Inside the Consumer Mind: Putting Convenience in Context

More than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, disrupting almost every aspect of the daily lives of Americans, it’s not surprising that U.S. convenience store shoppers define “convenience” right now foremost as “fast, quick, in-and-out” and “easy, simple, no hassle or stress.” C-store customers want a shopping experience that eases their anxiety over virus concerns, not adds to it, according to the findings of the 2021 Convenience Store News Realities of the Aisle Study, which surveyed 1,500-plus consumers who shop a c-store at least once a month. Other interesting findings from the study include: