Convenience Stores Aren’t Disappearing — They’re Consolidating

Every January, the convenience retail industry gets one of its clearest snapshots of where the market really stands.

This week, NACS released the official 2026 NACS/NIQ TDLinx Convenience Industry Store Count, reporting 151,975 convenience stores operating in the United States as of December 31, 2025. That’s a slight decline of just 280 stores nationwide—about a 0.2% dip year over year.

On the surface, that number feels almost flat. The industry footprint remains remarkably stable.

But the more important story is underneath the headline.

While total store count edged down, the number of fuel-selling convenience stores actually increased to 122,620 locations—the highest level in eight years. Fuel continues to anchor the channel, with more than 80% of all convenience stores selling motor fuel and the industry accounting for roughly 80% of the fuel purchased by U.S. consumers.

What this tells us is simple: the convenience sector isn’t shrinking—it’s consolidating and evolving.

Smaller operators still dominate the landscape, with nearly two-thirds of stores owned by companies operating 10 or fewer locations. At the same time, larger chains continue expanding their share, driving increased competition, higher operational expectations, and growing compliance complexity across the market.

For retailers, the takeaway is clear: stability in store count does not mean stability in demands. Execution, compliance readiness, and operational discipline are becoming the differentiators in a market where the footprint stays steady—but the stakes keep rising.

You can read the full NACS research summary here:
2026 Sees Slight Decrease in C-Store Count (NACS Daily, January 26, 2026).