kwik trip gas brand

Kwik Trip named 2024 Best Gas Station Brand in the country by USA TODAY 10Best

Kwik trip was named the favorite gas station brand in the country and also made the list of best gas stations for food..

Kwik Trip is ranked the best gas station brand in the nation by USA TODAY readers.

The national newspaper announced Wednesday morning its 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Kwik Trip made a couple of lists in the Road Trips division.

Kwik Trip ranked No. 1 in Best Gas Station Brand and came in third for Best Gas Station for Food , behind Royal Farms and Casey’s.

Other Road Trips categories included Best Glamping Spot, Best Luxury RV Resort, Best National Park Lodge, Best Rental Car Company, Best Roadside Attraction, Best Roadside Motel, Best RV Campground and Best Vintage Trailer Hotel.

The awards highlight the best places and attractions in travel, food, drink and lifestyle. Each week, USA TODAY 10Best hosts a panel of industry experts who nominate their favorite places and attractions across a range of categories. 10Best editors look into each nomination and select a set of nominees that readers vote on for four weeks.

Kwik Trip has become a phenomenon.

Wisconsinites will not be surprised that Kwik Trip ranked first in the favorite gas station brand category. Since opening its first location as a neighborhood grocery store in Eau Claire in 1965, the convenience store brand — now based in La Crosse — has grown to a Midwestern convenience store and gas station with almost 900 Kwik Trip and Kwik Star locations in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and South Dakota. As Kwik Trip has continued to grow, it has collected a fan base that turned the brand into a phenomenon.

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin took a deeper dive into the brand and its popularity in 2022.

Part of Kwik Trip's success has been through the use of social media, turning a convenience store and gas station into a more humanized brand voice that connects to its followers. A digital content supervisor told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin that Kwik Trip has used social media platforms to bring the brand to life, listening and learning from its fans and followers.

Kwik Trip has Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat accounts. It even has a Spotify account with more than 160 followers who can listen to the company's "Kwik Trip Checkout" or "Chicken Jammies" public playlists.

Why do people love Kwik Trip?

There are multiple fan groups on social media dedicated to members' love for Kwik Trip, including a Wisconsin Kwik Trip Enthusiast Club, Kwik Trip Enthusiasts Club and even a Kwik Trip Missed Connections group. Some fans have held photo shoots at their local stores, even on prom and wedding days.

In the 2022 article, customers shared with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin why they loved Kwik Trip. Many said they appreciated the company's high standards for cleanliness, helpful and caring employees and a variety of "grab and go" food options. Customers said they feel like they're a person in a Kwik Trip and not just another customer.

Many people love how interactive the brand is on social media, often posting jokes and quips and responding directly to comments on its social media posts. Kwik Trip also leans into its Midwest brand, partnering with various Midwest social media personalities like comedian Charlie Berens and various Green Bay Packers players.

More Kwik Trip news: Would you try a blueberry doughnut-flavored potato chip? You can find them at Kwik Trip.

More Kwik Trip news: She's from Green Bay. He's from the United Kingdom. On their wedding day, they went head over heels at Kwik Trip.

Contact Caitlin at  [email protected]  or follow her on Twitter  @CaitlinShuda .

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Kwik Trip voted best gas station, ranks highly for food in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

Wisconsin’s beloved Kwik Trip is getting its flowers on a national stage. It was named the best gas station brand and ranked highly for its food in the USA TODAY 10BestReaders’ Choice Awards.

Based out of La Crosse, Kwik Trip has become ubiquitous on the region’s roadside and has expansion plans popping up regularly. The USA TODAY awards are a multiphase process: first, the selections are decided by a panel of industry experts, then USA TODAY editors vet those nominations and they're then voted on by readers for four weeks.

In the best gas station brand category, Kwik Trip bested Hy-Vee and Casey’s , which placed second and third.

Meanwhile, for best food, Kwik Trip was in third place, behind Royal Farms and Casey’s.

Kwik Trip has a strong reputation for its food — a collection of hot food items like burgers and fried chicken, as well as packaged goods, including the recently announced limited-release Blueberry Dunker-flavored potato chips.

More: 'See ya next time': How a neighborhood grocery store grew into today's Kwik Trip phenomenon

Buc-ee’s , which intends to build one of the largest gas stations in the world near Madison , placed 10th in both categories.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin's Kwik Trip voted best gas station in USA TODAY reader vote

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USA TODAY 10Best

Fuel your road trip with the top 10 gas stations in the US

Best Gas Station Brand (2024) May 15, 2024

On December 1, 1913, America’s first drive-in gas station opened in Pennsylvania. Instead of hauling gasoline cans from pharmacies, motorists could now pull up, refuel, and keep on driving. As more and more families owned cars (and lived further and further from city centers), fueling stations began popping up along highways across America.

Today, we measure a gas station experience by much more than just the fuel, though. How clean are the bathrooms? How fresh is the coffee? What snack options are available? These 10 brands — selected by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the U.S. — cater to the needs of drivers in all of these ways.

No. 10: Buc-ee's

Texas-based Buc-ee’s operates convenience stores and larger travel centers throughout the South, all known for their immaculate restrooms and massive snack selection (think more than a dozen types of fudge, a deli counter, and house-made potato chips). The Sevierville, Tennessee, location holds the record for World’s Largest Convenience Store.

No. 9: QuikTrip

From the first store in Tulsa, Oklahoma, QuikTrip has expanded to more than 1,000 stores in 17 states. QuikTrip (or QT) is beloved for its made-to-order food (like BBQ sandwiches and breakfast tacos) and soft-serve ice cream, enjoyed alongside a range of convenience store items and grab-and-go snacks.

No. 8: TravelCenters of America

TravelCenters of America spans North America, with more than 270 full-service locations in 44 states. Each site offers a variety of services, including gas and diesel fuel, full-service and fast food restaurants, and travel stores stocked with groceries and snacks, electronics, clothing, and grab-and-go foods. Their friendly staff recognizes that no two travelers are alike, and their goal is to “return every traveler to the road better than they came.”

No. 7: Rutter's

Rutter’s began as a dairy farm in 1921 in York, Pennsylvania. The second generation of the Rutter family founded the convenience store brand, and the third and fourth generations continue to manage it. The food menu ranks among the most extensive for any gas station, with options ranging from burgers and sandwiches to pizza and tacos to fried rice bowls and fried seafood.

No. 6: Maverik

Maverik is a bit like an outdoor adventure store disguised as a gas station. Based in Utah, the company operates more than 400 locations in 12 Western states, all known for their outdoorsy vibe and top-notch food (try the breakfast burrito).

No. 5: RaceTrac

Operating across the Southern United States since 1934, RaceTrac’s stations provide friendly service and competitive, affordable gas prices. Their “Whatever Gets You Going” commitment means offering a rewards program and high-quality foods, from breakfast sandwiches, pizza, and roller grill hot dogs to Swirl World ice creams and yogurts. Don’t forget to grab a beverage or cup of freshly brewed coffee before you leave.

No. 4: Royal Farms

Royal Farms is popular for road trippers because of their clean bathrooms and vast variety of high-quality fast food meals and snacks. More than 200 locations can be found across seven states: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

No. 3: Casey's

Casey’s, found along roadsides in Iowa and several surrounding states, has earned a loyal following for carrying just what you need when you need it. Hungry drivers appreciate the selection of food made in-store, including sandwiches and pizza (their breakfast pizza is particularly popular).

No. 2: Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee, an employee-owned company, prides itself on excellent customer service, with a company slogan of “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle.” Drivers will find these aisles in eight states throughout the Midwest. While the company began as a general store in 1930, it’s expanded to offer adjacent convenience stores and gas stations.

No. 1: Kwik Trip

Kwik Trip, a Wisconsin-based, family-owned company, operates more than 800 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, South Dakota, and Illinois. Their bakeries make more than two dozen different types of items each day, and all milk is sourced from dairy farms within a 100-mile radius of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best .

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Wisconsin’s Own Kwik Trip Earns Crown Of ‘Best Gas Station Brand’ Again In 2024

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You'll be hard-pressed to find anyone in Wisconsin or Minnesota who is surprised by this news.

Following a trend that extends back through recent years, Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip was once again named the best gas station brand in the United States during the USA Today's annual  Reader's Choice Awards . Kwik Trip also placed near the top in a second category of their annual travel awards, too (though I feel like they got robbed on that one).

Kwik Trip earns top honors in "Best Gas Station Brand"

In their 2024 ranking of best gas station brands , USA Today's "10Best" placed Kwik Trip at the very top of their list which is assembled by a panel of experts nominating brands and editors for the publication narrowing the field, when readers then vote on their favorites.

Kwik Trip beat out some other Midwestern favorites in the best gas station brand category, including Hy-Vee (2nd place), and Casey's (3rd place).

As USA Today describes the brand, Kwik Trip is a Wisconsin-based, family-owned company based in La Crosse with more than 800 stores across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, South Dakota, and Illinois.

They also highlight their bakery, which makes more than two dozen different types of products like their Kwikery bread and famous donuts; and their dairy facility, which sources milk from local farms to produce their own milk products, ice cream, and more.

Kwik Trip claims 3rd place in the gas station food category

In their annual 10Best travel awards, gas station food also gets the spotlight in a different category of their annual awards. In their 2024 Best Gas Station Food Readers Choice Awards ranking, Kwik Trip shockingly lands in third place.

East Coast brand Royal Farms took the crown in this year's best gas station food category, edging out Casey's (who took 2nd place) and Kwik Trip, who rounds out the top three.

USA Today highlighted Kwik Trip's baked goods, including their bread, muffins, cookies, bagels, and doughnuts. They also noted the chain's pizza, salads, soups, and fried chicken as notable items.

I'll make the argument Kwik Trip got robbed on this one. I've never been to a Royal Farms, but Kwik Trip's food offerings and their coffees and smoothies all put them at the top in my book.

Responses Heard To 'See You Next Time' In Minnesota & Wisconsin Kwik Trip Stores

Gallery Credit: Nick Cooper

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The 55 gas stations with the best fuel quality for your car

List shows top tier brands offered in the u.s..

For many drivers, when the fuel gauge nears empty they pull into the gas station that is most convenient, or has the lowest price. However, there are subtle differences between various brands and the specific formulations they mix into the fuel. This also means there are certain gas stations with the best quality fuel for your car in 2024.

All gasoline sold in the U.S. meets minimum requirements set by the government. The differences between brands come in the additives and detergents added to the blend to help extend the life of the engine.

Some fuel companies — working with major automakers that include Audi , BMW , Fiat-Chrysler, Ford , General Motors , Honda , Mercedes-Benz , Stellantis, Toyota and Volkswagen — have taken it a step further, setting a higher standard that has become known as Top Tier fuels. Brands that qualify as Top Tier contain additional detergents beyond the minimum requirements, and help prevent carbon buildup in car engines.

Over time, the furnace that is the modern engine will accumulate carbon residue, a byproduct of the motor's combustion process that happens thousands of times per minute. Like barnacles on a boat, carbon deposits can build up on vital engine parts, like valves, pistons and the combustion chamber. As the carbon accrues, engines will run rougher and less efficiently (ie, less power or decreased fuel economy ).

According to one AAA survey , Top Tier fuels left 19 times fewer deposits after simulating driving 4,000 miles in an engine lab. Top Tier fuels also helped clean existing deposits from engines.

To find Top Tier fuel, look for a Top Tier logo on the pump. Any fuel — regardless of octane, and diesel — can qualify for Top Tier status. Thus it is not necessary to get premium fuel if your car only needs regular. However, if your car requires premium, lower octanes could damage the engine.

The following is a list of Top Tier fuel brands available in the U.S. You can also consult the official Top Tier gas website to find the latest updates, as well as Canadian, Mexican, and South American brands that offer it.

The 55 Top Tier fuel brands in the U.S.

• Belmont Car Wash
• Costco Wholesale
• CountryMark
• Diamond Shamrock
• Express Mart (Wisconsin)
• Gold Medal Gasoline
• HFN - Hawaii Fueling Network
• Harmons Fuel Stop
• J&E Wendy
• Kirkland Signature Gasoline
• MFA Oil Petro-Card 24
• Meijer Express
• Ohana Fuels
• Phillips 66
• Ranger Fuel
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• Ranger Stallion
• Ranger Thoroughbred
• Road Ranger
• Simonson Station Stores
• Tobacco Outlet Plus Grocery
• Tulalip Market
• Value America
• Waterway Fuels
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Top Tier Gasoline Worth the Extra Price, Study Shows

An analysis by AAA reveals that gas with detergent additives can keep an engine running smoothly

Not all gasoline is created equal. There is plain old regular, and then there is regular gasoline that meets a higher standard, known as “Top Tier.” The difference between the two is significant, based on an extensive study conducted by AAA in 2016. Testing from that membership group revealed that consumers would be wise to factor the quality of the gasoline into their purchase decision, even if it costs a little more.

What Is Top Tier Gas?

Gasoline is essentially a shared commodity, often stored in common containers until it is purchased by a major retailer. After that, the retailer treats the gas with a specific additive, thereby giving the fuel its brand identity. But are these additives just a dosage of marketing hype?

Top Tier gasoline was developed in 2004 to go beyond the minimum standard for detergent additives to better protect increasingly sophisticated engines from carbon buildup and deposits on the intake valves—which can result in a rough idle, acceleration hesitation, knocking/pinging, and reduced fuel economy .

Over the past 20 years, engines have become far more precise, operating under tighter tolerances and at higher compression ratios, while targeting cleaner emissions and improved fuel economy . To achieve these goals, several major automakers—Audi, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, Toyota, and Volkswagen—have united in support of Top Tier gas, specifically recommending it to their owners with the goal of preserving their engines’ original performance and emissions over time.

Keeping things simple for consumers, when a participating retailer sells Top Tier fuel, all octane grades from regular to premium gasoline and diesel must adhere to the Top Tier standards. So it is not necessary for drivers to upgrade to premium to gain the cleansing benefits. 

Top Tier Retailers

Retailers include 76, Aloha Petroleum, Arco, Beacon, Breakaway, Cenex, Chevron, Citgo, Conoco, Costco, CountryMark, Diamond Shamrock, Express Mart, Exxon, Fast Fuel, GetGo, HFN, Harmons Fuel Stop, Hele, Holiday, Kwik Star, Kwik Trip, Marathon, Meijer, Metro Petro, Mobil, Ohana Fuels, Phillips 66, QT/Quik Trip, Reeders, Road Ranger, Rutter’s, Shamrock, Shell, Simonson, Sinclair, Sunoco, Texaco, Valero, Value America, Wow, and Win Win.

Check this updated list of Top Tier retailers .

Gas Test Findings

For the test, an independent engine testing lab that specializes in fuel analysis operated an engine continuously for 100 hours on a cycle to represent 4,000 real miles of use. The engine was then disassembled and photographed, and its key components were weighed and measured to determine the thickness of carbon deposits. Six fuels were used, randomly selected and split among three basic gasoline sources and three Top Tier.

The results showed that on average, non-Top Tier gasoline had 19 times more carbon deposits on injectors, on intake valves, and in the combustion chamber than Top Tier gasoline.

AAA also found Top Tier gasoline can have a cleansing effect, reducing intake valve deposits by 45 to 72 percent when used over a 5,000-mile interval. Variation in the results is attributed to the detergents used by different brands.

Further, analyzing gas prices over a 12-month period found just a 3-cent price difference between non-Top Tier and Top Tier gasoline.

Bottom line:  For the nominal investment, this study shows that motorists would benefit from using Top Tier gasoline as their primary fuel.

@consumerreports Is top tier gas worth the extra money? See the latest episode of Talking Cars through the link in our bio. #carsoftiktok #cartok #carcommunity #gas ♬ original sound - Consumer Reports

Jeff S. Bartlett

Jeff S. Bartlett is the managing editor for the autos team at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2005. Previously, Jeff served as the online editorial director of Motor Trend for 11 years. Throughout his career, Jeff has driven thousands of cars, many on racetracks around the globe. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSBartlett .

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Kwik trip gas prices: everything you need to know.

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If you’re like the rest of us, you’ve experienced pain each time you visit a gas pump for a fillup. As gas prices soar and break record numbers, customers have little to no relief. Well, not until the latter half of June, when gas prices went below the $5 per gallon mark. According to AAA, the national average of gas is $4.897 per gallon as of this writing.

With the ever-increasing fuel prices, motorists are left to their devices to save money at the pump. One favorite spot of fuel customers is convenience store gas stations. Not only can you fill up your vehicle, but you may also grab a quick bite and drink. Plus, convenience store gas stations have a rewards program to help you save at the pump.

For today’s post, we’ll check out Kwik Trip gas prices. If you’re in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, you’re likely familiar with Kwik Trip. How are Kwik Trip gas prices these days? Does this company offer good gas quality? What are the ways to save on Kwik Trip fuel? Let’s answer these questions and more below.

How Much Does Kwik Trip Gas Cost?

With over 900 locations in the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois, Kwik Trip isn’t exactly a small mom-and-pop gas station. About 229 Kwik Trip locations are in Texas, followed by 150 in Georgia and 132 in Missouri. In 2021, Kwik Trip was voted one of the best gas stations via USA Today’s poll .

For today’s breakdown, we look at Kwik Trip gas prices through GasBuddy.com. We’ll check out several locations, provide their prices per gallon, and compare them with area competitors.

• In Menomonee Falls, WI, Kwik Trip offers per-gallon pricing of $4.68 for regular and $5.45 for premium. This makes Kwik Trip one of the lowest gas prices in Menomonee Falls. Costco and Woodman’s offer the most affordable gas prices in the area at $4.58 per gallon. For the entire state of Wisconsin, Kwik Trip provides the most affordable gas price at $4.34 per gallon.
• In Rochester, MN, Kwik Trip has a per-gallon price of $4.54 for regular and $5.24 for premium. Once again, the convenience store gas chain offers one of the lowest prices in Rochester. For the actual lowest price, it belongs to Costco at $4.54 per gallon. Kwik Trip also manages to be one of the cheapest gas prices in Minnesota at $4.31 per gallon.
• For the Kwik Star (the company’s alternate name in Iowa and Illinois) in Davenport, Iowa, the station has per-gallon pricing of $4.57 for regular and $5.23 for premium. In Davenport, Kwik Star is in the top ten cheapest gas prices in the arena, but it barely made it into the list. However, for the entire state of Iowa, Kwik Star has the second-lowest gas price at $4.17 per gallon in its Ankeny branch.
• In Bettendorf, IA, the Kwik Star prices tell almost the same story. This location offers per-gallon pricing of $4.59 for regular and $5.49 for premium, which is also the second most affordable price in Bettendorf. The BP in Bettendorf gets the top spot at $4.54 per gallon.

Based on the Kwik Trip gas prices, we understand why it’s such a popular gas station among consumers. Their low prices, coupled with solid choices of food items and drinks, make Kwik Trip locations an attractive place to top up on gas.

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Does Kwik Trip Offer Good Gas Quality?

Kwik Trip is a company that seems to be really proud of its fuel products. Unlike many gas stations, Kwik Trip offers gasoline products from Unleaded 87 to No Ethanol to Premium 93. However, most of you are probably asking: does it provide good gas quality?

For the most part, all commercially sold petrol products are pretty much the same. Gasoline companies have to adhere to stringent regulations so they can sell. However, whether a brand is a Top Tier licensee or not does make a difference. In case you don’t know, Top Tier is a specially formulated fuel product with special detergents that provide benefits like less carbon build-up and better fuel efficiency.

In this case, Kwik Trip is not a Top Tier gas product. The company claims its fuel is comparable to Top Tier brands, but it’s tough to tell. Overall, we’ve not seen many complaints about Kwik Trip’s gas quality during our research, so feel free to pump away.

What are the Ways to Save on Kwik Trip Gas Prices?

Like all good convenience store gas stations, Kwik Trip offers several ways to help you save on gas – which certainly comes in handy these days. The primary way to earn gas discounts is through the Kwik Rewards program .

Basically, you can earn fuel rewards from Kwik Trip by buying certain in-store items. These qualifying in-store items are labeled in gray, which displays the number of prizes you’ll earn after purchasing the merchandise. It’s worth noting that these qualifying items rotate every month. For example, buying a qualifying gift card at any Kwik Trip location can get you 20¢ off per gallon for up to 30 gallons.

8 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN BUYING A USED CAR

So you’re in the market for a used vehicle?  We’ve gone ahead and prepped some essential questions to ask when buying a used car .

Remember that you can only redeem the fuel rewards with a 30-gallon limit in one fuel purchase. Therefore, you can’t redeem for 10 gallons in one pump, then go to another to buy another 20 gallons.

There’s also the Kwik Rewards Credit & Debit, which automatically gets you a 3¢ off on fuel purchases. In addition, you also receive a 5% discount when purchasing most in-store items.

There are numerous ways to enroll in the Kwik Rewards program. First, you can register online via Kwik Trip’s website, but you’ll have to pick up your membership card from the store. This is because you’ll need the 16-digit code found on the card to complete the registration. Second, you may also create an account by downloading the Kwik Trip app, but it does require the 16-digit code from a physical card to complete the registration.

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If you’re in the market for a speedy two-seater, we’ve got you covered. Check out our list of the best two-seater cars on the market today.

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These are the top 10 gas station brands in the United States

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EG America to Hire 7,500 Employees

Txb builds, upgrades 12 convenience stores in central texas, casey’s exceeds $1 billion in ebitda for first time in c-store chain’s history, extramile expects to add 100 locations this year, governor abbott touts texas economy at buc-ee’s ribbon cutting, it’s 4 straight wins for this year’s best u.s. gas station.

Kwik Trip has achieved a four-peat, once again winning the title of best gas station brand in the nation, according to the 2023 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards .

“This Wisconsin-based, family-owned company operates more than 800 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, South Dakota and Illinois. Their bakeries make more than two dozen different items each day, and all milk is sourced from dairy farms within a 100-mile radius of La Crosse, Wisconsin,” USA Today wrote.

• Kwik Trip  is   No. 1 1   on  CSP’s  2023 Top 40   u p d a t e  to the  2022 T o p   2 0 2  ranking of convenience store chains by store count. Watch for the full 2023 Top 202 in June.

A panel of experts from USA Today partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees. Readers subsequently chose the top 10 winners by popular vote.

The 2023 winners are:

• Kwik Trip , La Crosse, Wisconsin
• Hy-Vee, West Des Moines, Iowa, ( No. 43 on C SP’s 2022 Top 202)
• RaceTrac, Atlanta, ( No. 15 )
• Royal Farms, Baltimore ( No. 30 )
• Maverik , Salt Lake City, Utah ( No. 21 )
• Parker’s, Savannah, Georgia ( No. 100 )
• Sheetz, Altoona, Pennsylvania ( No. 12 )
• Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Oklahoma City, ( No. 14 )
• QuikTrip, Tulsa, Oklahoma, ( No. 10 )
• Sapp Bros. Travel Centers, Omaha, Nebraska

Maverik, meanwhile, earned recognition for the best gas station food in the nation in the same survey.

10Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlight the best of the best in contests covering categories such as destinations, food and drink, hotels and things to do. A panel of experts chooses the nominees in all categories, and readers can vote once per category, per day for four weeks.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here .

Chuck Ulie is foodservice editor for CSP.

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f’real Launches New Mystery Flavor

By Kevin McIntyre | June 12, 2024

Blend-it-yourself milkshake brand f’real has announced the launch of a Mystery Flavor Milkshake, which is available now at retail locations nationwide.

The limited-time offering gives customers a nostalgic experience, “inviting them to relive memories of visiting their favorite childhood ice cream shop with a fruity and familiar flavor that celebrates the heyday of summers past and present,” the company noted in a statement.

The introduction of the Mystery Flavor Milkshake reflects shifting preferences and trends within the indulgence category with 57% of consumers stating they are interested in nostalgic desserts.

Gen Z consumers are especially interested in nostalgic desserts, with 62% saying they love these old-school treats. The Mystery Flavor is poised to generate heightened trial and excitement, drawing on the success of the brand’s past limited-time offerings such as the Birthday Cake Batter Milkshake, unveiled in September 2023 that celebrated the 20th anniversary of its first blender installation.

“f’real’s commitment to innovation is deeply rooted in our understanding of consumer trends and preferences. Our new Mystery Flavor caters to our customers’ changing tastes and provides a fun and engaging experience that will drive excitement,” said Elizabeth Collins, Rich Products Corp. Director of Customer Marketing. “This milkshake is not just a treat; it’s a trip down memory lane. We’ve crafted a flavor that pays homage to a beloved favorite, creating a wave of nostalgia with every sip. We’re confident that the element of surprise will make this flavor a huge hit this summer.”

Gen Z’s love for unique and exciting flavors is evident, with 44% loving to try new foods — the crazier and more unique, the better — and 51% willing to try a new food just because it sounds exciting.

Understanding its Gen Z consumers’ adventurous nature, f’real continually introduces new products that resonate accordingly. Over 90% of Gen Z consumers, who make up the majority of f’real’s customer base, like trying new foods and beverages, with nearly half preferring them in familiar formats. The generation is also drawn to trying new flavors in desserts and confections, particularly at the mention of “limited-time.”

The Mystery Flavor launch is an extension of f’real’s “Discover Your f’real” global campaign, which embraces Gen Z’s curiosity for new experiences and encourages consumers to take the leap and discover a nearby f’real location.

f’real’s Mystery Flavor is available nationwide at select retailers including Sheetz , Kwik Trip , Royal Farms , QuickChek and more. The suggested retail price for each 12-ounce f’real is $3.99.

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