Economics
Convenience Stores Are Getting Squeezed by Fast Food and Dollar Stores
- Industry posts weakest merchandise sales growth since 2013
- Gas station retailers face pressure to merge, boost offerings
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The U.S. convenience store industry is facing an inconvenient truth: Americans are changing the way they shop for snacks and drinks.
The nation’s 154,500 convenience stores are getting squeezed by competition from all sides. Fast-food restaurants and supermarkets are slugging it out in price wars, while dollar stores keep popping up everywhere. And Amazon.com Inc. offers quick delivery for basic items. That’s putting pressure on gas-station retail chains to merge.