PDI and GasBuddy Release New "Tracking Convenience Report: From the Pump to the C-Store"

Insights reveal how convenience retailers and brands can leverage evolving consumer behaviors in the store and at the pump

ATLANTA, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PDI Technologies, a global leader delivering powerful solutions and insights that serve as the backbone of the convenience retail and petroleum wholesale ecosystem, today released the latest iteration of its "Tracking Convenience Report: From the Pump to the C-Store," an in-depth analysis of key developments in the convenience retail and fuel market.

The report encompasses data from PDI Technologies and GasBuddy, a PDI company, and covers the latest industry trends. Key findings reflect how evolving consumer behavior in-store and at the pump impacts the convenience ecosystem, including data on year-over-year trends for in-store category sales and affinities that help drive pump-to-store conversion. The report also provides actionable insights and analysis for fuel retailers, wholesalers, and CPG brands.

Key findings from the report:

• Retailers pivot to foodservice. In 2023, many retailers prioritized foodservice and dispensed drinks, mitigating some of the lower growth rates in the largest traditional in-store sales categories.
• Falling gas prices bring good news. Lower fuel costs year-over-year helped contribute to an overall recovery in trips and greater predictability about what c-store operators could expect across dayparts.
• New products make a big splash. A product spotlight on a major energy brand's product launch reveals how new products can help brands rekindle relationships with loyal customers and attract new ones.

"Lower gas prices are a win-win for both consumers and convenience retailers," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "For households feeling the pinch of inflation, paying less at the pump provides some much-needed financial breathing room. For retailers, lower gas prices mean more customers are likely to hit the road and make an extra trip to their stores. With fuel costs less of a deterrent, there's more opportunity to entice drivers to come inside and make additional purchases while they're filling up."

"In-store trips over the last year reflect the dynamics of consumers who continue to spend at high rates and others who are more acutely feeling inflation impacts," said Greg Crow, Vice President of Insights at PDI. "It remains critically important to purposefully engage consumers who might not typically make it inside the store. Understanding the connection between fuel prices and in-store shopping habits can help both retailers and brands build customer loyalty and drive sales growth."

To learn more, download the full report: Tracking Convenience Report: From the Pump to the C-Store.

About PDI Technologies

With 40 years of industry leadership, PDI Technologies, Inc. resides at the intersection of productivity and sales growth, delivering powerful solutions that serve as the backbone of the convenience retail and petroleum wholesale ecosystem. By "Connecting Convenience" across the globe, we empower businesses to increase productivity, make informed decisions, and engage faster with their customers. From large-scale ERP and logistics operations to loyalty programs and cybersecurity, we're simplifying the industry supply chain for whatever comes next. Today, we serve over 200,000 locations worldwide with solutions like the Fuel Rewards® program and GasBuddy®, two popular brands representing more than 30 million users. Visit the PDI Technologies website.

About GasBuddy

GasBuddy is the leading fuel savings platform providing North American drivers with the most ways to save money on gas. GasBuddy has delivered more than $3.5 billion in cumulative savings to its users through providing real-time gas price information at 150,000+ stations, offering cash back rewards on purchases with brand partners, and through the Pay with GasBuddy™ payments card that offers cents-off per gallon at virtually all gas stations across the US. As one of the most highly rated apps in the history of the App Store, GasBuddy has been downloaded over 100 million times. Acquired by PDI Technologies in 2021, GasBuddy's publishing and software businesses enable the world's leading fuel, convenience, QSR and CPG companies to shorten the distance between the fueling public and their brands. For more information, visit www.gasbuddy.com.

For more information, contact: [email protected] 

SOURCE PDI Technologies