Category Trends: Page 2

  • Casey's
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    Retrieved from Casey's.
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: C-stores pushing the food trends envelope

    Rich Products recently outlined market trends it expects to see in 2025, and we’re looking at how c-stores are poised to meet those changes.

    By • Feb. 7, 2025
  • PepsiCo, Frito-Lay
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    Christopher Doering/C-Store Dive
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    PepsiCo to focus on value, healthier offerings amid slump in snacks

    CEO Ramon Laguarta said the Doritos maker hasn’t seen a “direct impact” from GLP-1 medications despite higher consumer interest in health and wellness.

    By Christopher Doering • Feb. 6, 2025
  • A photo of a rack of snacks inside a store, including popcorn, chips and candy. A sign above the snacks says "Shelee's Travel Center grab and go."
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    Permission granted by Shelee's Travel Centers
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    California travel center chain opens grab-and-go arena stores

    Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms, California, added five Shelee's Travel Center Grab & Go locations to its retail lineup.

    By • Feb. 4, 2025
  • A photo of a breakfast combo meal including a cup, three breakfast sandwiches and a container of hash browns on a wrapping paper that says "Rutter's" on a white background.
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    Permission granted by Rutter's
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    4 tips to boost c-store breakfast programs

    Portable, craveable items are still a hit, but experts say retailers should also turn up the volume on energy drinks, hot honey and other nontraditional items.

    By Christine Blank • Feb. 3, 2025
  • A person sits at a desk with an open laptop in front of them. Their head is hidden by smoke and the hand is holding a vaping device.
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    Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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    US to halt imports, sale of Njoy Ace products

    The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that the Altria-owned company’s vaping devices violate four of Juul’s patents. The ruling takes effect March 31.

    By • Jan. 31, 2025
  • Jones Soda
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    Retrieved from Jones Soda.
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    Craft soda brand coming to over 2K Circle K, FEMSA c-stores

    Jones Soda has signed an agreement that will result in its “first significant presence in the convenience channel in its nearly 30-year history,” its CEO said.

    By • Jan. 31, 2025
  • A photo of an electric vehicle charging at a charging station. the charger says "BP Pulse" on the front. A convenience store is in the background, with a sign over the door that says "TA Welcome Jacksonville South travel center."
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    Courtesy of TravelCenters of America
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: Second time’s the charm

    Stewart’s Shops, TravelCenters of America and Buc-ee’s all recently took another swing at key facets of their businesses.

    By • Jan. 31, 2025
  • Boxes of Celsius Hydration
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    Courtesy of Celsius Holdings
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    Celsius expands beyond energy as it positions itself as a ‘lifestyle’ brand

    The company’s first major portfolio expansion is a hydration offering, with plans to enter other categories that connect it with more consumers.

    By Christopher Doering • Jan. 30, 2025
  • A photo of beer labels on a production line. The labels say "Stewart's Shops Mountain Brew lager. Proudly brewed in the Adirondaks by Paradox Brewery."
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    Courtesy of Paradox Brewery
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    Stewart’s Shops revives private label craft beer

    The retailer tapped a local brewery to bring back Mountain Brew, a custom craft creation it last offered five years ago.

    By • Jan. 29, 2025
  • 7-Eleven
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    What’s ahead for c-stores in 2025?

    With economic conditions still tight and the political landscape uncertain, retailers will be focused on improving amenities to get people into their stores.

    By • Jan. 29, 2025
  • A photo of the exterior of a Buc-ee's location.
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    Courtesy of Buc-ee's
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    Buc-ee’s eyes site near Milwaukee

    While Oak Creek is the second location the retailer has targeted in Wisconsin, it may end up being the first to open.

    By • Jan. 27, 2025
  • A photo of a pack of Marlboro menthol cigarettes, with several cigarettes loose on a black surface around it.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    FDA withdraws proposed menthol rule

    The ban would have outlawed menthol-flavored cigarettes nationwide.

    By • Jan. 27, 2025
  • A photo of self checkout kiosks inside a convenience store. Each machine says "self checkout."
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    Jessica Loder/C-Store Dive
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: Building a better c-store customer experience

    Shoppers at convenience retailers told NCR Voyix they love their favorite banners, want more self checkout and are moving past the stigma of gas station food.

    By • Jan. 24, 2025
  • A photo showing the exterior of a convenience store. The fuel canopies, gs pumps and a sign on the store all say "The Store."
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    Permission granted by The Store
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    How small c-stores can survive

    As consolidation drives more independents out of business, smaller retailers need to stand out and connect with their communities, experts say.

    By • Jan. 22, 2025
  • Bottles of Pepsi soda are seen on display at a Target store on February 09, 2024 in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn borough New York City.
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    Michael M. Santiago / Staff via Getty Images
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    PepsiCo sued by FTC for allegedly ‘rigging’ soft drink prices

    The agency claims the soda giant gave “unfair” pricing advantages to a larger retailer, forcing consumers to pay more at competing stores. Pepsi “strongly disputes” the allegations.

    By Christopher Doering • Jan. 21, 2025
  • An image of a factory, processing hockey puck sized canisters that read "Zyn chill."
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    Courtesy of Philip Morris International
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    FDA authorizes marketing of nicotine pouches for the first time

    These items have become popular in c-stores as traditional tobacco sales plunge, and their approval sets the stage for continued growth.

    By • Jan. 17, 2025
  • A photo of the exterior of a travel stop. Signs on the front wall of the gray and red building say "Pilot," Welcome," "Subway" and "Cinnabon."
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    Permission granted by Pilot Co.
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    Pilot opens its largest store yet

    The travel stop company plans to use the Tennessee location as “a blueprint for store designs in the future,” said VP of Operations Jim Rose.

    By • Jan. 17, 2025
  • Two prescription drug cartons are seen stacked on top of each other, bearing the word Wegovy.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    GLP-1 weight loss medications pose challenges for c-stores. Here’s how retailers can respond.

    Users of Ozempic and other drugs are shunning items like energy drinks and salty snacks, research shows. But there are upselling opportunities in categories like beverage and foodservice.

    By • Jan. 15, 2025
  • Shell
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    Retrieved from Shell.
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    Shell Rotella adds fuel card

    The new offering helps professional drivers save money at almost 9,000 fueling locations in the U.S. and Canada.

    By • Jan. 14, 2025
  • A photo of a smartphone on a table with pizza on a plate next to it on the left and a cup of soda on the right. The mobile app says "7Now Gold Pass. First 14 days free. Renews automatically. Cancel anytime. Free delivery on every order and extra perks for orders over $10. No small basket fees, 2x rewards points, FREE product on every order. Additional member perks"
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven targets $1B in 7Now sales

    The company’s delivery business is expected to hit more than $700 million in sales by the end of fiscal 2024.

    By • Jan. 13, 2025
  • Snacking brands made by PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division on a grocery store shelf in Washington, D.C.
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    Christopher Doering/C-Store Dive
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    5 c-store snack trends to watch in 2025

    Pricing pressures will impact consumer spending in the first half, but familiar flavors and protein pushes could change the landscape, experts say.

    By Christine Blank • Jan. 13, 2025
  • A promotional image showing three drinks against a red background. There is a cup of coffee over the words "$1 hot coffee," an iced coffee over the words "$2 iced coffee" and a can of Monster Energy over the words "$3 monster Energy." Text to the right says "Wawa Rewards member exclusive" and "join today" over a QR code while text along the bottom sayd "Get one, two or all three."
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    Courtesy of Wawa
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    C-stores start 2025 with a value push

    EG America, Wawa and QuickChek all announced discounts and deals for the start of the year.

    By • Jan. 7, 2025
  • Enmarket
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    Retrieved from Enmarket.
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    Deep Dive

    9 trends for c-stores to watch in 2025

    This year will see c-stores refining strategies across the business, from loyalty to foodservice to technology and beyond.

    By , • Jan. 7, 2025
  • A photo of the interior of a convenience store, showing shelves full of snacks and a beer cave set in the back wall. Signs over the beer gave say "the beer barn. enter for cold beer." while a sign over a hallway to the right of the beer cave says "restrooms."
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    Permission granted by Paragon Solutions
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    How to build a better beer cave

    These spaces can become destinations for high-value beer lovers, but experts say they can easily get overlooked if c-stores don’t carefully consider design and assortment.

    By Amanda Baltazar • Jan. 6, 2025
  • A photo showing the exterior of a convenience store. The fuel canopies, gs pumps and a sign on the store all say "The Store."
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    Permission granted by The Store
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    Reliance Fuel enters Wisconsin by acquiring The Store

    The Pennsylvania retailer bought the sites in December and plans to rebrand all locations to Fuel On.

    By • Jan. 2, 2025