We said it in PMQ’s Pizza Power Report 2026, and we’ll say it again: So-called “gas station pizza” doesn’t suck anymore. At least, many consumers don’t think so.
Granted, pizza quality is always a matter of opinion, but the average American doesn’t have the refined palate of a pizza chef. A classic joke comes to mind: “Pizza is like sex. When it’s good, it’s great. When it’s bad, it’s still pretty good.”
Convenience stores like Casey’s and 7-Eleven have emerged as a legitimate player in the carryout pizza scene, like it or not. In smaller markets they might even be the only pizza spots you’ll find, and in mid-size communities, there’s one on every corner. That means they’re challenging traditional pizza brands—from chains like Domino’s and Papa Johns to independent shops—on their own turf.
Evidence for C-store pizza power was uncovered in PMQ’s 2025 DELCO Report, a partnership with research firm Intouch Insight, which dispatched pizza-loving mystery shoppers to 10 large and mid-size pizza chains and two major convenience store brands.
Key findings from that report included:
1. C-stores nearly matched large pizza chains in overall satisfaction, lagging behind by just one percentage point behind. Moreover, they beat mid-sized chains in this category, sounding “a wake-up call for traditional brands who assumed C-stores weren’t real contenders in the pizza industry,” as Intouch Insight has noted.
2. Just as surprisingly, C-stores won a taste satisfaction score of 86%, topping both large and mid-size chains. Granted, customers might have lower expectations for a Hunt Brothers pizza, but the C-store chains’ “ability to consistently exceed [pizza restaurant brands] in areas like taste position them as a serious contender in the carryout space,” according to Intouch Insight.
3. Perhaps not as surprisingly, C-stores scored 100% in food temperature satisfaction, hitting a flawless 100%. They barely edged out the large chains (98%) and the mid-size chains (97%), but temperature matters to most customers.
4. On the other hand, C-stores only posted an 80% satisfaction score for speed, falling short of all the large and mid-size pizza brands. C-store orders were 2 minutes and 35 seconds slower than the study average. Additionally, they met estimated pickup time just 67% of the time, a much worse performance than the chains.
5. Their accuracy score could be better, too. Compared to large and mid-size pizza chains, C-stores posted the lowest order accuracy at 88%. The study found that satisfaction rose by 31 percentage points when orders were accurate, and that’s a bit of a problem for convenience stores.
Intouch Insight notes that a convenient location isn’t enough anymore. “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,” the report continued. “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.”
