Pizza Trends: Are C-Stores Carryout Contenders?

In most major metropolitan markets, grabbing a pizza at a gas station can feel like a last resort. Sure, it's convenient, but more consumers don't expect much beyond that. But the landscape is shifting. Convenience stores (C-Stores) are no longer just pit stops. They're rapidly evolving into legitimate players in the carryout pizza scene, and in some smaller markets, they are leading the pack.

Armed with tech-enabled service, compact menus, and increasingly loyal customer bases, C-stores are beginning to challenge traditional pizza brands on their own turf. And that’s not just speculation. It’s in the data.

The 2025 Pizza DELCO Study, powered by mystery shoppers across North America, highlights the most surprising pizza trend—comparing key performance areas of C-stores versus large and mid-sized pizza chains in the carryout category. From speed to satisfaction, accuracy to temperature, the results might surprise you.

What the Data Says About C-Store Carryout

1. C-Stores Landed Just 1% Behind Large Pizza Chains in Satisfaction

C-stores nearly matched large pizza chains in overall satisfaction, coming in just one percentage point behind.

• They also beat mid-sized chains in this category, showing how rapidly expectations are shifting.
• It’s a wake-up call for traditional brands who assumed C-stores weren’t real contenders in the pizza industry.

2. Taste Ratings Hit 86%. And Not from a Pizza Chain

Think the pizza giants have taste locked down? Not so fast.

• C-stores recorded an 86% taste satisfaction rating, topping both large and mid-sized pizza chains. It’s a wake-up call for operators relying solely on flavor as their differentiator.
• While expectations for C-store pizza may be lower, their ability to consistently exceed them in areas like taste position them as a serious contender in the carryout space.
• In regional markets especially, C-stores are dominating flavor satisfaction, and customers are noticing.

Could this mark a shift in what customers prioritize in their pizza experience? Is improving customer experience in restaurants the key to stay ahead for pizza brands? 

3. The Only Perfect Score in Temperature Satisfaction: 100%

If you think customers won’t notice lukewarm pizza, think again.

• C-stores led the pack in food temperature satisfaction, hitting a flawless 100%.
• Faster handoffs, smaller menus, and simpler prep may give them the edge here.
• Pizza chains weren’t far behind (large chains scored 98%, mid-sized scored 97%), but the question remains: why aren’t they winning this?

4. Speed of Service Satisfaction for C-Stores Fell to 80% in the Carryout Lane

Here’s where the C-store edge softens. While they dominate in temperature and taste, speed tells another story.

• C-stores posted an 80% satisfaction score for speed, falling short of mid-sized pizza chains (85%) and even further behind large brands.
• C-store orders were 2 minutes and 35 seconds slower than the study average.
• They only met their estimated pickup time 67% of the time, a stat that underwhelmed even compared to pizza chains.

5. C-Stores Had the Lowest Order Accuracy at 88%

Accuracy may not be as flashy as taste or speed, but it’s arguably more important. 

• The study showed that satisfaction rose by 31 percentage points when orders were accurate.
• At just 88%, C-Stores accuracy rating lagged behind both large and mid-sized pizza chains.
• Whether it’s due to pre-made models or lack of staff training, order execution is still an Achilles’ heel for C-stores.

Explore all the key insights from our Pizza DELCO study here: Key Pizza Trends.

What Pizza Chains Can Learn from the C-Store Playbook

Convenience Isn’t Just About Location Anymore 

Being nearby used to be enough. If you were on the customer’s route home or close to the office, you won. But today’s convenience market is driven by more than geography.

C-stores like Buc-ee’s and Wawa have built almost cult-like followings around their food options, because of how they operate. Mobile ordering, pre-packaged meals, and checkout that feels frictionless have redefined what “convenient” really means.

They’ve evolved from impulse stops to intentional food destinations. If QSRs are still relying on proximity alone, they’re already behind. Streamlining ordering, optimizing pickup, and making every step easy is the new standard. Because when customers walk in, they’re not comparing you to the pizza place next door. They’re comparing you to the best experience they’ve had anywhere.

More on this in our Pizza Delivery and Carryout Study. Download now for the full insight!

Taste Is No Longer a Guaranteed Advantage

The assumption that traditional pizza chains always win on flavor doesn’t hold up in the pizza statistics as some C-stores are now outperforming in taste satisfaction.

Of course, consumers often have lower expectations for food from a gas station, which may give C-stores an edge when they exceed those expectations. Still, this doesn’t downplay their growing impact. In many smaller regional markets, C-stores are dominating the conversation by serving food people actually enjoy.

For traditional pizza brands, this means rethinking how they differentiate, whether through fresh ingredients, signature recipes, or chef-curated menu options. Whatever it is, make it consistent.

Learn more about the impact of friendliness as a major differentiator in the pizza industry. 

Speed Is Still a Battleground

C-stores may have stumbled on speed, but the bar isn’t high, and that’s the opportunity for QSRs.

But don’t just aim to be faster. Make it obvious. Think: smarter order staging, tighter quoted times, clearer signage, and handoff areas that don’t confuse your customers or slow them down. In an industry where minutes feel like hours, speed is an emotional trigger.

While C-stores are still figuring out the logistics, pizza chains have a chance to make speed a signature part of their experience.

Accuracy Builds Trust, and C-Stores Haven’t Caught Up

A major part of service: Get the order right.

C-stores came in last on order accuracy in the 2025 pizza statistics, and the consequences are real. The data showed a jump of 31 percentage points in satisfaction when orders were accurate. That’s a loyalty lever pizza chains can pull right now.

Pizza brands need to build processes that prioritize accuracy, empower staff to double-check every handoff, and create easy ways to fix mistakes when they happen. C-stores are still ironing out the kinks. But your teams can turn accuracy into one of your biggest trust builders by improving restaurant efficiency. 

Closing the Carryout Gap Using CX Insights

Mystery Shopping: See What the Customer Sees

You don’t need to guess how your team compares to C-stores. Mystery shopping programs give you that unbiased, in-the-moment view of the guest experience—at every location.

With mystery shopping, you can:

• Benchmark service performance across formats. See how your stores stack up against both traditional and C-store competitors.
• Identify breakdowns in speed, accuracy, and hospitality that aren’t visible from internal reporting.
• Pinpoint training needs, tied to inconsistent execution or missed service expectations.
• Track progress over time, so you know if your improvements are actually improving the guest experience.
  

When the C-store down the block is gaining traction, mystery shopping helps ensure you’re not giving up ground on execution. Want to evaluate your carryout performance? Explore our Mystery shopping programs.

Eager to know how to get started? Read more on the Key Steps to Launch a Mystery Shopping Program.

Digital Form and Checklist Software: Power Operational Excellence from the Inside Out

Speed and accuracy aren’t just customer-facing issues. They’re rooted in what happens behind the scenes. That’s why digital checklists for your operations are essential.

With a Digital Form and Checklist Software, your team can:

• Follow daily procedures with precision, ensuring hot, fresh, accurate orders leave the counter.
• Spot operational issues early, like missing stock or cleanliness lapses that impact guest impressions.
• Maintain speed and consistency during rushes by eliminating guesswork in task execution.
• Log accountability, so managers know what’s done, what’s missed, and what needs follow-up.

From food quality to speed to presentation, this is the layer that keeps everything running right.
Book a demo of IntouchCheck^® and see what better operations can look like.

The Real Competition Is Just Down the Street, And It Is a Call to Evolve

The pizza trends show us that C-stores are gaining ground in the carryout game and the challenge is clear.  But the path forward for pizza chains and QSRs isn’t to imitate them—it’s to double down on what they do best.

Now is the time to modernize operations, personalize service, and focus on the ingredients that make your brand unique. You don’t need to compete on C-store terms. You need to win on your own, through better taste, tighter execution, and a standout carryout experience.

Want to see how the top brands are doing it? Get the Inside Slice on 2025’s Pizza Trends.