Food Quality: C-store’s Key to Competing with QSRs

The convenience store (c-store) landscape is changing. While c-stores continue to provide quick, convenient options for busy consumers, leading brands are setting themselves apart with exceptional food quality, consistent service, and spotless environments.

With many c-store chains investing heavily in food, the opportunity to compete directly with quick-service restaurants (QSRs) has never been greater. In fact, brands like Casey’s have leveraged high-quality food offerings to become industry leaders—Casey’s is now the 5th largest pizza chain in the U.S.¹

But while food quality is the #1 driver of restaurant choice, it does not yet rank among the top reasons consumers visit c-stores.

Data-Driven Insights: How Food Quality Impacts Sales

Steritech’s analysis of 180,000 food quality assessments across QSRs and c-stores in 2023-2024 identified three key factors that shape food quality perceptions:

• Food Preparation Procedures: Adherence to recipes, proper ingredient usage, and consistency in food assembly.
• Food Appearance: Freshness of produce, presentation of prepared items, and quality of baked goods.
• Time Labeling for Food Quality: Holding times for fried foods, storage practices, and temperature control.

Additionally, we found a direct link between food quality and online review ratings—c-stores scoring 88.5 or higher on food quality assessments tended to maintain Google ratings above 3.5 stars.²

Where Should C-Stores Focus?

To drive revenue and customer loyalty, c-stores must focus on the factors that truly matter to consumers:

• Is the food fresh, crisp, and well-prepared?
• Are team members properly trained on food assembly, allergens, and handling?
• Is the store maintaining consistent quality across locations?

Best Practices from QSRs for Improved Food Quality

Steritech’s assessment data highlights five key best practices that c-stores can adopt to improve food quality and food safety:

1. Ongoing Training & Coaching: Reinforce brand standards to prevent inconsistencies.
2. Accountability & Follow-Up: Ensure corrective actions are taken after assessments.
3. Monitoring & Documentation: Track compliance and quality trends across locations.
4. Time & Task Management: Maintain schedules for cooking, holding, and serving.
5. Strict Labeling Protocols: Ensure proper food holding and discard times.

Gain a Competitive Edge with Expert Insights

With the right food quality strategies, c-stores can increase foot traffic, improve guest experience, and drive higher sales.

1 Hanson, Angela. “Casey's Goes All In on Pizza & Beer,” Convenience Store News. Published October 8, 2023. Accessed October 25, 2024. 

2 “Convenience Store Brand Experience: Expectation vs. Execution.” Steritech. Published November 2022