Forget Buc-ee’s, this is the US’s favorite convenience store, new report shows

(NEXSTAR) – If you had to guess America’s favorite convenience store, the first brand that comes to mind may be Buc-ee’s, especially based on its fandom and regardless of whether you’ve been to one yourself.

You would be wrong, according to a new report.

The latest data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) shows that an entirely different retailer, known primarily for serving an entirely different industry, is the top convenience store brand in the U.S.

More than two dozen brands were considered this year by the ACSI, and then ranked based on their scores across surveyed customers. Benchmarks analyzed included store hours and locations, food quality, store layout and cleanliness, merchandise variety, and even the quality and freshness of coffee.

Topping the list last year was Kwik Trip, the Wisconsin-based fuel chain that has spread throughout the Midwest. The brand slipped slightly this year, ranking third overall on ACSI’s rankings.

Plowing to the top is another Midwest-based brand: Meijer.

You may better recognize the name for the hundreds of grocery stores it operates across six states: its home state of Michigan, as well as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Kentucky. Many of those locations also offer fueling stations, which scored the highest customer satisfaction rates among those surveyed this year.

Meijer improved five points to a score of 82 out of 100 on this year’s report. The ACSI noted that customers appreciate the retailer’s rewards program, which reportedly saved customers $200 million over the previous year.

Meijer did not, however, rank as the top-rated brand in the Midwest, according to the ACSI. That spot was claimed by Sheetz, which edged out Meijer by a single point when broken down by region.

Wawa was the top spot in the Northeast and the South. In the latter, Wawa edged out Buc-ee’s by a single point. In the West, Maverik and QuikTrip tied.

You can view the top convenience store chains and their scores (out of 100), according to ACSI’s customer satisfaction rankings below, and its full study here .

Buc-ee’s, Maverik, Pilot, RaceTrac, and Shell: 77

No convenience store chain fell as much in the rankings as Kwik Trip, which lost six points off last year’s score, ACSI’s data shows. Three chains — Love’s, Cumberland Farms, and Sunoco — dropped five points.

Curiously missing from the list? Costco and Sam’s Club . However, unlike the brands above, you would have to navigate your way into a warehouse to pick up a hot dog and a coffee, rather than walking a few steps from the fuel pump to the convenience store counter.