QuikTrip among top convenience stores for food in national survey
QuikTrip ranks among the top convenience stores when it comes to food, according to a recent national survey.
The Tulsa-based convenience chain ranked third in the latest dunnhumby Retailer Preference Index which ranked retailers for food in the $291 billion U.S. convenience, dollar and drug markets.
The index was compiled using a survey of 5,500 households and an analysis of consumer emotional sentiment and preference for 37 of the largest retailers.
A Wisconsin-based chain with a similar name, Kwik Trip, took top honors in the survey followed by the East Coast chain Wawa.
“Even though we think we should have been No. 1, this shows we’ve made remarkable progress,” said QuikTrip spokesman Mike Thornbrugh. “When we introduced fresh food we knew it would take a long time to get to where we want to be. This shows we still have a lot of work to go.”
The index found that convenience, price, quality, discounts, and digital shopping options are drivers for customer preference.
Customers also prefer stores that are meal destinations with ready-toeat, fresh produce and healthy food options.
“The goal of our study is to understand macro trends in the convenience space, and to provide retailers with a benchmark for how they are performing on the different drivers of consumer preference,” said Jose Gomes, president of North America for dunnhumby.
When QuikTrip introduced its fresh kitchen concept, the main offering was large sandwiches. That was a little off the mark, Thornbrugh admitted, because the store’s core customer is someone on the go in their car and the large sandwiches were difficult to eat with one hand.
Since then the menu has expanded and evolved. The current iteration includes breakfast bowls, sandwiches, wraps, pizzas and breakfast burritos.
“We just opened our first store in San Antonio last week and with that we launched some different foods we are not carrying everywhere else — including breakfast tacos,” Thornbrugh said. “Sales have been through the roof, and if we can continue that trend, we will bring those items everywhere we operate.”
Other recent menu additions include madeto-order subs in addition to the grab-and-go subs that are already prepared.
“It’s one thing to have good, quality food. That’s extremely important. On the other side, we have to be able to prepare very fast, consistently and our employees have to be trained to do it the right way.”
60th anniversary
QuikTrip also is quietly celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
While its 50th anniversary was heralded with celebratory events and specials as a token of customer appreciation, this anniversary is geared toward the employees.
“We wanted to thank them for all of their efforts and for sticking with us,” Thornbrugh said.
All employees, except for executive management, received cash bonuses as well as backpacks full of QT regalia.
“You just can’t celebrate every milestone. I’m sure we’ll have another big blowout for our 75th,” Thornbrugh said.
Since opening its first store in 1958, QuikTrip has seen phenomenal growth including the introduction of gasoline sales, food, changes in management style and the style of the stores.
The company now has more than 750 locations and 20,000 employees.
One thing constant during that time has been the company culture.
“The best way to describe it is when you go inside a store and see the men and women in those red shirts. They are bright and courteous and bend over backward to make your shopping experience the best,” Thornbrugh said.