Which C-store Brand Delivers the Best Overall Experience?
BOSTON — GasBuddy, through the latest technological launch of a rating and reviews feature on its free mobile app, has revealed which convenience stores rank the highest among consumers.
To leverage the agility of its latest feature, GasBuddy executed a data analysis of more than 7 million consumer-generated ratings of c-stores and gas stations across all 50 states. The ratings covered four main categories: Cleanest Restrooms, Best Coffee, Best Customer Service and Overall Experience. It included 131 different c-store brands with 30 locations or more.
"As the primary connector of millions of consumers with convenience stores and gas stations in the U.S., Canada and Australia, GasBuddy has a unique view into their behavior and what they like and don't like," said GasBuddy CEO Walt Doyle. "Our new ratings and reviews feature harnesses the power of this consumer sentiment to aid drivers when they're on the road and help convenience stores and gas stations better serve their customers. This recent brand data analysis is just one of countless ways we're looking at the massive amount of feedback we're getting from GasBuddy users."
Here's how the winning brands stacked up:
Cleanest Bathrooms
According to NACS, the Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing, stopping to use the bathroom while on a road trip is the No. 1 reason drivers pull over. Out of 526,702 total restroom ratings, these brands were ranked the best for a pit stop by users:
- Kwik Trip Inc.
- QuikTrip Corp.
- Hy-Vee Inc.
- AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchange Service)
- Sheetz Inc.
Best Coffee
Coffee generates more than 77 percent of hot beverage sales at c-stores, according to NACS. These c-store brands serve the best cup of Joe, according to consumers:
- Wawa Inc.
- Kwik Trip
- QuikTrip
- Hy-Vee
- Sheetz
Best Customer Service
GasBuddy respondents voted 802,812 times to voice which brands went above and beyond. They are:
- Kwik Trip
- QuikTrip
- Hy-Vee
- Wawa
- NOCO Express
Best Overall
Users also rated brands for the best overall experience. Here's who's leaving their mark:
- Kwik Trip
- QuikTrip
- Wawa
- Fred Meyer
- Hy-Vee
GasBuddy's ratings and review feature is available across GasBuddy's entire network. It is displayed on consumers' station's page in the mobile app. From there, users can read and write reviews, vote-up the ones they find helpful, or flag ones that contain offensive or inappropriate content. Users can also see star ratings of the station at a glance and quickly know which categories are well-reviewed.