Those perks can be banked and later redeemed for money off future purchases. GetGo added to this savings opportunity with AdvantagePay, which gives members up to 30 cents off each gallon of fuel every day.

On the technology front, GetGo implemented a new system for price book and inventory-management, as well as electronic shelf labels, which will be rolled out across their entire network in 2023.

In 2021, Giant Eagle supermarkets and GetGo convenience-store locations began accepting PayPal and Venmo as forms of payment, becoming the first U.S. chains to offer customers the ability to use them at the register. The company also partnered with Grabango in 2021 for frictionless and contactless checkout technology.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chain: Applegreen

No. of Stores: 253

2023 Ranking: 32

Ranking the Previous Year:34

Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland

What’s New: Irish convenience-store retailer Applegreen, the holding company of Petrogas Group U.S. Inc., Plainview, New York, made its U.S. debut in 2014 after opening its first sites in New York state. It made its Top 202 debut in 2019 after a series of acquisitions increased its store count. The U.S. business is run by Elizabeth Pierce, president of Applegreen USA Operations, and includes sites in the North, Midwest and Southeast under the Shell, Exxon, Mobil, Sunoco, BP, Chevron, Holiday, Freedom and Speedway fuel brands.

Food partnerships include Burger King, McDonalds, Subway, 7-Eleven, Taco Bell, Dunkin’ Donuts, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Pizza Hut and Mama DeLuca’s Pizza. The chain also offers proprietary foodservice.

In 2022, Applegreen revealed that its three locations along the New York State Thruway System will eventually grow into 27, at all service areas.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Joe’s Kwik Mart, Hy-Miler Convenience, Uni-Mart, Rocky Top Markets, Stop In Food Stores, One Stop, Zoomerz

No. of Stores: 252

2023 Ranking: 33

Ranking the Previous Year:32

Headquarters: Allentown, Pennsylvania

What’s New: Formed in 2012, CrossAmerica Partners LP is a distributor of branded and unbranded petroleum for motor vehicles in the United States and distributes fuel to approximately 1,750 locations and owns or leases approximately 1,100 sites. With a geographic footprint covering 34 states, it has relationships with several major oil brands, including ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Chevron, Sunoco, Valero, Gulf, CITGO, Marathon and Phillips 66.

The company’s retail brands include Joe’s Kwik Mart in Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia; Hy-Miler Convenience in Ohio; Uni-Mart in Ohio and Pennsylvania; Rocky Top Market in Tennessee; Stop In Food Stores in Virginia and West Virginia; One Stop in West Virginia; and Zoomerz in Tennessee.

In late 2021, CrossAmerica acquired wholesale motor fuels distributor Community Service Stations Inc. (CSS), which supplies approximately 75 million gallons annually to locations across New England. The deal included wholesale fuel supply contracts to 39 dealer-owned locations, 34 subjobber accounts and two commission locations.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: DK, 7-Eleven

No. of Stores: 250

2023 Ranking: 34

Ranking the Previous Year: 31

Headquarters: Brentwood, Tenn.

What’s New: Delek U.S. Holdings is a diversified downstream energy company with assets in petroleum refining, renewable fuels, asphalt, logistics, wholesale marketing operations and convenience-store retailing. The c-store business operates locations in central and west Texas and New Mexico under the new DK store banner. The retailer entered the Arkansas market in late 2022 with two stores opening in disparate parts of the state.

In 2022, Delek relaunched its High Octane Rewards program through Stuzo, a provider of loyalty, digital payments and software. Within the first 10 months after Delek switched to its new system, High Octane Rewards active members increased per day by 262% and grew monthly loyalty transactions by 188%.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains: Meijer Gas Stations, Meijer Express

No. of Stores: 230

2023 Ranking: 35

Ranking the Previous Year: 36

Headquarters: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Editor's Note: Meijer Gas Stations was initially positioned incorrectly in this report. It properly belongs at No. 35 as noted above.

What’s New: Meijer Gas Stations and Meijer Express convenience stores are part of the Meijer company portfolio, which also includes grocery stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Brands include Fresh From Meijer grocery, whose items including deli, bakery, meat, products and snacks; Purple Cow ice cream; Frederick’s by Meijer higher-end food and beverage items; and True Goodness by Meijer organic offerings.

Meijer c-stores in 2022 started carrying new flavors in its Icee machines in its c-stores. The new flavors came via a partnership between The Icee Co. and Jones Soda Co.

Meijer’s gas stations offer Top Tier gasoline and diesel fuel, and the c-stores carry a wide variety of beverages, snacks and fresh-prepared and packaged food. The c-stores range in size from about 2,500 square feet up to 5,500 square feet at newer locations. C-stores are open 24 hours a day and offer fuel discounts for Meijer credit card and fleet card holders.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Chains RaceWay

No. of Stores: 217

2023 Ranking: 36

Ranking the Previous Year:39

Headquarters: Atlanta

What’s New: RaceWay operates 217 stores in 11 states in the Southeast. In 2021, the chain opened two expanded diesel offer sites (EDO) in Georgia. It operates as a franchisor, with each location owned by parent company RaceTrac Petroleum Inc. (listed separately at No. 15). In the RaceWay network, operators pay a commission per gallon of gasoline sold, with inside inventory and sales being the responsibility of the operator. All the stores sell the company’s proprietary gasoline brand.

The chain exited the Houston market in 2020, but it is looks to grow its portfolio of stores though organic new builds and acquisitions. RaceWay’s locations average 2,900 square feet.

For benchmarking purposes, store counts are as of Jan. 1, 2023.