One of C-Store Dive’s predictions coming into this year was that the flurry of large-scale mergers and acquisitions the industry saw in 2023 would change course. M&A deals would instead mostly focus on small and mid-size companies compared to major operators.

Over six months into 2024, it’s fair to say that so far, we’ve been right.

Although 7-Eleven kicked off the year by acquiring over 200 Stripes c-stores from Sunoco, H&S Energy purchased 170 sites and SQRL Holdings sold its nearly 400 locations — despite recent concerns over that agreement's legitimacy — the past six months have mainly brought deals in the 10- to 60-store range. 

Many of those deals, as experts previously predicted, included family-owned retailers selling their entire businesses amid today’s difficult economic environment.

“There still remains a large number of chains out there in the 10- to 100-store range that, depending on what their long-term strategy is — especially if they’re family-owned businesses — may decide that they want to get out,” said Rob Gallo, chief strategy officer and chief marketing officer for c-store consultancy Impact 21, in a January interview.

Here’s a roundup of the top c-store M&A deals from the first half of 2024.