Interesting [concerning] stats from survey sees other retailers take fuel sales from petro-convenience

Monday 25 August 2008

According to research and consulting firm TNS Retail Forward (U.S.) non traditional gasoline retailers, including supercentres, supermarkets and warehouse clubs, are siphoning some of the convenience store industry’s gasoline shopper base.

The survey conducted a nationally representative sample of 4,000 U.S. primary household shoppers and found that one-third of shoppers are buying most of their gasoline at alternative outlets, up from 22 per cent just three years ago.

Alternative gasoline retailers now capture an estimated 13 per cent of U.S. gasoline sales and continued high gasoline prices are making alternative players’ cents-off promotions very attractive.  

The report went on to say that “aggressive fuel-reward programs combined with the convenience of one-stop shopping makes it no surprise that more shoppers are filling up at these alternative outlets.”