Meijer has taken the top spot in customer satisfaction among convenience stores, according to a recent national ranking.

The Grand Rapids-based retailer’s score rose 5% to 82 in the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index Convenience Store Study, up from 78 last year when it ranked at No. 9.

The improvement for Meijer comes as national convenience store chains expand their presence in Michigan, including Sheetz, which opened its first Michigan store in 2024 and has announced plans for dozens more locations across southeast Michigan.

Meijer’s national score of 82 was two points higher than the three brands that all ranked second nationally: Sheetz, QuikTrip and Wawa.

In a statement Thursday, Meijer said it was honored to be recognized by customers as the top convenience store brand in the country.

“Customers are increasingly looking for value and convenience, and our mPerks rewards program and Meijer Express stations offer both in a format that is easily accessible while fueling up or on the road,” the statement read. “Our team puts a lot of effort into making sure visiting our Meijer Express locations is a great experience.”

The ACSI report noted Meijer Express’ connection to the retailer’s broader mPerks loyalty program, which allows customers to earn and redeem rewards across groceries, merchandise and fuel. Quick ID allows customers to earn points at the pump.

The ACSI also noted Meijer’s continued price investment and new store openings as supporting the company’s upward movement. For example, Meijer recently opened a smaller, 75,000-square-foot Meijer Grocery store in Livonia.

Convenience stores are asking customers to do more inside the businesses and more on apps than ever before, Forrest Morgeson, associate professor of marketing at Michigan State University and director of research emeritus at the ACSI, said in a release. While customers are embracing expanded services such as mobile ordering and loyalty programs, those additions also raise expectations.

“The industry has figured out what to sell,” he said. “Now the experience of buying it has to catch up.”

Here are the 2026 customer satisfaction scores for convenience store brands, ranked from highest to lowest:
Brand 2026 score Change from 2025
Meijer 82 +5%
QuikTrip 80 0%
Sheetz 80 -2%
Wawa 80 -2%
Kwik Trip 79 -6%
Murphy USA 79 +1%
Buc-ee’s 77 -3%
Maverik 77 -1%
Pilot 77 N/A
RaceTrac 77 -1%
Shell 77 +3%
All Others 76 N/A
Casey’s General Store 76 +1%
Speedway (7-Eleven) 76 0%
Circle K 75 -1%
Exxon Mobil 75 -3%
GetGo 75 -1%
Love’s 75 -5%
7-Eleven 74 -1%
ampm (BP) 74 +1%
BP 74 0%
Marathon 74 -1%
Chevron 73 -4%
Cumberland Farms 71 -5%
Quik Stop 71 -4%
Sunoco 71 -5%
Fas Mart 69 N/A

Sheetz, which ranked second nationally along with QuikTrip and Wawa with a score of 80, opened its first Michigan store in Romulus in 2024 and has announced plans for dozens of additional locations in the state.

The Pennsylvania-based company’s expansion has drawn pushback in some communities, with residents and local officials raising concerns about traffic, noise, lighting and the impact on existing businesses. Some proposed locations have been rejected, while others have moved forward after contentious public meetings.

In the Midwest alone, Sheetz had the highest customer satisfaction score of any convenience store brand, at 83. Meijer scored 82 in the region.

The ACSI said customers continue to value convenience stores for accessible locations, convenient hours, dependable food and beverages, and fast checkout. The surveys were conducted over a 12-month period ending in September 2026.

cwilliams@detroitnews.com

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan retailer beats Buc-ee’s, moves to No. 1 spot in satisfaction

Reporting by Candice Williams, The Detroit News / The Detroit News

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