With strategic collaboration between CPG brands and convenience retailers on the rise, brands should be seeking out every competitive advantage possible. But do you have the right combination of experience, expertise, and data-driven insights to get closer to your c-store retail partners?

Extracting valuable insights from data can reveal new ways to make a bigger splash in the convenience channel. Whether your goal is to speed up your decision-making, optimize your marketing strategy, or grow your revenue, data-driven insights are key to your success.

Start with these five steps to leverage data about consumer behaviors, industry trends, and market gaps to gain a competitive advantage in the convenience channel.

1. Get to know c-store customers better

C-store shoppers are unique from consumers across different retail channels. Getting to know their preferences and behaviors helps you create more personalized offers and services.

• Drill down into consumer behaviors: C-store shoppers prioritize convenience. Think fast grab-and-go purchases like beverages, snacks, and quick meals. Use data analytics tools to track foot traffic patterns and daypart activity to identify peak shopping times—then customize your promotions with your top impulse purchase products.
• Pinpoint individual preferences: Go deeper to determine who is buying which products at what times—and how varying your offers can impact purchasing frequency and sales. For example, are you seeing trends that could lead to potential product gaps, expansions, or growth areas?

2. Optimize your marketing campaigns

The more you know what c-store customers want and how they behave, you can engage with them much more effectively.

• Get hyper-personal: Data analytics and metrics help you track campaign performance, right down to individual promotions so you can reach shoppers with the right offers at the right time. Track what content and channels resonate with key audiences, then create highly targeted messages that boost engagement for greater impact.
• Refine your product mix: Use data-driven insights to help identify the right product mix for individual stores based on local demand, optimizing product placement for maximum visibility. Continually watch for new market trends, changing behaviors, and unmet needs to drive product innovation.

3. Enhance your operational efficiency

Beyond customer analysis and marketing campaigns, you can also use data-driven insights to optimize your operations and reduce costs.

• Peer into the future: Leverage data analytics to better anticipate demand, so you can avoid stockouts and overstocking. Modern predictive analytics based on historical data and machine learning analysis are great for honing your forecasts to help manage inventory.
• Tighten supply chain management: Do you have access to data that can help you identify bottlenecks in your distribution channels or gaps in inventory management? Understanding price elasticity, seasonal patterns, and shifting regional demands can also help you optimize your operations.

4. Boost your profitability

When the goal of business is to make money, increasing your profitability should always be a top priority. This is yet another area where reliable, real-time data can help ensure sustainable financial success.

• Create new revenue streams: Deeper analysis of key market trends can reveal new opportunities to differentiate your products and campaigns. Use this analysis to segment more effectively, optimize pricing, improve conversion rates, and boost overall sales performance.
• Maximize profitability: Do you have access to competitive data? If so, you can closely track your competitors, benchmark your performance, and adjust your product pricing strategies to increase profitability, even when facing a wide range of dynamic market conditions.

5. Strengthen your convenience retail partnerships

If you can accomplish steps 1-4, you’ll be well on your way to building stronger relationships with your c-store partners. But there are additional ways to collaborate for mutual benefit.

• Hone your retail strategy: Share your data-backed insights with your convenience retail partners to reveal the value of your products and brand. Provide trustworthy data that convinces them to elevate your products with priority placement and promotion.
• Get the complete picture: Using location data helps you work more strategically with c-stores to align your merchandizing efforts and promotions based on a common understanding of shopper behavior and preferences. And don’t forget about data from independent operators, which can give you a much more comprehensive view of the entire convenience channel.

Get started today

Make sure you’re maximizing the full value of your data-driven insights in the convenience retail market. If you need an experienced partner to help you collaborate with top retailers, PDI experts can help you get there faster. Contact us.

Connecting Convenience

Watch the May Connections Live Quarterly webinar, a free 60-minute webinar for PDI customers and other professionals in the energy and convenience ecosystem.  

In this recording, PDI industry experts discuss: 

• Industry trends and insights from our recent “Pulse of Convenience Report”
• News on GasBuddy’s 25th Anniversary
• Current security threat vectors targeting specific industries and organizations across the US
• Open registration for Connections Live 2025 in Denver, CO this August

Did you miss the March webinar? Watch it now.

Meet the Presenters

Bethany Allee

CMO, PDI Technologies

Patrick De Haan

VP, Head of Petroleum Analysis, GasBuddy

Dan Hoban

EVP, Field Services, PDI Technologies 

In today’s rapidly evolving retail landscape, convenience stores have been a fairly remarkable success story. As the fastest-growing retail channel in the US with 1.5% year-over-year growth between 2023 and 2024, c-stores continue to demonstrate strong resilience and adaptability.

Whether you’re a c-store operator, CPG-focused brand manager, or an advertiser, our recent “Pulse of Convenience” report offers an in-depth look at the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the convenience retail industry for 2025 and beyond.

Industry strength amid economic pressures

The c-store sector maintains an impressive retail footprint with over 150,000 locations across the US alone, serving approximately 1,100 shoppers per day at each site. While sales experienced some declines in 2024 compared to 2023, profitability remained strong thanks to a 4.1% rise in average unit prices.

One surprising development is how closely consumer behavior now correlates with fuel prices, with PDI data revealing a strong positive correlation between gas prices and both fuel and in-store trips.

A shift in customer expectations

Also notable is how an increasing number of c-store shoppers are seeking more than just fuel and basic necessities. Foodservice has emerged as a major growth opportunity for c-stores, with prepared meals showing an impressive 16.3% increase in 2024.

This shift toward foodservice is already transforming c-stores into destination points rather than just quick stops, especially as they invest in mobile technologies for ordering, payments, and even deliveries, essentially following more of a restaurant model.

The growing technology imperative

Behind the scenes, digital transformation continues to reshape the c-store customer experience. From AI-powered inventory management to personalized loyalty programs, technology adoption has become a critical differentiator in the market.

The report highlights several growth opportunities, including frictionless checkout systems, enhanced loyalty programs, alternative revenue streams, and improved cybersecurity measures—all crucial considerations for operators looking to stay competitive.

Consumer insights worth noting

Peering into the consumer mindset, data reveals that 67% of all US shoppers visit a c-store once a week or more, with 38% visiting more than twice a week. So, what’s driving these consumers to make such frequent visits?

Beyond the foundational level of convenience, the following perceived benefits are driving the most c-store visits:

• Loyalty programs (37%)
• Ease of payment (36%)
• Food options (27%)

Payment preferences continue to evolve as well, with debit cards leading both in usage and preference, followed by credit cards and cash. Surprisingly, digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay account for only 5% of transactions, indicating significant room for growth in this area.

Looking forward

With 58% of convenience store operators feeling optimistic about their business for 2025, the industry outlook remains positive despite lingering challenges like staffing concerns (cited by 46% of operators as their top business challenge) and economic uncertainties such as inflation and potential tariffs.

For a comprehensive analysis of the convenience retail landscape and actionable insights you can use to propel your business forward, download your own copy of this free report.

Download the Report

Register now for Connections Live 2025!

Don’t miss the industry’s premier training and networking event—join us for all the action in Denver, CO from August 24-27.

Register Today

Download “2025 Pulse of Convenience Report” 

Convenience stores were the fastest-growing retail channel in the US from 2023 to 2024.

Despite this success, industry challenges remain. Inflation continues to be a concern, along with the potential impact of tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and other macro-economic factors. 

Inside c-stores consumers are increasingly seeking healthier choices and expanded foodservice, and younger generations are prioritizing digital payments over credit cards and cash. 

These challenges make it clear that convenience stores need to continually evolve. The question is, how? 

In our new report, we provide insights on the state of the convenience retail industry to help you understand: 

Key c-store facts

Current consumer trends

Opportunities for growth

Download the report, then connect with PDI experts to learn how to maximize your technology investment. 

Connecting Convenience

Watch the March Connections Live Quarterly webinar, a free 90-minute webinar for PDI customers and other professionals in the energy and convenience ecosystem.  

In this recording, PDI industry experts discuss: 

• The latest industry trends and insights  
• How PDI’s strategy of Connecting Convenience impacts your business  
• The value of PDI Wholesale Solutions  
• How you can continue your Connections Live learning, all year round! 

You don’t want to miss the May Connections Live Quarterly webinar. Watch it here.

Meet the Presenters

Linnea Geiss

COO, PDI Technologies

Brian Lind

VP, Product Strategy and Partnerships, PDI Technologies

Traci Fulmer

Director, Education and Development, PDI Technologies 

Matt Murdock

Director, Wholesale Product Management, PDI Technologies 

Download “C-Store Shopper Insights Report for CPG Brands”

For CPG brands, data is power. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to ensure you’re getting the cleanest data about the increasingly vital convenience retail channel. 

But what if you had transaction-level data and insights on the key trends from c-stores across the US? 

It’s time to get closer to c-store shoppers and their evolving behaviors with “C-Store Shopper Insights for CPG Brands.” This free report will help you understand: 

1. Key facts about the c-store industry 

2. The unique value of this channel 

3. The latest trends for 2025 

Download the report, then connect with PDI experts to learn how to maximize your technology investment. 

Interested in other convenience reports?
Find more PDI reports here. 

Did you know that 70% of all convenience retail spending happens at independent and small-chain stores? For Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands seeking growth, this statistic reveals an enormous yet underutilized opportunity to promote their products in the convenience market. It can also lead to a potential goldmine of consumer data and insights. 

However, the value isn’t simply a one-way street. Improved collaboration between c-store retailers and CPG brands can position retailers to tap into a bigger share of brand spending that leads to higher store profitability. 

Get the inside scoop from industry experts in the on-demand webinar “Unlocking C-Store Growth: Independent Retailer Data Insights” as they share unique insights gained from decades in the data analytics and convenience retail market: 

• Ryan Griffin, VP of Business Development and Brand Partnerships at PDI Technologies 

• Jeff Hassman, VP and General Manager of Data Services at PDI Technologies 

Together, Ryan and Jeff will pull back the curtain on one of retail’s best-kept secrets: the remarkable power of independent convenience store data. Surprisingly, many CPG brands and retailers haven’t fully tapped into this wealth of consumer behavior data. 

Tap into expert insights 

These industry veterans will take you on an illuminating journey that reveals intriguing correlations that challenge conventional wisdom. For instance, you’ll discover the unexpected relationship between fuel prices and in-store purchasing behavior—a pattern that breaks with common assumptions and exposes new opportunities for strategic planning. 

This webinar will also: 

• Reveal the value of transaction-level insights from independent and small-chain c-stores 

• Explain the value of improved collaboration between CPG brands and c-store retailers 

• Cover what industry trends to expect in 2025 

Join the forward-thinking professionals who understand that the future of retail success lies in understanding the complete picture—not just the easy-to-reach data from major chains. After this webinar, you’ll be able to directly translate these insights into actionable strategies for thriving in this large but underserved market. 

Whether you’re a CPG brand looking to optimize product placement or a retailer seeking to improve your market position, this webinar will show you how to work toward mutual success. It’s a practical way to sharpen your competitive edge and connect with an enormous audience of c-store shoppers that your competitors might be missing. 

Watch the on-demand webinar “Unlocking C-Store Growth: Independent Retailer Data Insights.”  

Position your business for continued success 

By “Connecting Convenience” across the industry ecosystem, PDI can help you and your business succeed regardless of what market dynamics you face. Contact us today to learn how we can help you transform your business. 

Register for Connections Live 2025

Ready to expand your skills and industry expertise? You can now register for Connections Live 2025 in Denver, Colorado. Don’t miss out on the industry’s premier training and networking event!

Watch “Unlocking C-Store Growth: Independent Retailer Data Insights”

 How can CPG brands and convenience retailers collaborate for mutual success? 

Watch “Unlocking C-Store Growth: Independent Retailer Data Insights,” a free on-demand webinar that reveals trends, tools, and insights that will impact your business in 2025 and beyond. 

This information-packed webinar will help you: 

1. Gain insights into CPG-retailer collaboration 
2. Discover impactful industry takeaways 
3. Learn why first-party consumer data is the key to success 

Watch the webinar, then connect with PDI experts to discover new ways to boost your profitability. 

Interested in other convenience reports?
Find more PDI reports here. 

Download “Best Practices for Independent Operators”

Want new ways to make your business more profitable?

Download the “Best Practices for Independent Operators” guide to explore the latest convenience retail trends, tools, and insights that will impact your business in 2025 and beyond.

This information-packed guide is specifically designed for independent operators like you! You’ll discover:

1. Emerging c-store trends
2. Insights on identifying the right technology solutions
3. Tips for collaborating with CPG brands

Get the guide, then connect with PDI experts to learn how to maximize your technology investment.

Interested in other convenience reports?

Find more PDI reports here.

As innovation across the convenience store industry accelerates, data insights are playing a pivotal role in shaping its trajectory. To keep up, you need a solid strategy that maximizes the value of data across your entire organization. 

The abundance of data in convenience retail 

Today, it’s not usually a question of whether you have enough data. Most organizations report having more than enough data—they just don’t always know what to do with that data. 

Across the US convenience channel, PDI licenses transaction data representing more than $40 billion in c-store sales annually. We also publish timely reports, such as the “Tracking Convenience Report: From the Pump to the C-Store,”  leveraging the data collected to deliver key industry analysis and insights. 

The convenience retail industry itself is a massive source of real-time transactional data. According to NielsenIQ, the convenience channel accounts for 15% of all Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sales in the US. Moreover, the average American fuels up more than three times per month, equating to 14.6 billion fill-ups annually. 

Add it all up, and there’s a wealth of consumer insights to be gained from convenience store transaction data. But how do you turn it into an asset for your business? 

The unique PDI advantage 

If you’re unsure how best to extract the value of convenience store data, PDI experts can help. At PDI, data is at the heart of everything we do. We can help you capture data, access it on your terms, and identify innovative ways to turn it into business value. 

In the retail environment, we derive insights from receipt-level transactions and loyalty program data. This robust, timely information is already empowering businesses to act proactively and strategically, giving them a true competitive edge. 

The PDI advantage lies in the depth and variety of data we collect—receipt-level store transactions, fuel pricing, loyalty programs, and first-party data specific to the convenience retail market. That data comes from sites ranging from the largest chains to independent operators, providing a more complete picture of consumer behavior across the entire industry. 

You can use these same data sets to analyze market basket and shopper behavior trends like never before. It’s the first step in uncovering insights and using them to inform your decision making and develop more effective business strategies. 

Turning data into actionable insights 

To stay ahead of your competitors, it’s critical to transform raw data into actionable insights that drive meaningful strategies. We’ve designed PDI Retail Insights to do exactly that. 

With PDI Retail Insights, you can: 

• Analyze promotion performance to see what’s working best 

• Measure distinct changes in customer behavior over time 

• Assess how promotions on one item affect sales in related categories 

• Ensure you’re stocking the right products at the right time 

• Identify underperforming brands or categories 

• Adjust to peak and off-peak times with real-time data 

By leveraging these insights, you can make better-informed decisions, deliver timely and relevant offers to your customers, and ultimately increase both loyalty and profitability. 

Turning data into income 

Beyond operational improvements, PDI can also help you unlock new revenue streams through your data. By analyzing billions of customer records and transaction data, PDI aggregates this information to create a more valuable resource for retailers and CPG brands alike. 

PDI Data Services offer a wide range of options designed to turn your data into income. By sharing your data with third parties—such as CPG brands—you can monetize it to create new revenue opportunities while strengthening your supplier partnerships. This transformative approach helps ensure that your data not only drives internal growth but also becomes an asset that contributes directly to your bottom line. 

Realizing the data-driven future of convenience 

When you have the right data-driven insights, you can make smarter, more profitable decisions. From delivering personalized offers that build customer loyalty to creating innovative partnerships that generate new income streams, PDI can help you unlock the full potential of your data. 

Discover how to transform your data into actionable insights—and income—with PDI.