Several C-store Chains Rank Among STORES Top 100 Retailers

Jul 05, 2012
CSNews

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three convenience store chains have landed on the annual STORES Top 100 Retailers list, with 7-Eleven Inc. snagging the highest ranking at No. 35.

Joining the Dallas-based c-store chain are Army Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) at No. 47 and Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. at No. 76. Coming in at No. 1 on the list is Walmart, followed by Kroger at No. 2 and Target at No. 3.

According to the STORES report, 7-Eleven experienced 19.1-percent sales growth last year, while AAFES saw a slight decrease in sales growth of 0.1 percent and Couche-Tard posted 16.6-percent sales growth in 2011. Specifically, the report put 7-Eleven’s 2011 U.S. retail sales at $10,361,000; AAFES’s sales at $8,228,000; and Couche-Tard’s at $4,867,000.

The report also noted that AAFES is among a few one-of-a-kind-retailers on the Top 100 list. The company operates base and post exchanges, which include almost every type of retail format from general merchandise stores to gas stations to online. AAFES has more than 3,100 locations encompassing every state, five U.S. territories and 30 countries.

According to the magazine, drugstore chains such as Walgreen Co. (No. 4) and CVS Caremark (No. 7) continue to expand their food offerings, while supermarket companies like No. 2 Kroger and Whole Foods Market (No. 37) are turning their focus to healthier options. The report also pointed out that some big-box retailers, including Walmart and Meijer (No. 27), are downsizing its store sizes while other retailers like Dollar General (No. 28) and Menard (No. 48) are opening larger stores.