Head-to-Head Battle of C-Stores v QSRs: Kwik Trip and Culver’s Example

Culver’s is a nationally recognized, traditional QSR chain. Kwik Trip is a convenience store.

Both are based in Wisconsin, both are in the 1st Quartile overall of the QSR RPI. Kwik Trip, number two overall, edges Culver’s, number seven overall.

From a pure penetration perspective, within their home state, Kwik Trip reaches 59% of residents for either breakfast, lunch or dinner. This compares to 53% of residents reached for a meal by Culver’s. Kwik Trip, by this measure, is the most popular QSR for a meal in both retailers’ home territory.

And it’s not hard to see why, looking at the clear advantages Kwik Trip has over Culver’s in Convenience/Speed, Affordability and Product Variety. While Culver’s does have the edge in food taste/quality, the edge is relatively smaller and can’t compensate for the bigger advantages Kwik Trip has in multiple dimensions.

One only has to visit Kwik Trip’s website to see the combination of variety and affordability in action – with sales on things like whole roasted chicken, cheeseburgers and burritos and messaging for a selection of $5 take home meals.