New technologies, advanced loyalty programs helping fuel retailers stay competitive: study
Dover Fueling Solutions (DFS), part of Dover Corporation, has released its newest Retail Rewired: 2026 Fuel & Convenience Trends Report.
The report, done in partnership with National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS)— with insights from fuel and convenience retail business leaders across the U.S. and Canada—highlights how retailers are focusing on cutting costs, growing profits, and modernizing technology to strengthen performance and position their business for future growth.
The report notes that as fuel and convenience retailers face persistent economic headwinds, inflation, and competitive pressure, the report explores where retailers are finding growth and where challenges remain.
“Retailers are under constant pressure to do more with less: maximizing uptime, managing costs, and operating smarter,” said Kendra Keller, vice-president and General Manager, North America, at DFS. “The 2026 Retail Rewired Report shows how the most enterprising operators are finding efficiencies through better visibility and data-driven decision-making – the same principles guiding how we help our customers strengthen performance and profitability.”
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Key trends shaping today’s fuel and c-store retail environment include: Nearly two-thirds of retailers (62%) say using data to cut waste was one of the most effective cost-reduction strategies in the past year; retailers are impacting profit growth by making investments in expanding food offerings (60%), enhancing sites and facilities (47%), and adopting tech-enabled loyalty or promotions (36%); and more than one in four retailers (27%) plan to upgrade their POS systems, optimizing for ROI and prioritizing modern, intuitive integrations across payments, loyalty, and store operations.
“Across survey responses, we saw common threads within the industry emerge,” said Jayme Gough, director of research & development at NACS. “Retailers are focused on controlling expenses where they can, using data to optimize operations, and making smart investments in their particular business strategies, whether that be loyalty, food service, and/or easier-to-use POS systems. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution across the industry, simplifying operations and leveraging technology effectively are two strategies that can be utilized by retailers of any size or location.”
Beyond traditional revenue streams, new opportunities in loyalty, media, and EV charging are helping retailers attract customers, operate more efficiently, and strengthen profitability over time.
“Consumers expect more from a modern c-store than just a place to fuel up,” said Scott Negley, senior director, product management at DFS. “They’re looking for convenience, quality, and speed. Delivering on those expectations requires technology that works together seamlessly. For retailers, this is where modernization pays off. A connected ecosystem linking loyalty, payments, and promotions gives operators the confidence to compete, even amid uncertainty.”
