With 2025 now in the rearview mirror, we’re looking at the storylines that are shaping up to define the year ahead.

Store expansion, which is always a hot topic in the c-store industry, will take on renewed significance for regional chains. Established players like Wawa and QuikTrip are pressing their advantage by moving into new states, while emerging competitors like Anabi Oil and Oxxo have rapidly expanded through acquisitions. With national players focused on fine-tuning their operations and independents fighting to stay afloat, we expect to see more growth from these mid-sized companies in 2026.

There’s a lot happening inside stores, as well. Companies are introducing new formats that are easier on the eyes, simpler to navigate and more focused on foodservice. Murphy USA, Rutter’s and 7-Eleven were among the retailers that debuted new-look stores in 2025, and we anticipate we’ll see more players follow suit in the year ahead.

All this expansion and store evolution has unsettled the competitive dynamics in regions like the Midwest, where Casey’s and Maverik have made significant gains while Yesway and Kum & Go have all but departed. And competition is only going to stiffen in 2026 as nontraditional players like Walmart and Costco move deeper into c-stores.

The backdrop for all of this, of course, is the state of the economy. As low- and middle-income consumers struggle with rising healthcare costs, anemic job growth and more, many c-store retailers — especially small and mid-size operators — could once again face profitability headwinds.

As 2026 gets underway, here are some of our top stories from the past year highlighting the companies and topics we’ll be watching over the next 12 months.

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