Want a fast way to catch up on the latest trends and news from across the fuel and convenience industry? Watch the May Connections Live Quarterly webinar! 

Three of PDI’s top industry experts shared their insights and answered participants’ questions in the latest installment of our quarterly live event. Here’s a summary of what they covered. 

Convenience industry snapshot 

PDI CMO Bethany Allee highlighted some fascinating statistics and evolving consumer behaviors from the 2025 “Pulse of Convenience” report. 

She covered areas such as how the price of fuel impacts both fuel and in-store trips, and she explained why prepared foodservice is such a powerful growth opportunity for operators. 

Bethany also noted that with 58% of c-store operators bullish on their business outlook for 2025, continued investment in digital transformation remains a business imperative for growth and differentiation. 

Lastly, Bethany addressed the top business concerns for both chains and independent operators: staffing challenges and labor costs. To learn more about these workforce trends, download our latest guide, “Staffing Success: The C-Store Workforce Guide.”  

Be sure to follow Bethany (@CStoreCMO) on X. 

GasBuddy travel forecast and other news 

In the second segment of the webinar, Patrick De Haan , VP and Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, shared the latest updates from GasBuddy and previewed the 2025 travel season. 

With GasBuddy celebrating its 25^th anniversary as one of the most trusted platforms for consumers looking for the best gas prices, c-store reviews, and offers, Patrick highlighted findings from the GasBuddy 2025 Summer Travel Survey. 

Predictions for the summer season include lower average US gas prices in 2025 ($3.08) compared to 2024 ($3.58). In fact, the forecast cited the lowest inflation-adjusted summer gas prices since 2003. Check out the survey details here. 

You can watch more of Patrick on “What’s up at the pump?” or follow him (@gasbuddyguy) on X. 

Retail threat landscape 

In the third segment of the webinar, Dan Hoban, EVP, Field Services, covered the broader cybersecurity threat landscape with insights from the PDI Q1 2025 Threat Landscape Report. 

One key item to note for c-stores is that retail jumped from the eighth-most targeted sector to the fourth-most targeted industry sector between 2024 and 2025. Much of that rise was driven by a sudden surge in ransomware attacks—up by nearly 75% from Q4 2024. 

To help address the spike in ransomware, Dan noted the increasing value of ongoing security awareness training to keep all employees prepared, a method shown to help reduce phishing clicks by up to 50%. 

You can hear more from Dan on the recent “SOCaaS and AI: The Power Duo for Predictive Cybersecurity” webinar. 

Register now for Connections Live 2025!

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How will fuel prices trend in 2025? The “GasBuddy 2025 Fuel Outlook” forecasts what to expect at the pump during the year ahead.

You’ll find:

• Predictions for the national average price of gasoline and diesel in 2025
• Forecasts for the highest and lowest yearly prices by state
• How much Americans are projected to spend on gasoline in 2025
• Insights and commentary on seasonal and geopolitical factors affecting gas prices

Download “Tracking Convenience Report: from the Pump to the C-Store”

Download the new “Tracking Convenience Report: From the Pump to the C-Store” to discover the latest consumer trends that could influence your business strategy in 2024 and beyond.

This report features the most detailed convenience data analyzed by experts with decades of industry experience. You’ll find:

1. Year-over-year trends
2. New growth opportunities
3. Actionable insights

Connect with PDI so our convenience experts can help you maximize your business opportunities with the industry’s most detailed data and analysis.

Interested in previous reports?
Find more PDI reports here.

In the ever-evolving landscape of transportation and fuels, one trend is accelerating at an electrifying pace—the rise in electric vehicle (EV) sales. Although the growth is substantial, and the emphasis on the coming energy transition is certainly important, the reality is that internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are king and will remain so for the foreseeable future. 

Today, only about 1% of vehicles on the road are electric, although a recent GasBuddy survey revealed that 39% of respondents said they are more interested in owning an EV than they were last year. As retailers and consumers alike consider the balance between investments in petroleum and electricity, the question arises: What’s the future of fuel? 

The state of fuel today 

Looking back at the last several years of fuel sales reveals the ever-changing dynamics facing the petroleum industry. Record high gasoline prices in 2022 and increased political desire to invest in new technologies have combined to accelerate interest in transitioning to cleaner energy. However, recent decreases after 2022’s record-setting gasoline prices could slow the pace of EV adoption. Consumers’ desire to wait for new battery technologies, such as solid-state batteries, could also slow the pace of adoption. 

Gas stations have been an iconic fixture on American roads for decades, and there are currently over 150,000 in the US alone. Many stations have begun to adopt EV infrastructure and charge points, but compared to the over 350 million gallons of motor fuel consumed in the US every day, it’s clear that the bulk of EV charging currently happens at home for most EV drivers. While many are looking to EVs as an immediate, sustainable solution, the infrastructure to support long-range electric travel remains fragmented. That factor, both in the near and long term, is where the convenience store comes into play. 

What’s next for fuel and EV adoption? 

As we look toward the future of fuel, EVs will play an integral role. There’s no doubt that EV adoption is growing—in some states, we’ve seen an increase in EV ownership of over 400% since 2018, and approximately 7% of new vehicle sales are now electric (source: Cox Automotive). 

By 2035, about 45% of new car sales could be electric, according to a recent industry analysis (projections based on PDI estimates and IEA’s Announced Pledges Scenario). At this rate, nearly half of the cars on the road would be electric by 2050. When you consider the 350 million gallons of fuel currently sold in the US in just one day, 45 to 50% of that total certainly makes a large impact. 

With such rapid market changes, what else can we expect as EVs increasingly enter the picture? 

• Effects on gasoline demand: It will be a gradual process, but increased EV adoption does have the potential to affect the way we consume petroleum products. The future of batteries is constantly changing, with manufacturers also introducing PHEVs that are electric but also can fall back to gasoline to charge the vehicle’s battery. 
• Policy changes: We’ve already seen a strong focus on sustainability and EV policy on the federal level, and in some states bans on ICE vehicle production are already in place. Policy will be a huge factor when it comes to EVs, providing businesses with more opportunity and financial assistance to develop EV charging infrastructure. 
• Evolving retailer strategy: As more convenience stores adopt EV charging and invest in new infrastructure, we’ll see shifts in strategy, particularly in stores. While the average fuel customer spends less than five minutes filling up, an opportunity presents itself to re-invent the convenience store to cater to electric vehicle owners with longer dwell times. 

How to prepare 

Although a completely electric driving future may be decades away, retailers and wholesalers should start preparing to better serve their customers who are increasingly adopting EVs. Many large c-store operators have already begun investing in new infrastructure with an emphasis on charging stations to meet this evolving demand. 

To thrive in this rapidly evolving environment, companies within the fuel industry must embrace change, invest in innovation, and pivot toward solutions that serve their customers’ evolving needs. Those who recognize this and adapt accordingly will be best positioned for success in the years to come. 

Get the New “Tracking Convenience Report: from the Pump to the C-Store”

Have you spotted any interesting changes in the c-store ecosystem? We have, and we’re ready to share some trends and insights to help you maintain your competitive edge.

The latest version of “Tracking Convenience Report: From the Pump to the C-Store” reveals the latest consumer data and trends that will impact your business in 2024.

Highlighting in-depth data and analysis from PDI and GasBuddy, this report covers:

1. Interesting convenience trends that emerged in 2023
2. New areas of opportunity for retailers and CPG brands
3. Valuable tips and insights from PDI experts

Discover how PDI can help you broaden your reach and increase your profitability in a rapidly changing marketplace.

What happens in the backcourt can be influenced by the forecourt, with evolving consumer preferences playing a big part in both. Increasingly, the impacts of inflation, EVs and energy transformation, and other external factors also influence where and when consumers shop and fill up.

Hear from Greg Crow, VP Insights at PDI, and Bethany Allee, SVP Marketing at PDI, and Patrick De Haan, Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, as they dive deeper into trends inside and outside the c-store.

Attendees can expect to:

• Increase your knowledge of shopper data, insights, and the ability of loyalty programs to motivate consumers 
• Gain an understanding of pump economics, what is expected in the upcoming season, and how to prepare 
• Learn actionable best practices to improve business results 

Download “Tracking Convenience Report: From the Pump to the C-Store” 

The more you know about prospective customers and local competitors, the better positioned you’ll be to make strategic investments. But where do you find the latest industry data? 

“Tracking Convenience Report: From the Pump to the C-Store” reveals the consumer data and trends that will impact your business in 2023 and beyond. 

Based on deep data and analysis from PDI and GasBuddy, this report will help you discover: 

1. How consumer behaviors have evolved since 2017 
2. What surprising results emerged in 2022 
3. Why reliable data leads to actionable insights for growing your business 

Find out how PDI can help you engage with modern consumers and quickly turn them into loyal customers.  

Recently, PDI and GasBuddy issued their first joint report analyzing how the pandemic has influenced shopping behavior in the $650 billion fuel and convenience industry. The “Buddy Up: C-Store Shopper Insights” report combines GasBuddy consumer survey data from more than 15,000 convenience retail consumers across all key US geographic locations along with PDI consumer buying data from 5,500 mid to large-size convenience retail sites across all key US geographic locations from its Insights Cloud solution.

The inaugural report focused on “The New Pandemic Consumer” utilizes this data to identify changes in C-store shopping habits from 2020 to 2021. Key findings from this quarter’s survey include insights around food delivery, trip and basket data, shopping destinations, and safety protocols.

Food delivery

Stores have opened their doors back up to the public, and the competition to attract shoppers is fiercer than ever. Retailers now face local competition in addition to previously unseen competitors that have entered the delivery space. Approximately two-thirds of survey respondents say they receive up to four food deliveries per week. The looming last-mile disruption the industry has been tracking gained even more momentum during the pandemic, leaving retailers playing a game of catch-up.

Trip and basket data

Major category trends that are consistent between both transactional data and consumer survey data revolve around fuel, alcohol, and snacks. Consumers are evolving to balance both commuter behaviors with stay-at-home trends. As a result, surveyed consumers report a significant increase in their C-store alcohol purchases when staying home more often. With the return of commuting 75% of consumers are shopping for fuel in 2021, up from 68% in 2020.

However, PDI Insights Cloud shows that beer sales are down more than 5% YoY. As seen in the April C-Store Shopper Trends Report, salty snacks sales are down 7% YoY, particularly hitting the categories daypart sweet spot of 3-7pm, where 50% of sales are typically made. Yet, when surveyed in April, consumers reported that more than 20% of their trip drivers are for purchasing snacks. Is this category possibly making a sweet comeback?

Shopping destinations

The good news is that most shopping destinations are showing increased customer throughput, even if marginal. The number of C-store shoppers has grown over 4% in the past year compared to 5% growth in grocery and 6% in dollar stores. The lines between quick service restaurants, retailers, dollar stores, and hospitality venues continue to blur as these industries redefine what “convenience” means to the consumer.

Safety protocols

In 2021, when asked to rank the top influencer of their decision to visit a convenience store or fast-food restaurant, respondents ranked “more frequent cleaning and disinfecting” as the most important influencer followed by a tie between “discounts on food or other essential products” and “employees using gloves and masks.” With 86% of respondents paying close attention to retailers’ commitment to the safety of their employees, those retailers find themselves facing new challenges to overcome.

You can thrive in today’s digital economy. Contact us today, to learn how we can help you transform your business.

Gas stations can close or run out of fuel after a natural disaster or a crisis. GasBuddy’s Fuel Availability Tracker helps drivers in affected areas find fuel if stations run out.

GasBuddy’s free app can tell you which stations have no gasoline, no diesel, or no power so you can try other stations. Motorists can update the crowdsourced tracker by reporting the status of a station. This helps other drivers find gasoline or avoid stations with no fuel or power.

Learn more about the GasBuddy Fuel Availability Tracker

Download the Tracking Convenience Report: From the Pump to the C-Store to get insight into how consumer behavior trends are evolving. Based on deep data and analysis from PDI and GasBuddy.

GasBuddy is a PDI Company. Learn more.