Wawa dethroned as America's No1 convenience store by Midwest rival
- READ MORE: REVEALED: 10 worst supermarkets in the US
America’s favorite convenience store isn’t Wawa anymore
For decades, convenience stores were the low point of any road trip — grim little boxes offering days-old hot dogs and questionable bathrooms.
But now, the industry is booming, thanks to made-to-order food, massive car washes, EV charging, online pre-ordering, and reliably fizzy soft drinks.
And a new survey shows Americans are taking notice.
This month, the American Customer Satisfaction Index, or ACSI, released its findings from a year-long survey after collecting 8,600 responses, where customers rated their in-store experiences from 0 to 100.
The results included some big surprises: household names like 7-Eleven and BP didn’t even crack the top ten.
Wawa, a perennial favorite, dropped down in the ranking. The new champion is Kwik Trip, a 60-year-old Wisconsin-based chain known for its friendly service, fresh donuts and spotless restrooms.
Kwik Trip, which operates more than 870 stores across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan, surged eight points in customer satisfaction this year — enough to knock Wawa off its perch.
Kwik Trip, the small Wisconsin-based convenience store chain, nabbed the top spot in ASCI's rankings - it is one of the best-rated companies in the US
Shoppers once hated dropping by convenience stores on their long routes - the shops were filled with worrying food options and strong odors. But now, several companies are bringing in customers with good food and fizzing drinks
Last year, Kwik Trip was middle of the pack with a 78 out of 100 score. Now, it handily beat the competition with a score of 84.
According to ACSI, which surveys 200,000 shoppers at thousands of stores each year, Kwik Trip's result was one of the 'highest scores among all companies and one of the biggest satisfaction improvements this year.'
The company is revered for its baked goods, including exclusive finds like Glazers donuts and bread. Shoppers can also grab in-store Karuba coffee and Nature's Touch egg and dairy products.
Both Sheetz and Wawa shared second place with a score of 82 out of 100.
The chains are both Pennsylvania-based and run hundreds of stores in the northeast. They are both known for their massive menus and fast-food-like service.
Third place goes to Oklahoma-based QuikTrip, which operates nearly 1,200 locations and received a score of 80.
With a score of 75, Casey's General Stores, America's third-largest convenience store chain, had the largest drop from last year, dropping to 17th.
Overall, convenience stores got an average rating of 76 for the second straight year.
Kwik Trip received praise for its food offerings, including the made-to-order drinks and bakery options
Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles star, worked with the beloved convenience store chain, Wawa, on a recent ad campaign highlighting the made-to-order hoagie sandwiches
Wawa, last year's top convenience store, took second place after Quick Trip jumped 8 points according to customers
Meanwhile, 7-Eleven, America's biggest convenience store chain with over 9,000 shops, ranked 16th with a score of 75.
The Texas-based company posted the same score in 2024.
BP and its spinoff, ampm, took 23rd and 24th place in the ranking, making them the worst-rated convenience stores in America.
For the entire sector, respondents were satisfied with the improvements in mobile apps and the effectiveness of picking up their orders.
They also appreciated the industry's store hours, which earned the sector an 83 out of 100 for staying open late at night.
But customers generally complained about the quality of coffee at the shops, the variety of products on shelves, and the frequency of sales.
Neither Wawa nor Kwik Trip immediately responded to the Daily Mail's request for comment.
