Evolution of consumer behavior drives convenience sector's transformation

China's convenience store sector continues to grow in store count and sales, with rising competitive pressures, evolving consumer habits and operational challenges testing the format's resilience, according to the 2025 China Convenience Store Development Report.

The annual report, which was released jointly by KPMG China and the China Chain Store & Franchise Association in June, found that store network expansion remains strong. The top 10 convenience store brands continued to widen their footprint and the number of 24-hour stores surged from 38,060 in 2023 to 53,234 in 2024 — driven by nighttime consumer demand and cloud staffing applications.

The report also highlighted a key contradiction: while most operators reported dual growth in store numbers and sales, a noticeable decline in store-level operating capabilities has emerged.