In today’s fast-paced world, nobody wants to waste time waiting in long queues for their meals. The demand for fast and convenient meals has significantly risen. Now people want to be served faster than ever before. Observing this continuous demand, C-stores have already started making a debut in the foodservice industry.
The customers are making their local convenience stores a go-to spot for food. Now, c-stores aren’t just the gas stations that sell food; they’re the restaurants that sell gas- making a difference.
But what does the future of foodservice in convenience stores look like? Is it worth investing in the foodservice section? Let’s explore this in today’s blog.
Evolving Foodservice Trends in C-Store
C-stores have long been known for their easy access to snacks, beverages, and other necessities. They are completely based on a grab-and-go model making it convenient for customers to get in and out with what they need in a short amount of time. Â
As work and family obligations leave people increasingly time-crunched, finding quality, inexpensive grab-and-go meals has become a challenge. To meet customer needs and preferences, C-stores have undergone a significant transformation in their foodservice offerings.
According to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), the number of C-stores throughout the United States has increased by 1.5% from 2023. The industry’s increased focus on serving fresh food played a major role in making C-stores successful. The top two major notable trends in convenience stores are
- Quality– As consumer preferences shifted c-stores started investing in high-quality ingredients and culinary expertise to meet the growing demand of the customers.
- Customizable Meal Options– As the demand for personalized food experiences increases, the C-stores start catering to individual preferences and dietary restrictions by offering customizable meal options.
Why Introduce Foodservice in Your Convenience Store?
Introducing foodservice in your convenience store comes with significant benefits. You become a one-stop shop that offers not only fuel, and snacks, but a quick meal option to the customers. Don’t just take it from us, hear from Mak’s Convenience owner, Nabil Maknojia, on the future of foodservice in convenience stores.
A customer who is already exhausted from a full day of work, hungry, and looking to get a quick bite when greeted by the aroma of hot, fresh pizza, and sandwiches will quickly change his mind to purchase a $3 bag of chips and a soda.
The ease of ordering his favorite meal by self-service kiosk and receiving it within a few minutes allows him to prefer you over a Quick Service Restaurant. Even according to QSR Magazine, the c-stores are directly competing with QSRs by providing customers a reason to stop beyond the gas pump. The top main reasons to introduce foodservice at C-store are as follows:
- The foodservice margin is generally higher than QSR, giving more opportunities to offer deals and more discounts.
- You deliver a better customer experience by becoming a one-stop shop to your customers.
- It is easy to attract customers by using your service strengths- such as neighborhood convenience, secure and speedy checkout process, and a clean shopping environment.v
What Is the Future of C-Store Food Services?
As customer preferences are changing, embracing new approaches to food services has become essential. C-store brands are consistently evolving and have changed the way they offer fresh and hot items. The drive-thru and curbside pickup, digital presence through customized applications, and better-quality food, are some of the few changes that C-stores are adopting.
By implementing modern technology, and taking innovative steps, c-stores will soon look more like a hybrid between Quick Service Restaurants and traditional Convenience Stores. It is expected that in the future more C-stores will add foodservice models, and home-delivery options to provide a seamless experience for customers.
How Can C-stores Get Prepared for The Future?
As the market dynamics are changing the c-store retailers need to quickly adapt to the growing demand to meet consumer expectations. Now, a high-quality foodservice program is a must-have for all convenience store retailers.
To develop a distinctive foodservice identity, c-stores need to offer excellent food, clean stores, innovative limited time offers, and super friendly staff. Here are a few points that you need to follow to prepare yourself for the future.
1.   Advancement in Convenience Foodservice
Customers today expect the same level of convenience from stores as they do from technology. Smooth checkout, no interference, and quick processing- your customers want a seamless experience. To help your guests get in and out of the store as efficiently and comfortably as possible you need to invest in mobile ordering, self-checkout stations, and personalized loyalty programs. Â Â
2.   Sight for Evolution
The C-stores need to continuously search for evolution to ensure that they stay relevant in the future. You need to keep a close eye on the market trends, changes in customer behavior, and your store growth. More stores are now using an all-in-one POS system that redefines operations, keeps everything in control, and tracks store performance.
3.   More Focus on Consumer Behavior
The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated consumer’s desires to find shortcuts to quality food and drinks in their day-to-day lives. Consumers are now becoming more health-conscious with the increased demand for quality food. C-stores need to focus more on preparing quality food, customized meals, and offering self-services to increase consumer confidence in grab-go food offerings.
Stay Ahead of The Curve
Convenience stores are undergoing a foodservice revolution by entering a new market. As a C-store retailer, it’s time to recognize the change and adapt the modern trends to survive in the industry. By examining the future of foodservice in convenience stores you need to offer customers a better experience by catering to their needs.
FAQs
What is The Future of Convenience Stores?
Convenience stores will continue to evolve more towards being experience-driven destinations. They will soon be seen as a convenient option for a lunch break during the week and a dinner option for the whole family.
Are C-Stores Recession Proof?
C-store is often considered a recession-restraint business because customers always need fuel and are more likely to make small purchases. However, any C-store neglecting the trends may become irrelevant in the future. Therefore, it is always recommended to adapt
Is Foodservice Profitable?
Adding food service in the C-store is one of the most profitable moves that any C-store retailer can make. As per the statistics of 2021, foodservice sales have reached $43.2 billion in sales. You can also maximize your profit by improving your foodservice operations.
