In my lifetime, I’ve thought about what I believed to be my most obvious personality traits, as I’m sure many others have with theirs, and I’ve considered how they affect my daily life and choices. Never, however, have I probed so deeply into the attributes that make up my most innate strengths like I have…
Juices, Teas Are Thirsty For Innovation
Innovation is the name of the game for juices and teas heading into 2024. In recent years, juices and teas have experienced soft performance, noted Gary Hemphill, managing director of research for Beverage Marketing Corp. In general, juice and tea dollar sales are up for the 52 weeks ending Dec. 31, 2023, according to Chicago-based…
NAG Continues With Labor Management
The 2024 NAG Conference continued during the afternoon on Tuesday, March 12, with a discussion on labor and the Burning Issues Exchanges, which allowed attendees to choose a topic most relevant to them and converse with others on the subject. The afternoon was followed by a reception at The Florida Aquarium. Labor Management “Labor Management:…
NAG Talks AI and Foodservice Marketing
The 2024 NAG Conference opened on day two in Tampa Bay, Fla., with discussions on artificial intelligence (AI) and foodservice marketing. Erin Del Conte, editor-in-chief of CStore Decisions and conference moderator; Allison Dean, executive director of the National Advisory Group (NAG); and Vernon Young, NAG board chairman, celebrated the 40th anniversary of the conference on…
Variety is Vital for Dispensed
Cold and frozen dispensed beverages are oftentimes viewed synonymously with c-stores, and in 2024, retailers are looking to drive sales with a focus on frozen and flavor variety. “We have increased (in sales) over the previous year; shockingly, our frozen is trending really well for this time of the year,” said Jessica Russell, food service…
The 2024 Foodservice Report
Year over year, convenience stores up their competitiveness in the retail market with refreshed store designs, new technology and, noticeably, expanded foodservice programs. C-stores have branched out from the typical roller grill fare of years past. Now, customers can find different takes on the chicken sandwich, a plethora of pizza flavors, Hispanic options and even…
Observing the Customer When it Comes to EV
The noise surrounding electric vehicles (EV) is loud, and c-store retailers are asking themselves what, if anything, they need to do about the technology. While many large operators have already begun EV charger implementation, a number of smaller chains are wondering whether or not installing chargers is in the cards for them at this time.…
Sweet and Spicy Snack Sampling
CStore Decisions Senior Editor Emmy Boes samples a few different snacks this month, including her namesake: Emmy’s Organics Thin & Crispy Brownie Snaps in three flavors. She also tasted Nopalia Chili Pepper Crunchy Sticks and Dave’s Killer Bread Cocoa Brownie Blitz.
Cigarette Sales Ring in at $53 Billion
For quite some time now, c-store retailers have been watching a downward trend in cigarette sales due in part to inflation, as well as customers shifting to other tobacco segments, including vape and smokeless, and in some cases tobacco-free or nicotine-free options. Cigarette unit sales dropped by 6% during 2023, and the price per unit…
Soft, Chewy and Shareable: A Candy Roundup
Senior Editor of CStore Decisions Emmy Boes taste tests three different candy items: SKITTLES Gummy Sour, HI-SOFT Salted Caramel Chews and SweeTARTS Ropes in Cherry Punch.