In 2024, new toppings, specialty subs and bold flavors look to be the focus for the sandwich category. Retailers report that sandwiches continue to grow in their stores, driven by innovation and, in the case of Englefield Oil Co.’s Duchess Convenience Stores, seasonality. “At the beginning of the year, customers are looking for wraps and…
New Tech, Variety Propels Pizza Demand
Pizza sales dropped a little last year, with total servings from commercial foodservice decreasing 2.8%, stated David Portalatin, senior vice president and food industry advisor at Circana. However, in convenience stores, he pointed out, serving sales increased 1.5% during that same time period. “Before the pandemic, more than half of all food deliveries would have…
Doughnuts, Cookies Offer Opportunity for Bakery
2023 was a “mixed bag” for the bakery category, with dollar sales up 6.3% and unit sales down 2.1%, stated Jack Ince, education coordinator for the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA), quoting data from the company’s Integrated Fresh Data dashboard. He attributed much of the unit sales drop to inflation. “Bakery has often been…
Flavors Appeal to Young Coffee Consumers
Coffee sales have begun to slow after years of growth, with rising sales in 2023 stemming from price increases rather than organic growth, revealed Mintel in its “2023 Coffee and RTD Coffee — US” report. The future of the category depends on positive factors, such as improved economic conditions and young consumers entering the market,…
Hispanic Foods Expand at C-Stores
Many convenience stores are finding menu success with Hispanic foods, and the trend is expected to continue to grow in 2024. Especially if Hispanic foods are a staple for a chain, offering variety and customization is key to attracting customer attention. “Everyone loves tacos,” whether they’re filled with beef, chicken or even pepperoni and cheese,…
Tenders Top Chicken Trends
While overall per capita chicken consumption was essentially flat over the last year, according to a forecast from the National Chicken Council, c-store operators are still experiencing growth in the category and expect to continue that trend. At Kwik Stop convenience stores, with 27 (soon to be 28) locations in Nebraska and Colorado, tenders are…
Refreshing the Roller Grill
As roller grills beef up offerings with innovative flavors and trendy toppings, they have the opportunity to be an integral part of c-store foodservice programs in 2024. York, Pa.-based Rutter’s has a roller grill in every one of its 85 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, featuring a wide array of products, said Philip…
Perking Up Hot Dispensed Beverage Sales
Coffee and other hot dispensed beverages are major drivers for customers to walk into the convenience store, particularly for the morning daypart. The c-stores that capitalize on this category with promotional offers, new flavors and a variety of options are likely to create repeat customers, especially among those who travel the same route frequently. Understanding…
Breakfast Rules
Convenience stores understand why customers choose to eat breakfast outside of the home. Fifty-eight percent of consumers who eat breakfast away from home do so because of convenience, according to the “Breakfast Keynote Report” fielded in April 2024 by research firm Datassential. And c-stores know how to deliver on convenient, quick breakfast options. However, 36%…
Variety Propels Lunch Sales
Lunch is such a popular daypart that, in some stores, it ties with or even overtakes breakfast in sales. Many chains are thus experimenting with their menus, testing limited-time offers (LTOs) and adding new items. For example, at Kwik Trip and Kwik Star locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and South Dakota, lunch sales…