Meijer has unseated the reigning champion to claim the title of America’s favorite convenience store in a dramatic reshuffling of industry rankings.
The Michigan-based superstore scored 82 out of 100 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index’s latest convenience store survey, leapfrogging more than two dozen competitors with the largest single-year improvement in the study. Meijer, which operates 500 convenience and grocery stores across six Midwestern states, climbed from its 2025 score of 76 to capture the top spot for 2026.
The retailer credited its mPerks loyalty program and its network of Meijer Express stations for fueling the win. Customers saved nearly $200 million through the program’s coupons and fuel discounts, and most locations offer 24-hour access with about 244 express locations built for quick stops.
“We are honored to be recognized by customers as the top convenience store brand in the U.S.,” Meijer said in a statement to The Post, pointing to the rewards program and the accessibility of its Express stations “when fueling on the road.”
The ACSI rankings, based on 9,475 customer surveys, evaluated stores across multiple categories including food quality, cleanliness, store layout, merchandise selection, employee courtesy and efficiency, and coffee quality.
Last year’s winner, Kwik Trip, tumbled to third place with a score of 77, tying with Murphy USA. The Wisconsin-based chain’s fall opened the door for Meijer’s surge and created a crowded field behind the new leader.
Second place produced a three-way deadlock among QuikTrip, Sheetz and Wawa, each scoring 80. Buc-ee’s, the Texas-born phenomenon with a devoted cult following, found itself tied for fourth place at 77 alongside four other chains — a stunning drop for a brand whose Reddit channel is devoted to “celebrate the best gas station in all the lands.”
The beaver-branded empire built its reputation on signature offerings like “Beaver Nuggets” sweet corn puff snacks and fresh Texas brisket, drawing road-trippers and locals alike to its sprawling travel centers. Its fall from the top tier marks a significant shift in consumer sentiment toward the once-dominant player.
The survey revealed broader industry patterns beyond the horse race at the top. Average scores ran high for hours open, locations, checkout speed and food quality, while mobile apps drew poor marks for usefulness and cleanliness — both of stores and bathrooms — lagged.
Food has become an increasingly critical battleground. Sales of food items now account for more than 28 percent of convenience store revenue, and 15 percent of prepared-food visits now involve consumers choosing a convenience store over 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 in its report.
The research organization added that convenience stores have “expanded their role in consumers’ lives” through broader food offerings, transforming pit stops into genuine dining destinations.
Meijer is pressing its advantage with expansion plans already in motion, including a push into Pennsylvania that will extend its footprint beyond its Midwestern stronghold.