C-Stores Change with the Times

There are few Years more turbulent in the history of the convenience store industry than 1990. Just prior, the total number of c-stores had peaked at 83,000 in the late 1980s. The market was overcrowded and big chains were cutting excessive inventory. The number of locations fell to 71,200 in the next few years. Over this period, industry profits dropped a staggering 75%.