The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and NielsenIQ reported the number of convenience stores in the U.S. increased for the second straight year.
In 2023, the number of convenience stores in the U.S. increased 1.5%, reaching 152,396. This followed an increase of 1.5% the previous year when there were 150,174 convenience store locations in the U.S. reversing a three-year decline.
The growth in convenience stores outpaced the grocery and drug channels, both of which saw declines in the number of stores. Grocery was down 0.7% while drug was down 0.6%. Dollar stores outpaced these channels, growing at a rate of 3.7%.
According to the report, nearly every state increased its store count including Texas, which has the most convenience stores with over 16,000, or more than 1 in 10 stores in the United States. After losing 53 stores in 2023, California added 177 to its store count.
Only seven states had the number of convenience stores decrease. They were Alaska, Iowa, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Oklahoma, and Vermont. Estimates are there is one convenience store for every 2,204 people.