This Family-Run Chain Trumps Buc-ee’s as America’s Favorite Convenience Store, New Study Says
This Family-Run Chain Trumps Buc-ee’s as America’s Favorite Convenience Store, New Study Says
Chiara KimThu, October 8, 2026 at 7:06 PM UTC
0
Meijer topped national customer satisfaction rankings of convenience stores in a 2026 studyCredit: Shutterstock -
Meijer earned the highest customer satisfaction score among convenience stores in the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index
The Midwest retailer’s score rose 5% while overall convenience store satisfaction declined
Meijer credited its mPerks rewards program and convenient store locations for the recognition
A surprising chain has defeated Buc-ee’s in a national ranking of convenience store customer satisfaction.
Meijer, a Midwest-based retailer, topped the American Customer Satisfaction Index‘s 2026 ranking for convenience stores, defeating the well-known travel center chain and other favorites.
The ranking comes from a survey of randomly chosen customers that is then used in a model to estimate customer satisfaction via inputs of expectations, perceptions of quality and value, complaints and loyalty, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s study.
Meijer, which has convenience stores called Meijer Express, had the highest satisfaction rating in the study with a score of 82, marking a 5% increase from its score of 78 in 2025.
Buc-ee’s, the travel center chain known for its food and merchandise, came in at seventh place with a score of 77. The chain received a score of 79 in 2025, meaning the 2026 score is a 3% decrease, per the report.
Buc-ee’s came in seventh place in the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s 2026 convenience store rankingCredit: Shutterstock
“We are honored to be recognized by customers as the top convenience store brand in the U.S.,” Meijer tells PEOPLE in a statement. “Our team puts a lot of effort into making sure visiting our Meijer Express locations is a great experience.”
The company adds, “Customers are increasingly looking for value and convenience, and our mPerks rewards program and Meijer Express stations offer both in a format that is easily accessible while fueling up or on the road.”
A spokesperson for CFI Group, the reseller of the American Customer Satisfaction Index, tells PEOPLE that while Meijer is known for its grocery stores and superstores, the Express locations operate as convenience stores.
The company said that Meijer’s win demonstrates consumer preference for a “seamless experience” that has everything from food to cleanliness to rewards programs.
Advertisement
“The report points to the integration of Meijer Express with the mPerks loyalty program, fuel rewards, price investments, and store growth as key factors,” they added. “Meijer appears to be benefiting from a combination of strong value, a broad merchandise offering, and the ability to connect fuel purchases to its larger retail and loyalty ecosystem.”
The spokesperson added that the 5% increase Meijer had in the customer satisfaction score is the largest increase in the study, noting that overall satisfaction with convenience stores declined over the same time period.
According to a press release, convenience store satisfaction has decreased 1% to a score of 75.
“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,” a representative of the American Customer Satisfaction Index said in the release. “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.”
Per Meijer’s website, the family-run retailer focuses on customers, competition, freshness, safety and health.
Fred Meijer, whose father founded the chain in 1934, always said, “Customers don’t need us, we need them,” according to the website.
Meijer also said, “I want to leave the world in a little better shape than when I entered it,” the website says.
Just below Meijer on the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s study was QuikTrip, which has locations spread out throughout dozens of states. QuikTrip maintained its score of 80 from 2025 to 2026.
In between QuikTrip and Buc-ee’s were other regional convenience store chains Sheetz, Wawa, Kwik Trip and Murphy USA.
on People
Source: “AOL Money”
