Some of the fastest growing chains in the c-store industry are super regional powerhouses that have developed strong foodservice programs and loyal followings over the years.
Chains like Wawa, Sheetz and QuikTrip are betting the strategies that made them successful in their home regions will also resonate with consumers in new markets — particularly as competitors like 7-Eleven struggle to get their foodservice operations in order.
In areas like the Midwest and Southeast, these super regionals are redrawing long-standing competitive battle lines and pressuring incumbent players to step up their game. For example, over the past five years, Northeast stalwart Wawa has opened more than 100 stores in the Southeast and introduced more than a dozen stores across states like Ohio and Indiana, according to data from the National Association of Convenience Stores.
Super regionals’ growth plans have begun to intersect, setting up battles that industry observers will be eagerly watching. Indiana, for one, recently welcomed its first QuikTrip and Wawa stores right down the street from each other.
As these super regional chains continue to grow and sharpen their operations, here’s a closer look at how five key players have expanded over the past several years.
Note: All data comes from NACS’ “Top 100 Convenience Retailers” research released in March from 2022 through 2026.
5 rapidly growing super regional chains
Wawa
Number of stores: 1,180
Stores added since 2022: 224
Region with highest growth: Southeast
Among super regionals, none have more aggressively moved into new markets than Wawa. Since 2022, the chain has more than doubled the number of states where it operates.
And the company has been anything but quiet about its growth strategy. Its CEO has publicly outlined a plan to reach 1,800 stores in the coming years, and its expansion into new territories has been trumpeted by local news and presaged by a company roadshow in some areas.
Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and Indiana are just a few of the states where Wawa has made its debut in recent years. In each of these places, the company has not just introduced itself but outlined a plan to build store density. In North Carolina, for instance, Wawa plans to open around 80 stores in the eastern part of the state through 2033.
Powering this growth is a strong focus on foodservice and operational innovation, making Wawa one of the most formidable competitors in the c-store industry.
Sheetz
Number of stores: 814
Stores added since 2022: 178
Region with highest growth: Midwest
Sheetz’s expansion may not be as far-flung as Wawa’s, but like its fellow Pennsylvania-based competitor, it too is focused on zooming into new states.
The chain opened its first Michigan location in 2024 and expects to operate nearly 20 stores in the state by the end of this year. Indiana is also on Sheetz’s roadmap, with plans to spend nearly $1 billion over the next decade to open more than 100 locations.
Sheetz, which has stores in seven states, has also fleshed out its footprint in markets where it has long operated. In Ohio, where Sheetz debuted 30 years ago, it recently added dozens of stores and expects to open a distribution center in Findlay later this year.
The chain’s eye-catching foodservice menu and edgy marketing will no doubt keep competitors on their toes as this expansion drive continues.
Kwik Trip
Number of stores: 906
Stores added since 2022: 135
Region with highest growth: Midwest
Kwik Trip’s growth has focused on the Central and Midwest regions where it has long operated stores. Occasionally it will move into a new state, as it did late last year when it debuted in North Dakota with a Kwik Star location.
So far this year, Kwik Trip has opened several locations in its home state of Wisconsin as well as Iowa. All told, the company operates 923 stores across its Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Kwik Spirit and Stop N Go banners, according to its website.
As it’s expanding, the food-focused chain is also remodeling stores at a steady clip. The retailer’s project manager of store engineering told C-Store Dive last year the chain typically updates 10 to 20 stores annually. In some cases, it’s adding space — like a store in Rochester, Minnesota, that recently got 1,800 square feet of additional space, including an expanded retail floor and kitchen area.
QuikTrip
Number of stores: 1,194
Stores added since 2022: 279
Region with highest growth: Southeast
QuikTrip has been firing on all cylinders lately. It recently surpassed Wawa in store count and had the highest organic growth since 2022 of the super regional chains listed in this story, including debuts in states like Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Florida.
That momentum isn’t slowing down. This year, QuikTrip plans to open its first store in Utah, marking its 20th state of operation.
Amid this expansion, QuikTrip is also making significant updates to its stores. In 2020, it introduced a remote travel center format that has led the way in its expansion into states like Florida and Nevada. Last year, the company revamped its self-serve beverage program, and this year it debuted a new store design that’s roomier and even more food focused.
Maverik
Number of stores: 822
Stores added since 2022: 443
Region with highest growth: Central
Utah-based Maverik became a true super regional in 2023, when it acquired the popular Kum & Go chain. Since then, the company has rebranded all of the stores it acquired, signaling confidence that its operating model, including its Bonfire foodservice program, can win over shoppers who were loyal to Kum & Go.
Maverik has been fine-tuning its new footprint by selling off stores, including over two dozen it offloaded to Mega Saver last year. It has also laid off corporate staffers and named new executives as it navigates the integration.
Maverik has its work cut out for it to win over customers in states like Iowa and Missouri, where it hasn’t traditionally operated. But there’s no questioning the company’s ambition to become a top super regional player in the U.S.
