Costcutter vs Spar:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Costcutter and Spar were level in searches among convenience stores in the United Kingdom, with an estimated 165K branded searches each, at 3.1% of the total each. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about convenience stores, Spar appeared in three of the five answers and Costcutter in one. Spar was mentioned before Costcutter in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Costcutter and Spar are searched for about as often as each other.
Who does AI mention more?
Spar, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Costcutter in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Spar, named ahead of Costcutter in every answer
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Top convenience stores in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Spar was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Costcutter was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Spar was listed before Costcutter in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Tesco1st- Spar2nd
Londis3rd
Premier4th
Co-op5th
Costcutter6th
Nisa Local7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Tesco4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Londis3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Spar3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Premier3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Nisa Local1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Co-op1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Costcutter1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about convenience stores
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best convenience store chain in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the biggest convenience store chains in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which UK convenience store chain has the best prices?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“convenience stores”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“corner shop”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 23, 2026.
Is Costcutter or Spar more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Costcutter and Spar by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven convenience stores we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Costcutter, Spar. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Tesco | Londis | Nisa Local | Co-op | Costcutter | Spar | Premier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 73.4% | 8.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 3% | 4.4% | 0.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 71.3% | 7.8% | 5.2% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 5.2% | 0.47% |
| Dec 2025 | 72.1% | 7.9% | 5.3% | 6.5% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 0.39% |
| Jan 2026 | 70.8% | 7.8% | 5.2% | 6.4% | 4.3% | 5.2% | 0.47% |
| Feb 2026 | 72.9% | 8% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 0.48% |
| Mar 2026 | 72.9% | 8% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 0.48% |
| Apr 2026 | 74.2% | 8.2% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 0.4% |
| May 2026 | 74.8% | 8.2% | 5.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 0.41% |
| Jun 2026 | 73.6% | 8.1% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 0.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 74.8% | 8.2% | 5.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 0.41% |
| Aug 2026 | 74.8% | 8.2% | 5.5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 0.5% |
| Sep 2026 | 77.8% | 7% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 0.42% |
How has the Costcutter and Spar comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Costcutter was ahead of Spar in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Costcutter’s share of searches among convenience stores in the United Kingdom moved from 3% to 3.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 135K to 165K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Spar’s share of searches among convenience stores in the United Kingdom moved from 4.4% to 3.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 201K to 165K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom convenience stores in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Costcutter lost share of searches among convenience stores in the United Kingdom, from 3.7% to 3.1%.
In September 2026, Spar lost share of searches among convenience stores in the United Kingdom, from 3.7% to 3.1%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Costcutter’s and Spar’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Costcutter
1 branded search term
- costcutter
Spar
1 branded search term
- spar
Other head-to-heads among convenience stores
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