Category Trends: Page 5

  • A photo of the exterior of a gas station and convenience store. The canopy, the gas pumps and a sign on the store all say "Rutter's."
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    Permission granted by Rutter's
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    Q&A

    How Rutter’s keeps innovating its menu

    Philip Santini, senior director of advertising and food service, breaks down how the retailer keeps its offerings exciting and ways it pushes boundaries.

    By • Aug. 22, 2024
  • high noon
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    Courtesy of High Noon Spirits Company
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    Deep Dive

    Hard seltzer started a new category, but will canned cocktails sustain momentum long term?

    The push for premium RTD beverages is relying on real spirits and unique flavors to keep the ball rolling.

    By Chris Casey • Aug. 19, 2024
  • Coca-Cola and Oreo join to create a limited-edition cookie and beverage that include each brand.
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    Courtesy of Mondelez International, Coca-Cola
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    Oreo, Coca-Cola partner to create drink and cookie combining the iconic brands

    The limited-time offerings will be available in grocery and convenience stores in the U.S. and other select markets around the world starting in September.

    By Christopher Doering • Aug. 16, 2024
  • A photo of the exterior of a Buc-ee's location.
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    Courtesy of Buc-ee's
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    7 c-store chains building in new states

    While M&A often gets the big headlines, chains like Wawa and QuikTrip are making piecemeal moves to expand their empires.

    By • Aug. 15, 2024
  • A photo of a tanker truck in a parking lot. The side of the truck says "&Fleet Diesel Network," "7-Eleven," "Speedway" and "Stripes."
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven Inc.
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    7-Eleven, Sheetz adding travel centers

    The two retailers announced plans to augment many stores with diesel, truck parking and other amenities.

    By • Aug. 9, 2024
  • Woman looking at her mobile phone while shopping at the supermarket.
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    FreshSplash via Getty Images
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    How to win over customers in inflationary times. Hint: It’s not just about price.

    Quality and other considerations are in play as shoppers mull whether or not to spend their money on discretionary items.

    By Daphne Howland • Aug. 9, 2024
  • A photo of a number of cans of energy drink against a white background. The cans all say Fusion.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven Inc.
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    7-Eleven adds private label energy, hydration drinks

    Fusion Energy and Rehydrate are the latest in the chain’s extensive line of store-brand goods.

    By • Aug. 8, 2024
  • An image of serveral food items from Taco Bell's Craving's Value Menu
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    C-stores are taking aim at QSRs in the value war. Will it pay off?

    Continuing to offer affordable, strategic deals will help, but retailers need to watch out for restaurants encroaching on snacking.

    By Christine Blank • Aug. 8, 2024
  • QuikTrip
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    Permission granted by QuikTrip
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    QuikTrip expansion now includes Indiana

    So far this year, the convenience retailer has announced openings in two states and put two more states on its roadmap.

    By • Aug. 7, 2024
  • Jacksons
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    Retrieved from Jacksons website.
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    Jacksons revamps rewards program

    The retailer’s updated Let’s Go Rewards is part of a larger overhaul of its digital ecosystem, including apps and web integrations.

    By • Aug. 6, 2024
  • Albertsons store
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    Courtesy of Albertsons
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    Albertsons and Instacart build virtual c-store

    In addition to Albertsons Rapid, which offers delivery in as little as 30 minutes, the companies are also rolling out nationwide pickup for the grocer’s banners.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Aug. 2, 2024
  • A photo of the interior of a Kent Kwik convenience store.
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    Courtesy of Kent Kwik
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    Kent Kwik expands private label line

    Six additions to the convenience retailer’s self-branded roster highlight the industry’s growing relationship with proprietary products.

    By • July 31, 2024
  • IFT expo floor 2024
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    Permission granted by IFT
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    The next big 4 ingredient trends from IFT

    At one of the food industry's largest events of the year, manufacturers, suppliers and technology companies alike set the tone for how the space will continue to evolve.

    By Elizabeth Flood • July 29, 2024
  • A woman looks at her phone while shopping
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    Aja Koska via Getty Images
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    Food and beverage innovation plunges nearly 50% since 2007: Mintel

    The market research firm said about a quarter of items introduced between January and May of 2024 were genuinely new products.

    By Christopher Doering • July 25, 2024
  • A photo of a Citgo fuel canopy at night.
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    Permission granted by Citgo
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    Citgo testing loyalty program additions

    The fuel company will pilot several new features for its Club Citgo platform in six states over the next few months.

    By • July 25, 2024
  • A photo of a prefabricated Wawa drive-thru being assembled on site.
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    Permission granted by MODLOGIQ
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    3 ways c-stores are pushing boundaries with new formats

    Some retailers are building much larger stores while others are testing out modular and prefabricated designs — or going all-in on drive-thrus.

    By • July 24, 2024
  • Three fast food beverages stand in line.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/C-Store Dive
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    The forces shaping Gen Z’s snack and beverage consumption

    Gen Z has a sweet tooth and loves childhood flavors, but they increasingly demand healthy ingredients, major restaurants and suppliers say.

    By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • July 19, 2024
  • A photo of the candy aisle inside a Pinnacle 365 store.
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    Permission granted by Amanda Baltazar
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    C-Store Dive’s top category management stories of 2024 (so far)

    Picking the right items to fill precious shelf space is complicated. We regularly interview industry experts on the best ways to do so — and here’s what they’ve said.

    By • July 17, 2024
  • A photo of hands holding canned cocktails.
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    Brett Carlsen via Getty Images
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    Pennsylvania becomes latest state to expand RTD sales

    The legislature has passed an amendment to the state’s liquor code to allow retailers, including c-stores, to add canned cocktails to their stores.

    By • July 15, 2024
  • Celsius energy drinks at a convenience store in Boca Raton, Florida
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    Christopher Doering/C-Store Dive
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    How 3 key categories will perform during the rest of 2024

    Energy drinks should stay strong, but c-store retailers need to make careful choices about the products they stock in alcohol and candy, experts say.

    By Christine Blank • July 15, 2024
  • sheetz
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    Retrieved from Sheetz.
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    Sheetz can now deliver beer in Pennsylvania

    Beer has for years been a priority for the retailer, which also has walk-in caves in its stores and develops its own brews.

    By • July 12, 2024
  • A photo of the exterior of a convenience store in Nebraska. The side of the building says "Quiznos" and "Pump & Pantry."
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    Permission granted by Quiznos
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    Pump & Pantry expands Quiznos partnership

    After a “highly successful” initial rollout over the past two years, the companies decided to grow the deal from four to 10 sites by 2026.

    By • July 11, 2024
  • Phillips 66
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    Retrieved from Phillips 66 press release.
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    5 burning c-store industry questions for the rest of 2024

    With uncertainties inside and outside stores, convenience retailers have their eyes on consumer spending, EVs, gas consumption and employment levels.

    By , • July 10, 2024
  • A photo of Dash In's latest concept's interior.
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    Jessica Loder/C-Store Dive/C-Store Dive
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    5 charts that highlight the evolving c-store landscape

    C-Store Dive sorted through NACS and NielsenIQ data from the last three years and pulled out some of the most interesting points to share.

    By • July 9, 2024
  • Cans of Athletic's non-alcoholic beer.
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    Permission granted by Athletic Brewing
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    Beer giants lifting nonalcoholic space with ‘non-compromising’ launches: Athletic CEO

    Just five years ago, top brands were absent from the market. Today, Blue Moon, Guinness, Corona, Heineken and Bud offer no- and low-alcohol versions of their popular brews.

    By Christopher Doering • July 8, 2024