Gas stations used to serve one purpose: To fill up the empty tanks of vehicles. But today, gas stations have gone beyond their function, transforming into the new gastronomic destinations for travelers.
Petroleum companies like Petroleum Wholesale are now teaming up with restaurants to provide customers not just gas but also food options. The company has partnered with food franchises such as Subway and Stake and Shake, holding rights to the entire state of Utah and the Houston Metropolitan area.
This business concept has led to various alliances between oil companies and major restaurant corporations. Through the years, variations have also emerged with some petrol companies opting to provide consumers healthier food choices, while others concentrated on specific menus such as burgers and pizza.
Of this trend, a market research found a 27 percent increase in shipments of pizza ingredients in convenient stores and restaurants located in gas stations. According to Bonnie Riggs, a restaurant industry analyst, stores have ramped up their food offerings and gotten more aggressive at courting people outside their core customer base of young to middle-aged blue-collar men. “They’ve placed a lot of focus on food service and food ready for immediate consumption,” Riggs explained.
Apart from taste and nutrition factor, consumers today are also primarily concerned with food that’s even more affordable and prepared faster than fast food. According to Riggs, to compete, companies need to expand their menus and come up new concepts that provide better customer experience.
Petroleum Wholesale is a privately owned motor fuel distributor that runs Main Street Market, which brings together motor fuel and an assortment of retail offerings. Follow this
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Petroleum Wholesale LP 