Changing consumer behaviors, new technology, and shifting fuel demand have changed the convenience store landscape significantly, compared to just five years ago. Operators who understand these trends and act on them will fill their capacity while competitors fight for leftovers.

Let's dig into the convenience store trends defining 2025 and what they mean for your business.

Consumers are shopping differently and more strategically

One of the biggest convenience store trends in 2025 is how strategically consumers are shopping. They aren’t just shopping on impulse — they plan their trips, compare options, and make deliberate choices about where to spend their money. This shift toward intentional shopping has fundamentally changed how people interact with convenience stores.

That means your store’s visibility and value matter more than its location. Consumers leverage apps that surface the fuel prices across multiple stations before they ever leave their driveway. They're comparison shopping in real time, and they're willing to drive further for the right value.

This doesn't mean location doesn't matter. But it does mean you need to give customers a compelling reason to choose you over the station two miles away. Personalized promotions meet customers where they are — shifting demand toward your stores by ensuring your locations appear when consumers are deciding where to go.

Fuel demand is shifting, not disappearing

Among 2025’s key convenience store trends, declining fuel demand remains a critical focus area. Electric vehicle adoption is growing, fuel efficiency continues to improve, and analysts predict declining gasoline demand in the coming decades.

But the 2025 data shows that there’s still a lot of opportunity for c-store operators. The average gas station's pumps still sit idle nearly 75% of the day, not because customers aren't buying fuel, but because they’re buying it somewhere else. The real challenge isn't declining demand, but idle capacity. Winning even a small share of your competitors’ customers can transform your revenue. 

The most successful operators aren't panicking about electric vehicles. Rather, they’re focused on maximizing volume by winning uncommitted customers who would otherwise fuel up somewhere else. You're not competing against some theoretical future; you're competing against the station down the street right now. 

When you can shift even a small percentage of customers from competitors to your sites, the revenue impact is significant. The winning strategy is to capture more of today’s drivers while the opportunity is still available. 

Inside sales and in-store experiences are reshaping fuel stations

One trend reshaping the convenience store industry in 2025 is the growing focus on inside sales and customer experience.

Your pumps bring customers on-site, but your c-store, car wash, and foodservice offerings are your profit centers. The margin on fuel is tight and getting tighter. The margin on a breakfast sandwich, a car wash, or a cold brew coffee? That's where your profit lives.

The most successful operators treat their c-stores as destinations, not afterthoughts — investing in better foodservice, cleaner facilities, and better overall customer experiences. They understand convenience store foodservice trends and recognize that the customer who stops for gas is also the customer who might grab lunch — if you give them a reason to come inside.

This is why pump-to-store conversion has become such a critical metric. Getting a customer on-site for fuel is step one. Getting them through your doors to make an additional purchase is an even bigger win. Retailers using Upside see, on average, a 60% increase in pump-to-store conversion. And 21% of those customers are new to the c-store — driving incremental inside sales that boost your bottom line.

The trend is clear: c-stores are keeping the convenience but adding layers of experience that are changing shopping behavior and what brings customers inside.

Explore more convenience retail solutions for owners.

Technology is meeting customers where they are

Among convenience store technology trends, digital visibility and reach is now a must-have. Today’s customers plan every stop on their phones — checking prices, looking for deals, and comparing locations before they ever get in the car. Retailers that meet them in those digital moments are winning transactions competitors never see.

That’s why digital tools have become non-negotiable. Consumers expect to find you online, see what you offer, and understand why they should choose your location. 

The most successful c-store operators meet customers where they are: on apps they're already using to plan their day and make shopping decisions. Platforms like Upside help your locations appear in front of millions of consumers at that exact decision point, using personalized offers that guide them your way — not by replacing your marketing, but by extending your reach.

Plus, Upside's exclusivity zones block competitor locations from the app entirely, which means customers using the platform see you — not them — making your store the first choice.

Labor and operational efficiency continue to challenge operators

Finding and retaining good employees remains one of the biggest operational challenges in the convenience space. Labor costs are up, turnover is high, and customers expect the same level of service regardless of how short-staffed you might be.

Operators succeeding here are finding ways to do more with the resources they already have — simplifying operations and choosing tools that work within their existing systems instead of introducing new friction.

Solutions that integrate into your existing operations — without requiring additional headcount, training, or new point-of-sale systems — drive revenue growth without increasing operating costs. Upside works with your current point-of-sale and operations, using transaction data you already collect, to help you drive new, profitable traffic without new staff or IT lift. 

Foodservice is becoming a true profit center

Foodservice trends in convenience stores are transforming margins across the industry. Walk into a modern c-store and you'll see a very different foodservice offering than you would have ten years ago. Fresh, made-to-order, and grab-and-go options are no longer add-ons — they’re core to how c-stores compete and grow.

The trend toward expanded foodservice isn't just about keeping up with customer expectations. Fresh, fast, and made-to-order options attract repeat customers and offer higher margins than packaged goods. When you can convert a fuel customer into a foodservice customer, you're multiplying the value of that visit.

But building a foodservice program only pays off if customers know it exists and choose to buy from you. Personalized promotions that bring new and infrequent customers inside can turn your foodservice investment into a profit engine.

Learn more about how to increase convenience store sales on the Upside blog.

How Upside helps you navigate these trends

Every one of these convenience store trends points to the same goal: attracting more customers, converting them inside, and earning their repeat business. Upside helps you do exactly that — profitably and without operational lift. 

Upside is a digital marketplace that connects retailers across food and fuel categories with millions of consumers actively deciding where to shop. Our personalized cash back promotions influence customer behavior at the moment of decision, making your business the top choice.

How Upside works

A customer opens the Upside app while planning their route or thinking about where to stop. They see your location offering a personalized promotion that's unique to them. That promotion is strong enough to change their behavior, motivating them to choose your site over the competitor down the street. They visit, fuel up, and increasingly, they come inside for additional purchases.

Proven results

The results speak for themselves. Retailers on Upside see an average 3-6% like-for-like lift, with 50% of customers being entirely new to the site. And because Upside's promotions are bound by your available margin, every transaction is profitable. You're not discounting your sign price for everyone. Rather, you're offering targeted incentives that pull customers away from competitors without cannibalizing the sales you'd make anyway.

Here’s how Upside helps you capitalize on the trends reshaping c-stores:

• Meet customers digitally: Upside puts your locations in front of millions of nearby consumers as they choose where to buy.
• Drive pump-to-store conversion: Retailers using Upside see a 60% increase in pump-to-store conversion, earning you additional purchases from your higher-margin profit centers.
• Boost loyalty program participation: Upside complements your existing loyalty efforts, driving 10% organic conversion from Upside users into your program. And your existing loyalty members visit 2.6x more often and spend 2.8x more when they use Upside alongside loyalty.
• Protect your market: With exclusivity zones, your nearby competitors won’t be able to join the Upside platform, putting your sites top of mind.
• Pay only for results: You only pay when Upside drives proven, incremental profit to your business. If a transaction isn't incremental, you don't pay for it.
  

Ready to see how Upside can help you capture more customers and grow your c-store profitably? Request a demo to learn how personalized promotions can drive measurable results for your business.