Many people didn’t know what a ghost kitchen was before the pandemic, but now it seems the word is everywhere. COVID-19 afflicted the restaurant industry in such a limiting way in 2020, that every restaurant was a ghost kitchen for a period. Ghost kitchens are kitchens that are optimized to fulfill restaurant orders that will…

C-stores are taking a closer look at their foodservice packaging today as they expand takeout and delivery options, ensuring food arrives at its final destination looking as appealing as when it left the store. Delivery was already a growing component of many foodservice programs prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the past 18 months have…

Ankeny, Iowa-based Casey’s, which operates more than 2,300 c-stores, recently launched an all-new breakfast lineup, featuring its Signature Handheld, Loaded Breakfast Burrito and Loaded Breakfast Bowl, coupled with a new chainwide bean-to-cup coffee program. Casey’s Vice President of Prepared Food Michelle Wickham told CStore Decisions that now is “the perfect time” for the retailer to…

The convenience store industry continues to grow sales at record numbers, but the stakes have never been higher as convenience store owners face competition from multiple retail channels. The National Advisory Group (NAG) has been working overtime to create an environment where small, mid-sized and family-owned retailers can interact with one another and share ideas for…

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has proved a double-edged sword for the candy, gum and mints category at convenience stores. On the one hand, as the pandemic added often-stressful changes to lifestyles and routines, many Americans turned to candy for an emotional pick-me-up. The National Confectioners Association’s (NCA) “2021 State of Treating Report” revealed that 77%…

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in spring of 2020, car wash sales took a hit as various regions instituted lockdowns and customers took fewer trips, but car wash subscriptions helped some retailers hold onto sales. Now, as more customers return to life as usual, retailers are eying the weather, fuel sales and economic outlook to…

WINNER: United Dairy Farmers (UDF) UDF’s refreshed U-Drive loyalty program combines increased personalization with a suite of rewards perks. UDF revamped and relaunched its U-Drive loyalty program in early 2021, partnering with Paytronix to modernize its digital platform while creating a more personalized experience for guests. “Our previous contract was up, and we were ready…

A few months ago, as part of Datassential’s “2021 Midyear Trend Report,” we asked consumers a wide variety of questions about their planned behaviors and attitudes, particularly as operators across the country opened again and consumers started to get back to some sense of normalcy. One of the questions we asked was whether they planned…

Roaster’s Market, which celebrated its grand opening in 2020, brings an upmarket c-store experience to Ada, Okla. The 5,200-square-foot site features a welcoming atmosphere and an expansive rotisserie menu and coffee bar. It also provides a drive-through, online ordering and touch-free restrooms, all of which came in handy during the early days of the pandemic…

Today’s handheld digital technology has heightened consumer expectations of ease and service, especially in the retail and foodservice space. Customers expect easy ordering, shorter wait times and quick transactions. More often, that means using prepaid services. Possibly the most important aspect of any prepaid program — and possibly the most overlooked — is that it…