Changes in customer preferences are stirring up the carbonated soft drink (CSD) category as shoppers increasingly seek health-conscious beverages, increased innovation and influencer-driven brands. In convenience stores, carbonated beverage dollar sales grew 7.4% to $10.7 billion, with help from price per unit increases (up 6.4%), even as unit sales fell flat (up 0.9%) for the…
Shaking Up Alcoholic Beverages
Gen Z preferences are influencing alcoholic beverage trends in 2024. Gen Z is gravitating toward the flavored alternative “beyond beer” category, and subsequently, hard teas and convergence brands — i.e. Monster Beast Unleashed, Arizona Hard, etc. — are seeing growth, noted Michelle Abdollah, category manager of alcoholic beverages for Extra Mile convenience stores, which operates…
What Are the Maco Trends Impacting the Year Ahead?
Customers and retailers alike appear to be cautiously optimistic about the economic outlook for 2024. Overall, recession worries appear to be retreating and inflation is slowing. Meanwhile, many industry and consumer trends that have been building for the last few years have reached a fever pitch. Euromonitor International’s “Top Global Consumer Trends for 2024” report…
The 2024 Category Management Handbook
As your c-store chain navigates the year ahead, CStore Decisions’ 2024 Category Management Handbook is here as a reference on emerging trends, recent data and examples of how fellow retailers are raising the bar. This year we examined 29 key categories across foodservice, beverages, candy, snacks, CBD, ice cream and dairy, health and beauty…
More on NAG Convenience’s Info Exchanges
There’s still time to register for the NAG Convenience Conference, happening March 10-13 in Tampa Bay, Fla. Watch the video to learn more about our information exchanges and more. This year NAG features two types of info exchanges, the Retail Leaders Exchanges that are exclusive to retailers and the Burning Issue Exchanges where suppliers and…
NAG Convenience to Feature Labor Management Session
The upcoming NAG Convenience Conference, set for March 10-13 in Tampa Bay, Fla., is set to feature six burning issue sessions. Among the sessions will be one on Labor Management. Watch the video for more details. Go to NAGConvenience.com to register. Plus, take CStore Decisions’ HR Benchmarking Survey, which closes March 1! The survey results…
Is Hiring and Retention Becoming Easier for C-Stores in 2024?
With the pandemic in the rearview mirror, we’re looking for your insights on how staffing issues have evolved in the c-store industry. CStore Decisions is inviting convenience store retailers to anonymously share their perceptions on the labor management landscape in 2024 in CStore Decisions’ and Humetrics’ 16th annual Human Resources (HR) Benchmarking Survey. The survey…
2024 Best Store Design Awards: Rutter’s
CStore Decisions is recognizing Rutter’s with a Best Store Design Award for its redesigned York, Pa.-based store that features a second-floor mezzanine and a kitchen. Rutter’s completed the remodel of its convenience store at 1450 Mt Zion Rd, York, Pa., on Dec. 1, 2023, nearly doubling the size of the store from 4,300 square feet…
Share Your Views on Labor Management Trends
Is your chain struggling with staffing, finding success with unconventional hires or upgrading software to streamline human resources (HR) practices? CStore Decisions is looking to hear from convenience store retailers about the HR challenges they’re contending with in 2024, the solutions they’re testing and their outlook for the year ahead. Time is running out to…
2024 Best Store Design Awards: Red Barn Market
CStore Decisions is recognizing Red Barn Market with a Best Store Design Award for its visually engaging, upscale and modern design that integrates a contemporary interpretation of barn architecture, employs unique ceiling elements and helps the c-store chain stand out in Michigan. Red Barn Market’s new prototype design debuted at its new-to-industry store in Sterling…