America's favorite convenience store might surprise you – and no, it's not Buc-ee's.
Meijer, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-headquartered retailer, ranked No. 1 in the American Customer Satisfaction Index's annual convenience store rankings.
Meijer operates more than 500 supercenters, grocery stores and neighborhood markets, including 244 Meijer Express locations, across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. The company also recently signaled plans to expand into western Pennsylvania.
With a score of 82 out of 100 in ACSI's 2026 Convenience Store Study, Meijer improved from its 2025 score of 76 – the study’s largest improvement. For comparison, Buc-ee's earned a 77, down from last year's score of 79.
Meijer's win shouldn't surprise
many, the ACSI said in a statement to USA TODAY. "While many consumers think of Meijer primarily as a grocer or superstore, Meijer Express locations compete directly in the convenience store space."
Qwik Trip, Sheetz and Wawa tied for second with scores of 80. Overall, customer satisfaction with convenience stores fell 1% to 75.
Last year's top convenience store, Kwik Trip, dropped 6% to 79. ACSI surveyed 9,475 convenience store customers, which it selected randomly and contacted via email between October 2025 and September 2026.
Convenience stores score high on hours and food, but could keep the bathrooms cleaner
Customers gave convenience stores good scores on location, hours, checkout speed and food. However, the ratings suggest convenience store apps aren't keeping up with customer expectations, and low scores were given for cleanliness of stores and bathrooms.
Convenience stores constantly handle a variety of issues to enhance the customer experience, said Forrest Morgeson, ASCI's director of research emeritus and an associate professor of marketing at Michigan State University, in a news release.
“Convenience stores are asking customers to do more inside the store and more on the app than ever before. Order ahead, scan loyalty cards, redeem offers, pick up food. Customers are willing to engage with all of it,” Morgeson said. “But every new capability is a new expectation. When the app is clunky, the bathroom is neglected, or the store feels disorganized, that shapes how customers judge the entire visit."
Speaking of food, food sales increased to account for more than 28% of convenience stores' inside sales. The report found that 15% of prepared-food visits involve consumers choosing a convenience store instead of a quick-service restaurant. "Retailers such as Sheetz, Wawa, Casey's, Kwik Trip, and others have invested heavily in food quality and menu expansion, which continues to reshape customer perceptions of the category," the ACSI said. Affordability may be elevating convenience stores as a place to grab a quick meal. "Consumers are looking more carefully at value and may see convenience store food as an alternative to some restaurant occasions," the ACSI said. "But the bigger long-term story is that convenience stores have successfully expanded their role in consumers' lives. The opportunity now is ensuring that the customer experience keeps pace with those broader offerings.
How did Meijer become America's favorite convenience store chain?
Meijer has successfully integrated its mPerks loyalty program with fuel rewards while growing stores, according to the report.
Loyalty programs appear to play a key role in customer satisfaction, as members gave convenience stores higher ratings than nonmembers. Easy-to-use apps and valuable deals can help drive satisfaction and encourage repeat visits. Meijer customers saved nearly $200 million through the retailer's mPerks program over the past year, according to the report.
"We are honored to be recognized by customers as the top convenience store brand in the U.S." said Erin Cataldo, Meijer's external communications manager, in a statement to USA TODAY. "Our team puts a lot of effort into making sure visiting our Meijer Express locations is a great experience."
Top convenience stores, by region
In the Midwest, Sheetz came out on top with a score of 83. Wawa had the top score in the South (82) and Northeast (79), while in the West, Maverik and QuikTrip tied at 78 for the top spot.
See how convenience stores ranked across the US
Here's how convenience stores ranked nationally in the American Customer Satisfaction Index's 2026 Convenience Store Study.
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sorry, Buc-ee's, this convenience store is America's favorite
