Convenience Store Industry Grows to New Store Count Record in 2000; NACS/Trade Dimensions Store Count Shows Increase in Number of U.S. Stores.

Business Editors

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2001

The U.S. convenience store industry continued to grow in 2000, reaching a record 119,751 stores, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).

The new industry figure was announced today in the NACS/Trade Dimensions Official Industry Store Count, reporting data collected by the industry research firm Trade Dimensions.

The industry store count includes figures available through Dec. 31, 2000, and is an increase from the 119,400 stores reported as of year-end 1999.

The industry store count also found that, for the first time, one-store operators make up more than half of the industry.

"That the convenience store industry grew in 2000 in spite of high interest rates, a stagnant stock market, and signs of an economic slowdown is a testament to the overall strength of the industry," said Teri Richman, NACS' senior vice president of strategic alliances and initiatives. "It shows that the value that consumers place on the industry remains at an all-time high, and that the industry is delivering," Richman added.

"The industry store count is the fundamental building block for developing performance measures for the entire industry," said Richman. She added that the data is continually updated, which allows for regular updates and analysis by subcategories, including by the location of the stores, size of the companies, and products and services offered. "The dynamic nature of this data will allow NACS to report new findings and analysis throughout the year," Richman said.

Highlights from the new convenience store industry store count include:

-- A majority of single-store operators: A total of 59,864 of the

119,751 convenience stores are categorized as single-store

operators in the latest store count.

-- Nearly one out of 10 are franchisees: Of the overall store

count of 119,751, roughly 9.2 percent of these stores are

franchised.

-- State-by-state totals rank Texas No. 1: Texas accounts for

more than one in 10 of all U.S. convenience stores, totaling

12,331 stores. The rest of the top five are California (9,482

stores), Florida (7,876), North Carolina (4,892), and New York 

(4,752). Alaska had the fewest stores (133).

-- Three out of four sell motor fuels: A total of 76.1 percent of

all stores sell motor fuels.

"No matter what the size of the convenience store - whether it is a one-store operation or a company of several thousand, there is one consistent element: A convenience store is an anchor business to the neighborhoods of America," said Richman. "With approximately 120,000 convenience stores nationwide, people have convenient and immediate access to food products, beverages, cash, petroleum, and any necessity item. The convenience store has become the gas station, quick-service restaurant, bank, and water cooler of a mobile, time-hungry society."

The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) is an international trade association representing over 2,300 retail and 1,700 supplier members. The U.S. convenience store industry, with approximately 119,750 stores across the country, posted $234 billion in total sales for 1999, with $134 billion in motor fuels sales.

Additional information regarding NACS, and the convenience store and petroleum marketing industry, can be accessed at www.cstorecentral.com.

Trade Dimensions, a Spectra company, and a division of VNU Marketing Information, is recognized as the leading provider of critical information about retail. The Wilton, Conn.-based company has more than 30 years of experience and innovation in developing the most sophisticated, reliable, and widely used retail site databases available.