Meijer Surges to Top Spot in Convenience Store Rankings, Dethroning Buc-ee's

Meijer has surpassed Buc-ee's to claim the title of America's favorite convenience store, according to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) rankings. The Michigan-headquartered retailer, which operates over 500 convenience and grocery stores primarily in the Midwest, achieved a score of 82 out of 100 in the annual study.

This marks a significant jump for Meijer, which saw its score improve from 76 in the previous year, representing the largest gain in the study. The retailer attributes its success, in part, to its mPerks loyalty program, which provided customers with nearly $200 million in savings through coupons and fuel discounts. Meijer also highlighted its numerous locations with 24-hour access and its approximately 244 Meijer Express locations, designed for quick stops.

"We are honored to be recognized by customers as the top convenience store brand in the U.S.," a Meijer spokesperson told The Post, emphasizing the accessibility of their express stations for travelers.

Last year's top-ranked convenience store, Buc-ee's, fell to fourth place in the new rankings, tied with four other stores, each scoring a 77 out of 100. Buc-ee's, known for its distinctive Beaver Nuggets and Texas brisket, has a strong cult following, with a dedicated Reddit community celebrating the brand.

The ACSI report surveyed 9,475 customers, evaluating factors such as food quality, cleanliness, store layout, merchandise, employee courtesy and efficiency, and coffee quality. While Meijer and other top performers earned high marks, the overall customer view of convenience stores indicated lower satisfaction with mobile app usability, store cleanliness, and restroom conditions.

In second place, a three-way tie occurred between QuikTrip, Sheetz, and Wawa, all scoring 80 out of 100. Kwik Trip, the previous year's leader, dropped to third place, tied with Murphy USA.

The report also noted a trend in the convenience store sector, with food sales now accounting for over 28% of total sales. Approximately 15% of prepared-food visits see consumers choosing a convenience store over a traditional quick-service restaurant. The ACSI pointed to retailers like Sheetz, Wawa, Casey's, and Kwik Trip for their investments in food quality and menu expansion, which are reshaping customer perceptions of the convenience store category as retailers broaden their offerings to meet consumer demands.