CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 8, 2025--
dunnhumby, the global leader in customer data science, today announced Buc-ee’s as the top U.S. retailer in the Convenience Retailer Preference Index (RPI), a comprehensive, nationwide brand equity study that examines the approximately $860 billion U.S. convenience market. Buc-ee’s outperformed the other 40 convenience stores surveyed, scoring 17 points higher than Sheetz, which ranked second on the RPI. Wawa, Kwik Trip, and Walmart c-stores round out the top five c-store retailers with each excelling through distinct strategies focused on: quality, affordability, frictionless transactions, visibility, and product variety.
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The Convenience RPI ranks U.S. C-store banners on their ability to deliver customer loyalty and growth beyond fuel. The retailers ranking in the top 13 (first tercile) include a mix of national and regional operators, as well as traditional c-store operators, chains that are extensions of core grocery chains, or traditional gas brands, proving there are multiple pathways to success.
“We're at an inflection point in convenience retail. The stores that are thriving aren't just keeping pace—they're reimagining what matters most to their customers,” said Matt O’Grady, dunnhumby's President of the Americas. “This report spotlights the successful retailers and provides c-store operators actionable insights to benchmark against the leaders, focus their efforts where they'll have the greatest impact, and build the kind of customer loyalty that translates to long-term growth."
Key findings from the study:
Methodology
The Convenience RPI score is a measure of customer perception of the c-store offering, giving more weight to those dimensions that have a stronger association with sustainable retailer results. The study includes the largest 41 c-store retailers in the industry. The financial data used in the dunnhumby model comes from Flywheel, and the customer perception data is sourced from a survey of 10,500 convenience store shoppers in the U.S. The six drivers of the customer value proposition are in order: 1) Quality, 2) Affordability, 3) Frictionless Transactions, 4) Visibility, 5) Product Variety, and 6) Traditional Convenience/Speed.
The RPI can be accessed today. Retailers included in the RPI that are interested in receiving their individual banner profiles can speak with their dunnhumby account executive or contact dunnhumby at dunnhumby.com. dunnhumby will also be attending the NACS Show in Chicago from October 14-17, 2025. Request a meeting here.
About dunnhumby
dunnhumby is the global leader in Customer Data Science, empowering businesses everywhere to compete and thrive in the modern data-driven economy. We always put the Customer First. Our mission: to enable businesses to grow and reimagine themselves by becoming advocates and champions for their Customers.
With deep heritage and expertise in retail — one of the world's most competitive markets, with a deluge of multi-dimensional data — dunnhumby today enables businesses all over the world, across industries, to be Customer First.
The dunnhumby Customer Data Science Platform is our unique mix of technology, software and consulting enabling businesses to increase revenue and profits by delivering exceptional experiences for their Customers – in-store, offline and online. dunnhumby employs over 2,500 experts in offices throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas working for transformative, iconic brands such as Tesco, Coca-Cola, Meijer, Procter & Gamble, Raley's, and L'Oréal.
The dunnhumby Convenience Retailer Preference Index (RPI) ranks U.S. C-store banners on their ability to deliver customer loyalty and growth beyond fuel. The retailers ranking in the top 13 (first tercile) include a mix of national and regional operators, as well as traditional c-store operators, chains that are extensions of core grocery chains, or traditional gas brands, proving there are multiple pathways to success.
NEW HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 28, 2026--
Unilever today unveiled plans to develop a new Global Innovation Center in New Haven, Connecticut, opening by spring 2029. The center will be a leading hub for the company’s research and development for its personal care, beauty and wellbeing businesses in the U.S. and globally.
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The center further propels Unilever’s growth strategy in the U.S. market, raising the bar for research and development in the consumer goods industry and powering the company’s portfolio of innovative and desirable brands. Centrally located in one of the world’s fastest-growing biosciences innovation clusters, the digital-first and AI-powered center will deliver deeper insights to fuel Unilever’s ambition of reshaping product categories. The center will advance how Unilever’s teams of scientists and experts push the boundaries of the fundamental differentiators that make the company’s brands distinct and products desirable: superior science, aesthetics and sensorials.
The center brings together a new and differentiated combination of assets and capabilities that will accelerate breakthroughs and enable Unilever’s brands to bring the next generation of market-making beauty, wellbeing and personal care products to people faster:
The center advances Unilever's strategy to become a sharper, focused personal care, beauty and wellbeing company, built upon shared capabilities across science-led innovation, demand creation and operational execution. Unilever will invest $270 million in the project over the long term, including $50 million in capital expenditure. Total combined investment of public and private funds in the center will exceed $300 million. This investment builds on nearly $15 billion invested in Unilever’s U.S. business over the past decade, across both acquisitions and capital projects.
Approximately 300 employees will work at the center. It will succeed Unilever's existing R&D facility in Trumbull, Connecticut, which has operated since 1972, marking the next chapter of Unilever's long partnership with the State of Connecticut and its scientific community.
Herrish Patel, President of Unilever USA and CEO of Personal Care North America, said:
“New Haven gets us to the future faster. Our Global Innovation Center is where we'll innovate at the intersection of science, technology and culture — for the U.S. and for the world. We will build on our deep heritage of innovation to develop the next generation of brands and products that people love. As part of Unilever’s global network of innovation hubs, the center will connect closely with our other leading locations worldwide, sharing technology, insights, and breakthrough ideas to accelerate innovation at scale. As the U.S. becomes a center of gravity for Unilever, we’re harnessing the best of American innovation to match our growth ambition here in the U.S. and around the world.”
Specific capabilities to be housed at the center include:
Richard Slater, Unilever Chief Research & Development Officer, said:
“Behind every Unilever product is world-leading science that delivers superior performance, combined with design, fragrance and sensory experiences that make our brands distinctive. Our new Global Innovation Center will bring these capabilities together to develop new, category-defining innovations in the U.S., and scale globally. The real shift here is integration and speed: science, design and sensorials working as one, with AI and partnerships accelerating every stage of innovation.”
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said:
“Unilever’s decision to make this investment in New Haven reaffirms Connecticut’s global reputation as a leader in innovation, research and development, and discovery. This innovation center will serve as an important foundational piece for this burgeoning hub that will not only strengthen New Haven’s existing tech centers but will also boost our innovation ecosystem statewide. I am glad we have Unilever as a valued member of Connecticut’s growing business community, and I look forward to this company continuing to succeed here for many years to come.”
About Unilever
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 3.7 billion people every day. We have 96,000 employees and generated sales of €50.5 billion in 2025.
Our leading brands in the U.S. include Dove, Hellmann’s, Vaseline, Degree, Axe, TRESemmé, Knorr, Nutrafol, Liquid I.V., Paula’s Choice, and Dermalogica.
For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com
Rendering of Unilever's future Global Innovation Center in New Haven, opening in spring 2029.
