From hard seltzer and craft beer to kombucha and ready-to-drink (RTD) cold-brew coffee, the c-store packaged beverage category has seen some stellar sales lifts in 2020. The RTD cappuccino and iced coffee segment was up 3.5% at convenience stores for the 52 weeks ending Oct. 4, 2020, according to Market Advantage TSV; IRI Liquid Data.…

America’s Hispanic population, the largest minority cultural group in the U.S., is expected to grow from over 60 million to 70 million by 2022, with a buying power that is projected to increase by an additional $400 million by 2023 from its 2018 total of $1.5 trillion, according to Jorge Martinez-Bonilla, vice president of the…

At a time when it seems that every day brings new guidelines and restrictions on restaurants due to the COVID-19 pandemic, savvy convenience store operators are positioning their foodservice as a safe and reliable source of fresh, delicious and convenient meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. “While some guests will gravitate toward grab and go,…

Across the industry, c-stores are working to add or improve foodservice options to ensure they are a destination for customers across breakfast, lunch and dinner. Among its initiatives, Savannah, Ga.-based Enmarket hired c-store foodservice veteran Ryan Krebs as its director of food and beverage at the start of 2020. Enmarket, which operates 125+ stores in…

To its cold dispensed selections, Clark’s Pump-N-Shop, which has 68 stores in Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio and Florida, added Teazzers fresh-brewed iced tea in sweet and peach tea flavors about two months ago. The teas are flavored with cane sugar, an important selling point for customers who prefer a natural sweetener, said Jessica Russell, the…

Convenience store chains are realizing the benefits of bean-to-cup coffee dispensers that grind each cup to order as they look to emphasize their commitment to freshness, while also reducing labor and eliminating waste in the category. Last year, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.’s Circle K convenience chain rolled out its bean-to-cup Coffee on Demand program to 90%…

With pumpkin spice still a must-have in bean or creamer form for any fall coffee program, convenience stores are also looking at other hot beverages and ancillary items to build seasonal sales. At the 35 Cubby’s convenience stores in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, for example, more flavors of powdered cappuccino, mochas and lattes are…

One window is worth a thousand words. At least it is to Michelle Weckstein, director of foodservice for the 78 Sun Stop Convenience Stores and Sun Valley Market & Deli stores in Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Weckstein pointed out that producing attractive, tempting-looking foods for the stores’ Eats Deli is only part of her job.…

A generic cup of joe just won’t cut it with today’s coffee-savvy consumers. They’re looking for quality brews and programs that retailers are proud to put their name on. For the past year, northern Ohio-based FriendShip Food Stores’ locations have been undergoing “mini remodels” of coffee preparation and merchandising areas to upgrade their offerings and…

At Rutter’s, which has 75 locations in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, burgers are so popular they have their own menu of more than two dozen variations. Customers can choose from a one-third-pound, 100% Angus beef patty, a one-fourth-pound chipotle black bean burger or a turkey burger, said Ryan Krebs, the York, Pa.-based chain’s director…