BALTIMORE, MD – Competition among convenience store chains
in the Baltimore area is strong, with retailers redefining the “convenience”
concept.
The Baltimore Sun writes c-store chains Royal Farms, Wawa
and 7-Eleven “are rushing to build new stores, remodel existing ones, boost
assortments of meals to go and, more often than not, sell gas out front.”
Royal Farms, with 151 stores in four states, is well known
for its fried chicken (fresh, never frozen). It’s also expanding in the
Maryland area, building six of nine new stores this year in the state. The
newspaper adds that Wawa “is opening close to 50 new stores this year in a
six-state area including Maryland, about a third more than last year. And
7-Eleven launched a national push into urban areas, with plans to open up to a
dozen new stores a year in the Baltimore area.”
The three c-store chains strive to sell time back to their
customers, who are “turning more and more to large-format convenience stores
not just for milk and candy, but for a fill-up and dinner, writes the
newspaper.
"People want more convenience, and it just continues to
escalate," said Jeff Lenard, NACS spokesperson. "The reason that
you're seeing growth of convenience stores is … people are continually
redefining convenience. It used to be all that meant was extended hours of
operation, then it became about convenient locations."
Lenard added that many convenience stores are becoming a
go-to place for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
"It's gone from desperation to destination,"
Lenard told the newspaper. "More (stores) are in the food service
business, and you know you can get a good meal. You're seeing where people
expect some of the best places to possibly eat can be at a gas station."