HACKENSACK, NJ — Convenience stores are targeting New Jersey for expansion, capitalizing on residents’ need for time savings, The Record News reports.
"I feel like I just gained an extra hour in my day," said Aidan Escheik to the counter person at a Bogota, New Jersey, Wawa store, as he picked up an order of chicken strips while on a recent lunch break.
Shoppers like Escheik are why the Garden State is attracting chains including Wawa, 7-Eleven and QuickChek.
"We want to build our stores in the path of people with active lifestyles, people on the go," said Dean Durling, chief executive officer and chairman of QuickChek. "We want to be in the path of people going to work, coming from work, lunch time. If we are, then the store takes care of itself."
Both QuickChek and Wawa are rapidly expanding in Bergen and Passaic counties, setting up stores with gasoline pumps and mature foodservice programs.
7-Eleven considers New Jersey an “accelerated growth market,” according to a company representative, and it has opened, or will open, about 30 stores in North Jersey this year, with plans to open at least that number in 2014.
The Record News highlighted aspects of the contemporary convenience store, saying that they “aren’t your grandmother’s convenience stores.”
“The first North Jersey convenience stores were mini-supermarkets, where someone could grab a carton of milk or an ingredient needed to prepare a meal at home. Now, the emphasis at convenience stores is on meals to be consumed on the go, and away from home,” the media outlet said.
"The convenience store is not just seen as the place to get gas anymore, or a quick snack, or a pack of cigarettes," said NACS spokesman Jeff Lenard. "It’s seen as a place to get a fresh cup of coffee or a sandwich or a meal."
New Jersey, and the Northeast in general, is especially suited for the convenience category, Lenard said. "People want their time back. They’ve spent enough time in traffic. They’ve spend enough time driving around, whether for work, or chores or driving the kids to their weekend activities."
Durling said his company’s sandwiches and soups stand up against the best fast-casual restaurant offerings in quality and price. As a result, he said he isn’t competing against just convenience stores, but also against Panera Bakery Cafés, Au Bon Pain, coffee shops, and Dunkin’ Donuts.