Wawa, Sheetz and Quiktrip tied for second place nationwide in the third-annual American Customer Satisfaction Index Convenience Store Study released Tuesday, putting all three on 80 out of 100 while Meijer held the top spot by two points. The result leaves Wawa and Sheetz still near the front of the pack among the top US convenience store chains, even as neither could catch Meijer in the latest ranking.
For readers searching now, the timing is simple: the new survey reset the standings this week and showed where shoppers are happiest with their neighborhood stop for food, fuel and speed. Wawa and Sheetz customers across the country were equally satisfied for the second year in a row, and both chains remain fixtures in a contest that now depends as much on the app and the visit as on what sits behind the counter.
The national tie also tells a more complicated story underneath the headline. Both Wawa and Sheetz dropped two points from last year, even as each stayed among the leaders. That keeps the rivalry tight, but not evenly spread. Wawa narrowly beat Sheetz for the Northeast top spot, which includes Pennsylvania and New Jersey, while Sheetz tied BP and Shell for second there. Wawa also once again claimed first place in the South, just above Sheetz, and it was the only chain to take the top spot in two regions.
The study’s authors said convenience stores have been losing ground slightly overall, with customer satisfaction down 1% among all convenience stores in 2026. They pointed to declining mobile-app quality, layout and store cleanliness, the same areas that now shape whether a visit feels easy or frustrating. Inside the industry, the pressure is not small: food service now accounts for more than 28% of sales and nearly 40% of gross profit, while about 15% of customers picking up prepared foods chose a convenience store instead of a quick-service restaurant.
That helps explain why the national ranking matters beyond bragging rights. Consumers are drawn most to stores with accessible locations, convenient hours, dependable food and beverages, and quick service, the mix that has kept Wawa and Sheetz competitive even as the market changes. Wawa has about 1,200 stores in 13 states and Washington, D.C., with expansion reaching Florida and Kentucky, while Sheetz has about 800 stores in seven states. Lori Bruce said Monday that Wawa appreciates being included in the list and is proud of the role the chain and other convenience store brands play in consumers’ daily lives. The next test will be whether those strengths can offset the softer scores that kept both chains behind Meijer nationally and why Wawa could edge Sheetz in the Northeast while still sharing second place overall.
