Why Americans Are Obsessed With These Convenience Stores

CNBC Marathon dives into the world of convenience stores.

One of America’s largest convenience store chains, Wawa, has gained a cultlike following in its home markets of Philadelphia and South Jersey due to its sharp focus on food and customer service. Its revenue is estimated to have more than doubled since 2014, and its workforce has grown nearly 90% since 2016 as it rapidly expands to other areas of the country. So, can the nearly $19 billion convenience chain take on major chains and local players like 7-Eleven, Buc-ee’s and Casey’s General Stores?

America’s largest convenience store chain, 7-Eleven, is going through a major transformation. Its new CEO, Stephen Dacus, wants to make its stores more like its Japanese locations where the focus will be on freshly made food. Watch the video to learn more about how parent company Seven & i Holdings is investing billions to give a makeover to the home of the Slurpee and Big Gulp.
Casey’s General Stores is the third-largest convenience store chain by size and the fifth-largest pizza chain in the U.S. Aside from its focus on food service, the company has carved out a niche by going after small towns with populations of 20,000 people or less. Its share price has grown nearly 200% between September 2020 and September 2025. Can the Iowa convenience giant keep its impressive momentum?

This CNBC Marathon examines the future of convenience retail and what it will take for the industry’s biggest players to stay ahead.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:10: How Wawa Is Beating Fast Food Companies At Their Own Game (Published October 2025)
10:33: Why U.S. 7-Elevens Are Adopting Japan’s Playbook (October 2025)
19:13: How Casey’s Became One of America’s Biggest Pizza Chains (Published September 2025)

Produced by: Natalie Rice
Edited by: Mike Heffron, Evan Lee Miller, Nic Golden Henry
Additional Camera: Jason Reginato, Emily Park, Mallory Brangan, Gabriel Cortes
Senior Director of Video: Tala Hadavi
Additional Editing: Isabel Iino
Additional Footage: AP Photos & Newsroom, Getty Images, United Dairy Farmers, Wawa, WCAU, 7-Eleven, Casey’s General Stores, Seven & i Holdings
Additional Sources: Pitchbook

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Why Americans Are Obsessed With These Convenience Stores

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