Last Updated: May 30, 2025
68% of consumers find prepared food and beverage offerings important to where they buy gas.
SNAP! Datassential C-Store Keynote, 2023
64% say it’s faster/easier to stop at a c-store for food than a QSR during their commute or while running errands.
Q1 2024 Technomic C-Store Consumer Market Brief
What’s Trending in C-Stores?
Today’s consumers’ on-the-go lifestyles demand convenience. C-stores are evolving into one-stop-shops built around more than just fuel. They’re an in-and-out snack haven, a quick, hot breakfast to go, a pit-stop for a midday pick-me-up, or a place to find an easy family dinner on the way home.
According to Datassential, 79% of consumers visit the c-store just to buy prepared food or beverages often or occasionally.1 The more c-stores are integrated into the daily lives of consumers, the more opportunities they have to capitalize on every craving, and win customers over with everyday staples, prized menu items and unique LTOs.
CONQUER EVERY CRAVING
BEVERAGES ALL DAY.
From soft drinks and coffees to satiating shakes and smoothies, beverages have become a snacking mega trend,3 even a meal replacement – and an essential part of c-store foodservice offerings. In fact, dispensed and made-to-order beverages are the #1 c-store snack purchase category.2
F’REAL BY RICH’S
Get the ultimate beverage program that blends up deliciously dreamy self-serve or made-to-order shakes and smoothies in the push of a button!
GRAB N’ GO CONVENIENCE
SNACK TIME IS NOW ALL THE TIME.
33% of consumers are having snacks more often than they were a year ago.3 And they’re turning to c-stores to meet their snack cravings – c-stores represent 20.4% of all snack sales.5
THE GRAB ‘N GO GAMEPLAN
Your customers are on the move, and they want quick, fulfilling and unique options that are ready to go NOW. Rich’s grab ‘n go and cold case solutions provide maximum convenience and satisfaction with minimum labor and contact.
INNOVATE YOUR PIZZA PIES.
Pizza is the most popular prepared food purchase at c-stores.1 With the right products, such as labor-saving crust and dough formats, the pizza possibilities are limitless for c-stores – from highly customizable pies to creative LTOs with little labor.
TIPS TO RISE TO THE TOP IN 2024.
PUT FOODSERVICE AT THE FOREFRONT
Commit to the presentation, experience and selection that gives them the confidence of freshness and quality.
FOCUS ON VALUE
Beyond convenience, c-store operations must deliver on quality, consistency and customizability to gain an edge over competing quick service and limited service restaurants.
BOGO PROMOTIONS
Drive traffic and boost sales with a BOGO promotion that attracts consumers looking for value while encouraging the purchase of higher-margin items, like easy-to-execute snacks or pre-packaged grab ‘n go items!
BE READY TO GO
Half of c-store consumers are unwilling to wait more than five minutes for their food.9 Prioritize products, processes and equipment that facilitate in-and-out speed. Even including things like calorie counts and ingredients on your menus will cut order times for increased customer throughput.
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1SNAP! Datassential C-Store Keynote, 2023 | 2Q1 2024 Technomic C-Store Consumer Market Brief | 3SNAP! Datassential Snacking Keynote 2023 | 4Technomic Convenience Market Annual Report, November 2023 | 5 Circana, 2023 | 6 SNAP! Datassential Desserts Keynote, 2023 | 7 Boost ‘American Love of Cookies’ Report, 2023 | 8Datassential ‘Snack Trend’ FoodBytes, 2023 | 9Foodservice IP ‘Capturing Opportunities in Convenience Store Foodservice’ May 2023