Year in Review: Top Competitor Moves of 2016

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Competitive channels have long been trying to find a way to steal customers from convenience store retailers. But in 2016, the threat was summed up in one word: Amazon.

The online retail giant took steps to open its first brick-and-mortar convenience store with curbside pickups, and even began piloting a physical location that truly blurs the lines between convenience and mobile. 

Still, other competitors made moves to rival their convenience channel counterparts.

These are the top 10 competitor headlines of 2016, as reported by CSNews Online:

1. Amazon to Launch Convenience Stores
Small brick-and-mortar stores, curbside pickup sites in the works.

2. Walgreens to Divest Up to 1,000 Stores for Rite Aid Merger
Plan will ease anti-trust concerns.

3. Dollar General Reveals Small-Format Concept
DBX-branded store will offer immediate-consumption, c-store fare.

4. Digital, Unit Growth Key in Starbucks' Five-Year Plan
High-end Roastery experience will be added to core stores.

5. Amazon's First C-store Begins Testing in Seattle
Tech initiatives build, tally virtual carts.

6. Walmart Scales Back Small-Format Store Plans
Retailer will accelerate e-commerce platform.

7. Dollar General Getting Into Fuel Business
Retailer takes over 37 former Walmart Express locations.

8. CVS Brings Convenience Curbside for Customers
CVS Express offers in-store and over-the-counter items in an hour.

9. Dunkin' Gets On-The-Go Ordering Up & Running
Loyalty members can place orders up to 24 hours in advance and skip the line.

10. On-Demand Delivery Startup Aims to Replace C-stores
goPuff is expanding from its existing nine-city footprint.