3 Big Numbers is a weekly column that looks at a few key details from around the c-store industry.
Parkland’s tumultuous 2025 got more contentious this month as its largest shareholder not only put forward a competing set of board nominees, but also said quickly replacing CEO Bob Espey is one of its top priorities.
Espey is stepping down by the end of the year, but his tenure could be cut much shorter if Simpson’s nominees win. Whoever’s in charge for the rest of the year will need to handle not just the search for a new CEO, but also an extensive strategic review, which could result in a sale of the company.
We’ve covered that kerfuffle extensively. And while that’s been going on, several larger retailers shared their own big plans for growth or changes in leadership. In today’s “3 Big Numbers,” we look at QuikTrip adding a new state to its footprint, Walmart planning big inroads into the c-store space and Seven & i’s board leadership succession plan.
1,149
The total number of QuikTrip locations as of its debut in Indiana.
There’s been plenty of talk about the expansion plans from Wawa, Buc-ee’s and Casey’s General Stores. But QuikTrip has been quietly expanding its reach as well.
As of its first opening in Indiana this month, there were 1,149 QuikTrip locations in the U.S. That’s an increase of more than 10% from a little over a year ago, according to NACS and NielsenIQ data. From 2023 to 2024, QuikTrip’s footprint grew nearly 7%.
Besides Indiana, QuikTrip’s nationwide expansion over the past couple of years has included opening its first convenience stores in Ohio and Nevada in 2024, as well as upcoming debuts in Kentucky, Florida and Utah.
12.5%
The expected growth of Walmart’s c-store footprint from December 2024 to the end of 2025.
QuikTrip managed about 10% store count growth in over a year, which is phenomenal. But Walmart is no slouch, either. In December, Walmart opened its 400th fuel station. By the end of this year, it hopes to have about 450, for a gain of 12.5%.
There are a few reasons that a c-store boom from Walmart might be concerning for other convenience retailers. First, the big-box retailer has nearly unparalleled buying and bargaining power. That allows it to offer the same everyday low prices inside its convenience stores as it does in its big-box locations.
Walmart also has an advantage when it comes to location. While it may need local approvals to put in fuel tanks or for other changes, it doesn’t need to find and purchase sites. With more than 4,600 Walmarts in the U.S., the retailer has plenty of real estate already at its disposal where it could add c-stores.
35
The number of years that Seven & i’s new executive chairman, Junro Ito, has worked for the company.
Seven & i, parent company of 7-Eleven, has had a wild 2025 so far. It came into the year weighing a takeover bid from Alimentation Couche-Tard, parent of Circle K. Since January, it has also announced a CEO shift, the planned IPO of its North American operations and a veritable conga line of board changes.
Among these changes is vice president and representative director Junro Ito taking on the role of executive chairman. In that position, Ito “will focus on fostering relationships with broader stakeholders, including employees and franchisees,” as well as working closely with incoming CEO Stephen Dacus, according to a letter from Seven & i on the change.
Ito is new in the position but has a long history with Seven & i. He’s a member of the founding family and has worked in and around 7-Eleven since 1990, according to his bio on the company website. While much of his career has been with 7-Eleven Japan, he’s been a director of Seven & i since 2009. All that institutional knowledge should be helpful as Seven & i’s first non-Japanese CEO takes the wheel.
