The words “gas station” may stir up thoughts of oil-stained floors, bathrooms keys attached to a hubcap, or small racks of gum near the cash register, but today’s top brands prove that buying gas can be a whole new experience.
GasBuddy today issues its list of the Top 10 Gas Station brands in the U.S.—revealing which gas station convenience store brands made the rankings in 2017.
“These are destination brands that directly compete with restaurants, coffee shops, and—in some cases—even supermarkets,” said Frank Beard, convenience store and retail trends analyst at GasBuddy. “Although gas stations are still in the business of selling gas, the leading brands have become so much more. They’re a refuge for motorists looking for great food, an amazing cup of coffee, or some of the best customer service you’ll find anywhere.”
Top 10 Gas Station Brands in The U.S.
1. Buc-ee’s
Leading the pack is Texas-based Buc-ee’s! With 33 U.S. locations, Buc-ee’s sweeps the ranking by capturing the highest ratings and reviews in all six GasBuddy categories: coffee, cleanliness, customer service, outdoor lighting, restrooms and overall. Buc-ee’s has announced plans to expand into Florida in 2019.
2. Kelley’s Market
Illinois-based Kelley’s Market, with 48 locations in Rockford, IL and Madison, WI, also made a strong showing by placing second in the overall category and second in the five individual categories demonstrating their commitment to all facets of the customer experience.
3. Kwik Trip
Headquartered in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, there are 545 locations throughout Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Kwik Trip places 3rd overall and in the top 5 for cleanliness (#4), customer service (#4) and restrooms (#4).
4. QuikTrip
Tulsa, Oklahoma-based QuikTrip is operating 740 locations in Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas. QuikTrip places in the following categories: overall (4th), cleanliness (5th), customer service (3rd), outdoor lighting (5th) and restrooms (5th).
5. Wawa
With 730 locations throughout the East Coast, this Wawa, Pennsylvania-based company places 5th overall and appears in the individual categories of coffee (3rd) and outdoor lighting (3rd).
6. Hy-Vee
With 141 locations, Iowa-based Hy-Vee continues to hit the mark with GasBuddy customers by ranking in all six rating categories.
7. QuickChek
Headquartered in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, QuickChek has 154 locations throughout New Jersey and New York and ranks #7 overall.
8. Sheetz
Ranking #8 overall is Sheetz, a family-owned convenience store chain based in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Sheetz has 565 store locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.
9. Parker’s
Parker’s is based in Savannah, Georgia, with 51 stores throughout Georgia and South Carolina. They appear 9th overall when it comes to customer ratings.
10. NOCO Express
Rounding out the top 10 is NOCO Express. They have 37 gas stations and convenience stores in Western New York and are headquartered in Tonawanda, NY.
GasBuddy’s data science team compiled the findings by examining the customer ratings and reviews data between January 1 – December 31, 2017, only considering convenience stores with more than 30 retail locations in the United States. Previous quarterly rankings can be viewed here: Q1, Q2 and Q3.