Offering free java to loyalty program members proved successful for Penn.-based retailer
BOSTON — Gas stations and convenience stores seized a marketing opportunity with National Coffee Day on Sept. 29. Across the nation consumers enjoyed free or close-to-free, hot, cold, flavored, or unflavored coffee. GasBuddy, the only smartphone app connecting drivers to their Perfect Pit Stop, today reveals whose coffee deals brought in the most caffeinated consumers during the holiday.
GasBuddy’s data found that on Sept 29 the average visits per station at Wawa locations nationwide increased 8.4 percent when compared to the previous week, nearly six percent more than the five other retailers included in the study. The deal: members of the Wawa Rewards program received a coupon for a free coffee.
“This shows the importance of loyalty. Anyone can offer a free cup of coffee, but Wawa has created a huge base of loyal customers who can be mobilized with fun and relevant offers,” said Frank Beard, convenience store and retail trends analyst at GasBuddy. “Of course it doesn’t hurt to have quality foodservice. In GasBuddy’s recent study, Wawa captured the top spot for best gas station coffee in six states.”
The runner up was Wawa’s friendly rival, Sheetz. The average visits per station at Sheetz locations nationwide increased 3 percent when compared to the previous week. Sheetz offered free cold brew for anyone who ordered through the Sheetz app.
| Brand | Percentage Change In Average Visits from Previous Week | The Deal |
| Wawa | 8.4% | Members of the Wawa Rewards program will get a coupon for a free coffee. Additionally, non-members can get any size coffee for just a buck through October 14 at Wawa locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. When: September 29 |
| Sheetz | 3.0% | Free cold brew for anyone who orders through the Sheetz app. The offer is good for any size and any flavor cold coffee. When: September 29 |
| 7-Eleven | 2.9% | Buy a morning breakfast sandwich on National Coffee Day ($2) and get a free coffee. When: September 29 |
| Pilot Flying J | 2.7% | Anyone with the myPilot app, can get a free coffee in any size. That includes cold brew. When: September 28-29 |
| Love's | 2.6% | All 24-ounce hot beverages will cost $1. When: September 29 |
| G&M | 1.9% | Stop in and grab a small coffee for 25 cents. When: September 29 |
To learn more about GasBuddy’s location and footfall insight capabilities, visit business.gasbuddy.com.
About GasBuddy
GasBuddy is a smartphone app connecting drivers with their Perfect Pit Stop. GasBuddy is the leader in crowdsourced information to help drivers find the best gas prices, closest stations, friendliest service, cleanest restrooms, tastiest coffee and much more. GasBuddy is the leading source for the most accurate, real-time fuel prices at more than 150,000 gas stations in the U.S, Canada and Australia. The Company’s B2B Retailer Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), known as GasBuddy Business Pages, provide Fuel Marketers and Retailers their best opportunity to maintain their station information, manage their brand, and promote to their target consumer audience.