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A Land Where C-store Hot Dogs Are Revered

Iceland’s convenience stores embody what the U.S. industry is currently chasing

FOR YEARS, people have mocked convenience store food. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told someone I work at Convenience Store News and they’ve proceeded to joke about the shriveled-up hot dog on the roller grill that’s been there since the Reagan Administration.

So, imagine my surprise when I discovered a country where convenience store hot dogs are not only respected, but revered. My fiancé Ryan and I recently returned from an eight-day road trip around Iceland. The country is often referred to as the “Land of Fire and Ice.” But as I quickly came to realize, it’s also the land of the Icelandic hot dog, known locally as pylsa.

Made primarily from lamb blended with pork and beef, a fully dressed pylsa includes both raw and crispy fried onions, sweet brown mustard, ketchup and remoulade. The Icelandic hot dog is the unofficial national dish, and the country’s convenience stores are its primary guardians.

Stopping for a pylsa and a “Kókómjólk” (chocolate milk) is a deeply ingrained part of Icelandic road trip culture, so of course we had to partake in tradition.

And it was delicious! In fact, we enjoyed pylsa on multiple occasions as we frequently relied on Iceland’s c-stores to fuel us during our travels. It’s not uncommon to drive for hours without seeing a restaurant.

Iceland is living the future that the U.S. convenience store industry is trying to reach.

With ample seating and food-forward layouts, the country’s c-stores serve up high-quality, affordable meals in a place where dining out is famously expensive. And they’ve certainly cracked the code on creating an in-demand signature item with a cult-like following.

In the U.S., we have some examples of this: Casey’s pizza, Wawa’s hoagies, Allsup’s burritos, 7-Eleven’s Slurpee, and Kwik Trip’s Glazers Donuts. But considering all the c-stores out there that are investing heavily in foodservice, I feel like the example pool should be wider.

If you have a signature item, I’d love to hear about it. Drop me a line. And if you ever find yourself in the Land of Fire and Ice, grab yourself a pylsa. You’ll be glad you did.

For comments, please contact Linda Lisanti, Editor-in-Chief at llisanti@ensembleiq.com.

EDITORIAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS (2016-2026)

2021 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award

Finalist, Best Infographics, June 2021

2018 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award Finalist, Best Editorial Use of Data, June 2017

2023 American Society of Business Press Editors, National Azbee Awards

Silver, Data Journalism, January/April/June 2022

2023 American Society of Business Press Editors, Upper Midwest Regional Azbee Awards Gold, Data Journalism, January/April/June 2022 Bronze, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, March 2022

2016 American Society of Business Press Editors, National Azbee Awards Gold, Best How-To Article, March 2015 Bronze, Best Original Research, June 2015

2016 American Society of Business Press Editors, Midwest Regional Azbee Awards Gold, Best How-To Article, March 2015 Silver, Best Original Research, June 2015

2020 Trade Association Business Publications

Intl. Tabbie Awards Honorable Mention, Best Single Issue, September 2019

2016 Trade Association Business Publications

Intl. Tabbie Awards Silver, Front Cover Illustration, June 2015

2025 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, September 2024

Business to Business, Magazine Section

2024 Eddie Award, Folio:

Winner, Business to Business, Retail, Single Article, May 2024

Honorable Mention, Business to Business, Magazine Section

2023 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio:

Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, September 2022

Business to Business, Retail, Single Article, March 2023

2022 Eddie Award, Folio:

Winner, Business to Business, Retail, Single Article, March 2022

Winner, Business to Business, Food & Beverage, Series of Articles, October 2021

Honorable Mention, Business to Business, Retail, Single Article, September 2021

2020 Eddie Award, Folio:

Business to Business, Retail, Series of Articles, September 2019

2018 Eddie Award Honorable Mention, Folio: Business to Business, Retail, Website

Business to Business, Retail, Full Issue, October 2017

Business to Business, Editorial Use of Data, June 2017

2017 Eddie Award, Folio:

Winner, Business to Business, Retail, Single/Series of Articles, May 2017

Honorable Mention, Business to Business, Retail, Single/Series of Articles, June 2016

Laura Aufleger OnCue Express

Richard Cashion Curby’s Express Market

Billy Colemire Majors Management

Robert Falciani ExtraMile Convenience Stores

Jim Hachtel Core-Mark

Vito Maurici McLane Co. Inc.

Jonathan Polonsky Plaid Pantries Inc.

Greg Scriver Kwik Trip Inc.

Roy Strasburger StrasGlobal

Chris Hartman Rutter’s Faheem Jamal CPD Energy Corp./ Chestnut Markets

Beverage Problem Nudges Quality Mart to Whole-Store Makeover

Q: Mike, how did ImageWorks ﬁrst enter the picture at Quality Mart?

A: We started with ImageWorks’ Impact Back Bar tobacco displays. I still consider it the gold standard in convenience. What expanded the relationship was the quality, engineering, and execution behind everything they build.

Q: What challenge were you trying to solve?

A: Beverage. The perimeter beverage footprint had become increasingly vendor-driven and cluttered. It created shopper confusion and made inventory placement harder to manage. We knew beverage was phase one, but we also anticipated a multi-phase remodel—center store and the cold vault—so we needed a partner who could think beyond a single ﬁxture.

Q: What made ImageWorks different from other options you explored?

A: A lot of companies can sell a component. Fewer can deliver an integrated system with the durability and timelines we needed. With ImageWorks, the equipment is visually impactful, but it’s also operationally practical—built for the realities of store teams and day-to-day wear.

Q: What solutions did you implement?

A: The partnership grew naturally. ImageWorks helped develop a Bev Racking approach that streamlined the perimeter and improved shopability. Then we expanded into Chill Racking for the cold vault and Core/Tech

gondola systems for center store. We’ve outﬁtted multiple remodel locations with complete ImageWorks equipment packages throughout the store.

Q: What results have you seen?

A: We continue to see positive sales results after implementation—especially in beverage. After installing Chill Racking, we experienced double-digit growth across several beverage categories. Better organization, expanded carrying capacity, and cleaner merchandising created a much stronger beverage environment.

Q: Tobacco and nicotine are evolving quickly. How has Impact Back Bar held up?

A: The ﬂexibility is one of its biggest strengths. As nicotine pouch and modern oral grow, the system lets us adapt layouts efficiently while keeping the back bar clean and organized.

Q: Bottom line—why has this partnership worked?

A: It’s a solutions partnership, not a vendor relationship. We’re excited to keep building on it as we continue evolving our stores.

Reserve your complimentary Client Collaboration Center session today. 1-800-704-3660 imageworksdisplay.com

A Modest Proposal for New York’s Grocery & C-store Problem

Surely, Mayor Mandami’s solution is a return to basics strategy

AT LAST, NEW YORK CITY may have found the cure for one of its most persistent problems: too many functioning food retailers.

For too long, our city’s grocery landscape has been plagued by a chaotic, inefficient patchwork of privately owned bodegas, family-run markets and independent grocers — each stubbornly competing, adapting and somehow managing to stock their shelves without the guiding hand of government. It’s been a messy, market-driven system.

Enter Mayor Zohran Mandami’s elegant solution: government-run grocery stores.

But surely, the real goal isn’t profitability, it’s performative.

I say, why limit this vision to groceries? If we’re serious, the next logical step is obvious: government-run convenience stores. After all, why should private operators continue to dominate late-night snacks, beverages and grab-and-go meals when the public sector could bring its unique brand of efficiency to the roller grill?

Imagine the possibilities. Coffee programs calibrated not by customer preference, but by committee. Pricing that reflects not market conditions, but policy priorities.

Remember in 2012 when former Mayor Mike Bloomberg passed a measure limiting the size of sugary soft drinks in the city? Perhaps most exciting, a government-run convenience store could bring an end to that exhausting wall of beverage choices — because nothing says progress like reducing 20 cooler doors to a carefully curated selection of three.

Hours of operation could finally align with government norms. Need a bottle of water at 9 p.m.? Sorry, you missed your one-hour window for that.

Of course, critics will point to the cost. Early estimates already suggest these stores will require substantial taxpayer investment to open and operate. But surely, the real goal isn’t profitability, it’s performative. Why allow independent operators to succeed on thin margins when the city can operate at a loss indefinitely?

And what of the bodegas, the lifeblood of so many neighborhoods? The ones that know their customers by name and somehow stay open through blackouts, pandemics and highcrime chaos. Clearly, they’ve had an unfair advantage for far too long. It’s only reasonable that they now compete with an entity that sets the rules … and writes the checks.

Some have even raised comparisons to state-run food systems of the past — those Soviet-era stores with empty shelves, long lines and limited supply. But let’s not dwell on history. Think of it instead as a lifestyle reset. Fewer choices. Occasional shortages. A return to the basics. It’s character-building, really.

And why stop at New York? If this model proves successful — and by “successful,” I mean operational — it could serve as a blueprint for cities nationwide. Imagine a network of government-run grocery and convenience stores stretching coast to coast, bringing consistency, uniformity and just the right amount of scarcity to every community.

In an industry that has long thrived on speed, flexibility and razor-thin margins, it’s refreshing to consider an alternative built on deliberation, bureaucracy and guaranteed funding.

So yes, let’s embrace this moment. Let’s rethink not just grocery, but convenience itself. Because if there’s one thing the convenience channel has been missing all these years, it’s a little less convenience.

For comments, please contact Don Longo, Editorial Director Emeritus, at dlongo@ensembleiq.com.

COVER STORY

28 Nourishing the Industry

In an otherwise lackluster year, foodservice emerges as a notable exception.

FEATURES

62 Curbing Crime in Real Time

Convenience retailers are finding new ways to deter and discover internal and external loss.

68 From Classrooms to Checkout Lines

Partnerships with local universities drive traffic and create brand loyalty for c-stores.

DEPARTMENTS

E DITOR’S NOTE

4 A Land Where C-store

Hot Dogs Are Revered Iceland’s convenience stores embody what the U.S. industry is currently chasing.

VIEWPOINT

6 A Modest Proposal for New York’s Grocery & C-store Problem

Surely, Mayor Mandami’s solution is a return to basics strategy.

12 CSNews Online

21 New Products

SMALL OPERATOR

22 Authentic, by Design

Small operators are leaning into more genuine, simple strategies to stand out.

INSIDE THE CONSUMER MIND

90 Are C-stores Healthy Enough?

The channel has been expanding its better-for-you offerings, but there’s still untapped potential.

CONTENTS JUNE 26

8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Ste. 225, Chicago, IL 60631 (773) 992-4450 Fax (773) 992-4455 WWW.CSNEWS.COM

BRAND MANAGEMENT

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/GROUP PUBLISHER, CONVENIENCE NORTH AMERICA Sandra Parente sparente@ensembleiq.com

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Linda Lisanti llisanti@ensembleiq.com

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Melissa Kress mkress@ensembleiq.com

MANAGING EDITOR Danielle Romano dromano@ensembleiq.com

SENIOR EDITOR Angela Hanson ahanson@ensembleiq.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR EMERITUS Don Longo dlongo@ensembleiq.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Renée M. Covino, Tammy Mastroberte

ADVERTISING SALES & BUSINESS

ASSOCIATE BRAND DIRECTOR Rachel McGaffigan - (774) 212-6455 rmcgaffigan@ensembleiq.com

ASSOCIATE BRAND DIRECTOR Ron Lowy - (330) 840-9557 - rlowy@ensembleiq.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE & CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Terry Kanganis - (917) 634-7471 - tkanganis@ensembleiq.com

DESIGN/PRODUCTION/MARKETING

ART DIRECTOR Cristian Bejarano Rojas crojas@ensembleiq.com

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Pat Wisser pwisser@ensembleiq.com

MARKETING MANAGER Jakob Wodnicki jwodnicki@ensembleiq.com

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES LIST RENTAL mbriganti@anteriad.com

SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS contact@csnews.com

CORPORATE OFFICERS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Jennifer Litterick

Jane Volland

Ann Jadown

Derek Estey

1 Casey’s Rolls Out All-American Menu Additions

The retailer paired the return of its most-requested limited-time offer, the Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza, with the debut of the ultimate sidekick, Casey’s new Crispy Fries. The pizza will be available through Sept. 8, while the fries are a permanent item.

2 FDA Review Takes Nearly 30 Cigarette Products Off the Backbar

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued Not Substantially Equivalent orders for 28 cigarette products manufactured by Seneca Manufacturing Co. The agency said retailers should discuss disposal options for remaining inventory with the product manufacturer or supplier.

Royal Farms Enters South Carolina

3

The Baltimore-based chain opened its first location in the state at 391 Fantasy Harbour Blvd. in Myrtle Beach on May 18. Ahead of the opening, Royal Farms hosted a special ticketed, two-day “Get Ready to ROFO” soft opening event.

4 Six

C-store

Chains Land

Among ‘Most Trustworthy Companies’ QuikTrip Corp., Casey’s General Stores Inc., Wawa Inc., RaceTrac Inc., Murphy USA and Love’s Travel Stops were named to Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in America list for 2026. Determined through a survey, the ranking is based on customer and employee trust, and sentiment toward the brand.

FDA Authorizes First Flavored Vapor Products

The agency gave the marketing greenlight to four Glas electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) through its premarket tobacco product application pathway. This action marked the FDA’s first authorization of nontobacco and nonmenthol ENDS products.

EXPERT VIEWPOINT

Why AI Can’t Replace the Human in Convenience Retail Design

Branding or designing a convenience store isn’t a graphic design exercise. It’s the work of understanding people: who they are, where they’re coming from, what they need at 7 a.m. vs. what they want at 2 p.m., and how a space can make them feel something beyond transactional. That’s a deeply human problem and it requires human empathy to solve, writes John McCauley, partner and director of brand design at Paragon Solutions. AI doesn’t understand the difference between a brand that earns loyalty and one that is just transactional.

OUT & ABOUT

NRA Show Highlights the Long-Term Effects of Leadership Development

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, it is also a good time to recognize the industries that shape communities and help Americans form their strongest skills, National Restaurant Association (NRA) President and CEO Michelle Korsmo said during her keynote address at the 2026 NRA Show, held May 16-19 in Chicago.

Two in three working U.S. adults have worked at restaurants in the past.

“Restaurants are America’s training ground for working leadership. No one has as much influence over leadership skill development and the wider workforce than restaurants,” Korsmo stated. She encouraged showgoers to start thinking of leadership development in their teams as nonnegotiable.

For more exclusive content, visit the Events & Webcasts section of CSNews.com.

McLane Central Eats Expansion

McLane is growing its Central Eats offering with new, ready-to-heat meals designed for today’s busy consumers that provide convenient options for lunch, dinner or snacking. Made with premium ingredients and chef-inspired recipes, the meals deliver quality and flavor in safe, simple microwaveable packaging. The initial lineup includes Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti, Penne Alfredo with Chicken, Chicken Enchiladas with Cilantro Lime Rice, and Firecracker Chicken with Vegetable Fried Rice.

McLane Co. Inc. Temple, Texas mclaneco.com

Next-Generation Network Strategy Unveiled for 7-Eleven

Its parent company wants more than 7,000 remodels completed by 2030

By Angela Hanson

SEVEN & I HOLDINGS CO. LTD., the Tokyo-based parent company of 7-Eleven Inc., will focus on a series of core priorities to improve its North American network, the company shared in a presentation during its Spring 2026 Investor Relations Day.

The company’s value drivers include strengthening the fundamentals through a modern store network, with modernized stores serving as the foundation for scaling product assortment and customer experience; and scaling the future through a leading product assortment, best customer experience, fuel vertical integration, and cost leadership.

Seven & i has set a goal of more than 7,000 remodels by 2030 — more than half of the 13,000 7-Eleven stores in the United States and Canada — based on the premise that elevating customer experience requires fundamentally improving existing stores first.

Its new and targeted approach to remodels calls for:

• Clean, modernized stores, signaling to customers that 7-Eleven has made an investment prior to them entering the property;

• Key interior improvements, including program rollouts customized for each store’s customer base; and

• Better customer experience through store simplification and optimization programs.

7-Eleven’s modern store network also will include 1,300 “new standard” stores, which outperform existing stores in both traffic and sales, according to Seven & i. “New

standard stores have created a scalable template for growth over the next decade,” the company said.

Inside the stores, the parent company seeks to reach $1 billion in incremental fresh food sales and 1,100 new restaurants by 2030, building customer loyalty and brand trust.

To grow fresh food sales, Seven & i plans to accelerate hot foods, expand the roller grill, reinvent the open air case, and become a flavor destination, all while investing in fresh-food quality and innovation to improve perception. Focus areas for its restaurant brands — Laredo Taco Company, Raise the Roost and Speedy Café — include broadening menu appeal, building new stores and concepts, and boosting operations with an optimized value chain.

Finally, Seven & i seeks to double its private brand business to approximately $2.6 billion in sales by 2030, leveraging high-growth categories such as nuts/seeds, protein, and items that appeal to Hispanic consumers.

“Our North Star unites us around elevating customer experience, with a shared commitment to delivering a consistent, exceptional experience — no matter where or how customers engage with us,” the company explained.

Retailers Face Stricter SNAP Stocking Requirements

USDA changes that place an emphasis on “real food first” will go into effect this fall

RETAILERS WILL SOON be required to provide a broader variety of nutritious food options to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients across the country.

A new rule regarding stocking standards for participating retailers was published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in May. Specifically, retailers authorized to accept SNAP benefits must now carry seven varieties of items across four categories of staple foods: protein, grains, dairy, and fruits and vegetables.

The change more than doubles the current requirement, emphasizes more whole foods, increases the perishable food requirements, and eliminates loopholes that previously allowed retailers to count certain snack foods toward their staple food requirements.

The agency plan to issue additional guidance in the coming weeks. The rule takes effect this fall.

“To turn the tide on our nation’s health

crisis, we need to ensure our nutrition assistance programs emphasize real food first, and that’s exactly what these updates to SNAP retailer requirements will do,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “SNAP authorized retailers accept over $90 billion a year, or $236 million a day, in taxpayer dollars — USDA is making sure they’re actually in the business of selling food. And for those retailers who are the only food outpost for miles, I know you will be so excited to serve your customers and communities healthy food.”

In addition to ensuring that vulnerable families in need have more nutritious options wherever they shop, the rule demands more accountability from those retailers that have stocked the bare minimum and seen the most program violations, according to the USDA.

“This rule puts real food back at the center of SNAP,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said. “I thank [Rollins] for her leadership in advancing these commonsense reforms. It demands more from retailers and delivers better options for the families who depend on this program. This administration is committed to working across government to improve nutrition, strengthen accountability, and drive better health outcomes nationwide. This is how we Make America Healthy Again.”

FAST FACTS

45%

of drivers are saving money on gas by using gas station loyalty programs or apps.

— Numerator

Eye on Growth

54%

of retailers are seeing promotional activity pick up in the nonalcoholic beverage space.

— Goldman Sachs

48%

of Generation Z and millennials using GLP-1 drugs are dining out more.

— Acosta Group

Legacy Markets acquired 10 PowerTrac convenience and liquor stores in South Carolina. With this transaction, Legacy Markets brings its total portfolio to 20 stores in North Carolina and South Carolina.

During the first quarter of 2026, ARKO Corp. opened two retail stores and one new-to-industry (NTI) cardlock location. It remains on track to open three new Dunkin’ locations, one NTI retail store and approximately 20 NTI cardlock sites in 2026.

Madison Capital Group expanded the Fresh Stop brand across Texas with the acquisition of four locations. The real estate investment firm raised $13.2 million for the deal through a regulation D private placement offering, Fresh Stop Texas DST.

Murphy USA Inc. is on track to open between 45 and 55 new c-stores this year. Six stores opened as of early May and 18 stores are currently under construction.

Colonial Oil Industries Inc., a division of Colonial Group Inc., acquired Atkinson Oil Co. LLC, an affiliate of Jet Food Stores of Georgia Inc. The deal is expected to strengthen Colonial Oil Industries’ presence across the Southeast.

Tulsa International Airport, in collaboration with TNP Fuels, cut the ribbon on Fuel & Fly Mart, marking the debut of the airport’s first onsite convenience store. The site will serve travelers, rideshare drivers and airport employees.

ARKO also plans to complete roughly 25 remodels this year.

Retailer Tidbits

The Freshies convenience store chain, operated by R.H. Foster Energy LLC, debuted a reimagined flagship store in Bangor, Maine. The design features a refined visual identity, new proprietary branded foodservice programs and an enhanced coffee program.

7-Eleven Inc. introduced new kids’ meals at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes locations. Starting at a price point of $3.99, each meal includes an entrée, side and drink paired with a toy.

Chestnut Market is partnering with Lula Commerce to launch third-party digital ordering and delivery across its network of 80 stores. The collaboration represents the next step in the retailer’s broader digital strategy.

Supplier Tidbits

Molson Coors completed its purchase of Atomic Brands Inc., maker of Monaco Cocktails. This acquisition establishes Molson Coors as a top five supplier in the fast-growing ready-to-drink cocktail segment.

McLane Co. Inc., in partnership with Aurora Innovation Inc., is expanding a driverless haul pilot program across Texas. McLane will service the state with the Aurora Driver, an SAE L4 self-driving system.

Royal Cup Coffee and Tea is acquiring Farmer Brothers Coffee Co. As part of the transaction, Royal Cup will purchase all outstanding shares of Farmer Brothers stock in an all-cash transaction for approximately $28 million.

Onvo kicked off a search for its first-ever chief hot dog officer (CHO). The CHO will sample Onvo hot dogs all summer long, creating recipes inspired by favorite bites and sharing the experience with fans.

QuickChek and Upside teamed up to bring cash back fuel offers to 70 QuickChek locations in New Jersey. The retailer is the first in the Garden State to go live with the digital marketplace’s new fuel offer model.

Kwik Trip Inc. is tapping Eagle Eye to bring AI-powered personalized promotions to its customers. The technology platform will deliver individualized and gamified offers to the 5.25 million loyalty members.

Welch’s Fruit Snacks are now made with colors from natural sources and contain no artificial dyes, such as Red 40 or Blue 1. This milestone reflects a longstanding commitment by PIM Brands to offer better choices for families.

Morinaga & Co. Ltd inked a deal for My/Mochi Ice Cream. This growth move builds upon Morinaga’s plans to expand HI-CHEW production capacity in the United States with the opening of a second factory in 2027.

Black Buffalo signed on as the Official Dip of Major League Fishing. The partnership designates Black Buffalo as the official dip across the Bass Pro Tour, Fishing Clash Team Series, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, Toyota Series, and Phoenix Bass Fishing League.

The company partnered with Paragon Solutions for the Freshies 2.0 concept.

The companies began their supervised autonomy pilot in 2023.

Top Women in Convenience Events Now Part of Official NACS Show Program

The arrangement will enable showgoers to attend the TWIC Awards Gala and new TWIC Connections luncheon without conflicts

Convenience Store News and NACS formed a new arrangement that will see the Top Women in Convenience (TWIC) Awards Gala and this year’s new TWIC Connections luncheon added to the official NACS Show program.

The 2026 NACS Show takes places Oct. 6-9 in Las Vegas. On Thursday, Oct. 8, CSNews will host its inaugural Top Women in Convenience Connections luncheon from noon to 2 p.m., bringing together the 2026 class of TWIC honorees and TWIC alumni from past years for professional development and networking. The TWIC Awards Gala will now take place on the evening of Oct. 8 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.

“NACS and Convenience Store News are bringing one of the industry’s most

prestigious awards programs into the NACS Show agenda, ensuring our audience can experience the new TWIC luncheon and the Top Women in Convenience Awards Gala without logistical conflicts,” said Bob Hughes, NACS’ vice president of supplier relations, expositions and meetings.

“Moving TWIC to Thursday, Oct. 8, not only solves industry scheduling conflicts, but also allows us to introduce new programming during the inaugural TWIC luncheon, further building on the energy of the NACS Show,” added Sandra Parente, senior vice president of Convenience North America at EnsembleIQ, the parent company of CSNews

Now in its 13th year, TWIC is the industry’s first and still only awards program that recognizes the integral role women play in convenience retailing and honors female leaders who are making outstanding contributions to their companies and the convenience store industry at large. To date, nearly 800 women have been welcomed into the TWIC family.

AriZona Fountain Beverages

Sunny Sky Products is partnering with AriZona to bring AriZona Fountain Beverages to retail and on-premises channels. Designed for consistency and ease, these dispensed beverages allow operators to serve a trusted brand while maximizing speed, reducing labor and optimizing menu space. Available flavors include Arnold Palmer, Green Tea, Mucho Mango, Watermelon, Fruit Punch, Sweet Tea, and Unsweet Tea. Packaged in a three-gallon bag-in-box, each product yields 192 12-ounce servings per case with a 12-month shelf life from pack date. AriZona Fountain Beverages are now available through Sunny Sky Products.

SUNNY SKY PRODUCTS • HOUSTON • SUNNYSKYPRODUCTS.COM

Prairie City Bakery Cinnamon Crumble Pound Cake

Building on the success of its Coffee House Pound Cake line, Prairie City Bakery introduces the Cinnamon Crumble Pound Cake. The new flavor features a rich, moist pound cake that’s swirled with warm cinnamon, topped with a buttery crumble streusel and finished with a drizzle of sweet white icing. The Coffee House Pound Cake line is part of the brand’s thaw-and-sell program. Retailers can simply thaw, stock and sell, ensuring consistent quality with minimal labor. Cinnamon Crumble Pound Cake is available now and stocked in DOT Foods for convenient distribution.

PRAIRIE CITY BAKERY • VERNON HILLS, ILL. • PCBAKERY.COM

Johnsonville Ultimate Southern Recipe Sausage Slices

Fully cooked and seasoned with sage and cracked black pepper, Johnsonville Ultimate Southern Recipe Sausage Slices are grilled for depth of flavor before being cut into quarter-inch bias slices for flexibility across applications. Designed for today’s most popular menu builds, the comfort-driven flavor can help operators add versatility to breakfast burritos, lunchtime bowls, dinner pizzas and more. Additionally, compared to sausage crumbles, Ultimate Southern Recipe Sausage Slices provide improved visual appeal, a richer flavor experience and more substantial value for operators, according to the company.

JOHNSONVILLE LLC • SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WIS. • FOODSERVICE.JOHNSONVILLE.COM

Sour Patch Kids Glow Ups Hearts & Besties

The Sour Patch Kids brand spreads the sour gummy love with two mouthpuckering product drops: Sour Patch Kids Glow Ups Hearts and Sour Patch Kids Besties. Glow Ups Hearts is the latest addition to the Glow Ups line following its 2025 debut. Available in Strawberry Watermelon and Cherry flavors, the red and pink, soft chewy hearts glow under a blacklight. Besties features classic flavors (Redberry+Blue Raspberry and Watermelon+Lime) in one piece, connected by four kids holding hands. Glow Ups Hearts come in an 8.4-ounce standup bag for $3.99, while Besties are available in a 3.1-ounce peg bag for $1.25 or a 7.37-ounce peg bag for $3.29. MONDELĒZ INTERNATIONAL • HANOVER, N.J. • THESOURPATCHKIDS.COM

DFS 4Court Media

New from Dover Fueling Solutions (DFS), 4Court Media is a retail media network designed to connect brands with consumers at the pump. It gives endemic and nonendemic advertisers access to a broad range of fueling retailers, including thousands of independent operators that are traditionally harder to reach through national media buys. This retail media network primarily operates on Wayne Ovation fuel dispenser screens, including its 27-inch and 12-inch high-definition displays, to deliver vivid, multimedia content that captures the attention of consumers during their fueling experience. For retailers, 4Court Media provides a turnkey, fully managed media service that delivers an engaging forecourt experience while generating incremental revenue through ad sales. DOVER FUELING SOLUTIONS • AUSTIN, TEXAS • DOVERFUELINGSOLUTIONS.COM

Authentic, by Design

Small operators are leaning into more genuine, simple strategies to stand out

By Renée M. Covino

THE CONVENIENCE STORE industry is a competitive market, making it important to attract the attention of customers. Some small operators are winning by differentiating in design — on their own merit, rather than trying to compete with big-chain prototypes.

“We’re seeing more small operators finally stop trying to look like the big chains and start using one of their top advantages over the majors — namely, the freedom to be specific about who they are and what they’re about,” relayed Byron Anderson, managing partner of retail design firm BDL Partners, based in New York.

He cited two examples of small operators that are doing a great job of brand positioning, one rooted in Southern hospitality and the other a bistro-type destination with a laser focus on the customer experience.

“Small operators can be genuinely, specifically local,” Anderson said. “Not in the superficial way and not with a mural of the skyline or a hashtag about community, but with the product mix, the food offer and a store design that feels like it was built for the street it sits on.”

His advice to clients of a smaller scale is to be bold about your specific story and simple in how you tell it. You don’t need an expensive concept to have a clear identity.

Trend Watch

“The biggest shift we’re seeing is the

move from transactional to experiential,” John McCauley, a partner and director of brand design at Fort Worth, Texas-based Paragon Solutions, told Convenience Store News. “Small operators are investing in spaces that feel intentional, not assembled.”

Authenticity-driven branding is leading the charge. There is a realization that customers are drawn to stores that feel rooted in something real, whether that’s a local food heritage, a community identity or a family story. “When the design reflects honestly, it resonates in ways that generic store sets simply can’t,” he explained.

This means customers should be able to understand a store within seconds of walking in. In smaller footprints, clutter and over-merchandising can create confusion and reduce sales.

“One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is toward simplicity,” offered Margaret Sotrop, executive vice president of retail growth for GSP Retail, a retail solutions provider based in Clearwater, Fla. “If a customer walks in and can’t immediately understand the space, you’ve already lost them. Sightlines, flow and clarity are everything in a smaller footprint.”

Small operators benefit from truly understanding their shoppers and the communities they serve, said Elizabeth Lafontaine, director of research at Placer.ai, a Santa Cruz, Calif.-based food traffic analytics platform. “Understanding local preference can inform merchandising and design decisions unique to each location; for example, one location might benefit from a broader selection of drinks and fewer snacks,” she said. “Design should reflect local traffic patterns and tastes.”

Another top trend defining c-store design right now is foodservice as the centerpiece. The coffee bar, the

grab-and-go case and the fresh prepared food section are moving from the back wall to the heart of the store, according to industry design experts, who say that when a retailer designs around its best offer, the whole space performs better.

Heidi Barnhart, retail environment account director for GSP Retail, calls this designing around “hero zones” or destination categories. “Whether it’s coffee, grab-and-go or beer caves, successful stores create impact within the key categories they want to be known for,” she said.

One other design stance that’s worthy of small operators’ attention is to pull every aspect together.

“One of the top trends we’re seeing in small retail today is the importance of establishing a cohesive brand look and feel across every touchpoint, from your online store and app to your marketing, PR and social media, all the way through to the in-store experience itself,” said Cindi Kato, principal at Arcadis, a global design and consultancy firm.

She echoed that small operators have an advantage larger chains don’t: the ability to be totally brand forward.

“They can create a space that stands out and tells their own story on their own terms,” she stated.

Laying the First Stone

So, where should small operators start when looking to remodel?

“The biggest mistake we see is trying to do too much at once,” GSP Retail’s Sotrop pointed out. “Instead, start

“Small operators are investing in spaces that feel intentional, not assembled.”

— John McCauley, Paragon Solutions

with a focused, phased approach.”

She and Barnhart recommend small operators define their brand first by asking:

• What do we want to be known for?

• What brings customers inside from the pumps?

• What makes our store memorable?

Then, start with the basics. Fix sightlines and remove clutter. “Too many vendor displays and overstocked fixtures block visibility and hurt navigation,” Barnhart said.

The entry zone is key, according to Paragon Solutions’ McCauley. “First impressions matter,” he said, urging operators to think about what customers see in the first 10 feet. “Make that space clean, uncluttered and welcoming. It sets expectations for everything else.”

BDL Partners’ Anderson likewise recommends cleaning up sightlines. “Make sure the first thing a customer sees is what you want them to buy. Most stores get this fundamentally wrong and then wonder why basket size is flat,” he observed.

Operators don’t need a big-move remodel to make a big impact, he added. “You need a clear point of view and the discipline to act on it,” Anderson said. “A surprising number of operators have neither and that’s the real problem — not the budget.”

He believes small stores should put their design focus on lighting. “If you only do one thing, do this,” he maintained. “Warm, focused light over food and beverage changes how the entire store feels without touching a single fixture. Operators consistently underspend here, and I genuinely don’t understand why.”

McCauley agrees that nothing transforms a store faster or more affordably than updated lighting. “Swap out flat fluorescents for layered, warmer LED systems,” he said. “Highlight your foodservice area and your fresh offer. Lighting tells customers where to look and what matters.”

Small operators shouldn’t overlook a color and materials refresh, too. Sometimes, a new wall color, updated shelving endcaps and consistent branded touchpoints can do more than a full renovation at a fraction of the cost, according to McCauley.

Warm, residential-influenced materials are replacing the cold, hard surfaces that have defined convenience retail for decades.

Foodservice as the centerpiece is a top trend defining c-store design.

“Think natural wood tones, warm lighting, textured wall surfaces and softer color palettes,” he suggested. “These choices slow customers down in the best possible way and signal that this is a place worth lingering in.”

Stores should create a roadmap before investing, Barnhart advised. “We often recommend building a virtual prototype store first, so operators can ‘try it before they buy it’ and plan phased investments,” she explained.

And Sotrop added, “If you’re not ready for a full rebrand, start by creating a clean, simplified ‘white space’ that sets the stage for future upgrades.”

Sustainable, Not Solar

Should sustainability factor into the design equation if you’re not a big chain?

“It plays in more than most small operators realize, and it doesn’t have to mean solar panels and living walls,” McCauley said, adding that sustainability in design starts with durability.

Sustainability is best framed as longevity, in Anderson’s view. “Design decisions that last a decade are more economically and environmentally sustainable than cosmetic updates every three years. Durable materials cost more upfront and considerably less over time,” he reasoned.

To design with longevity in mind, small operators should aim for things such as LED lighting, high-efficiency equipment, and fewer fixtures that are built better.

“When you reduce operating cost, you reduce environmental impact and simultaneously improve store environment,” Anderson said.

Practical, cost-effective decisions that can be easily executed are what small operators should focus on. “Flexible systems like fabric and cleat mounted signage reduce waste, allow easy updates and have great impact,” Barnhart asserted. “Energy-efficient lighting with LED upgrades often come with rebates or tax credits.”

“Sightlines, flow and clarity are everything in a smaller footprint.”

— Margaret Sotrop, GSP Retail

Designing for ease of maintenance is another “green” tactic. Sustainable operations are the ones that can actually be sustained, according to Anderson. He advocates for sourcing local materials, suppliers and food programs where possible. “Communicate the story, but let the quality of the environment make the argument,” he said.

This is an area where small operators can get ahead of their larger competitors. It’s all in the storytelling, per McCauley. “Customers notice when a store makes genuine sustainability commitments, and a smaller operator can communicate that story authentically in ways that feel personal rather than corporate,” he told CSNews

But Anderson pointed out an important “don’t” to consider. “The mistake operators make is treating sustainability as a brand position,” he cautioned. “Customers, especially younger customers, sniff out inauthenticity instantly. Do the work and let the environment speak for itself.” CSN

More Mileage for Your Money

Which areas of the store will provide the most bang for the least buck? Here, Convenience Store News offers a punch list from our contributing design experts:

• Windows — They should provide real visibility into the store.

• Front of the Store — Right as you walk through the door, look at this area as a revolving showcase to deliver an element of surprise.

• Lighting — There is no more efficient design investment available.

• Foodservice Area — Hands down, it is where margin lives and where loyalty is built.

• Beverages — Stellar beverage destinations can create a 20% to 30% sales lift.

• Restrooms — Consistently clean restrooms are a competitive differentiator, particularly for road travelers and families.

• Checkout — In terms of impulse purchases, two or three curated, high-relevance items will outperform a crowded rack every time.

NOURISHING THE INDUSTRY

IN AN OTHERWISE LACKLUSTER YEAR, FOODSERVICE EMERGES AS A NOTABLE EXCEPTION

By Angela Hanson & Linda Lisanti

WHILE TOTAL U.S. convenience store sales declined for a third consecutive year in 2025, and many of the major product categories struggled to post growth, there were a handful of notable exceptions — the most prominent being the foodservice category.

Average foodservice sales per store increased 4.2%, leading the category’s share of in-store sales to hit a five-year high of 23.29%, according to the 2026 Convenience Store News Industry Report, the longest-running annual analysis of U.S. c-store industry performance.

Foodservice growth, albeit slower than in previous years, helped the industry eke out a 1% increase in total in-store sales for the year. This wasn’t enough, however, to offset a 5.5% drop in motor fuel sales, largely driven by another year of lower gas prices. As a result, overall industry sales declined 3%, going from $755.2 billion to $732.5 billion.

Still, the convenience store industry’s sales mix for 2025 remained weighted more toward motor fuels, though in-store sales did again attain a bigger slice of the pie than the prior year. Fuel comprised 59.6%, down from 61.2% in 2024. In-store comprised 40.4%, up from 38.8%.

The industry’s gross profit dollar mix, on the other hand, skewed more toward in-store, which accounted for 61.2%, while fuel accounted for 38.8%. In total, industry gross profits rose just 0.8% last year to $129.43 billion. This marked the lowest rate of growth in the past five years.

On the plus side, inflation continued to cool in 2025 — the average annual rate was 2.7%, compared to 2.9% in 2024 and 4.1% in 2023. Nevertheless, it appears c-store customers scaled back visits to the channel, but kept their in-store spend per visit stable. Year over year, fuel transactions per week dropped 1.4% and in-store transactions dropped 3.6%. The average in-store transaction totaled $12.78, up a slight 0.6%.

OPERATIONS RESULTS

Continuing a welcome trend that began in 2024, convenience retailers enjoyed a little more relief in terms of operating expenses last year. Direct store operating expenses

MOTOR FUEL VOLUME

rose only 5.7% per store compared to 7.9% in 2024 and 11.3% in 2023. The impact was observed across most line items with the exception of health insurance.

Labor, including wages, payroll taxes, workers compensation, health insurance and other benefits, accounted for the largest share of operating expenses at $664,028 per store, up 4% vs. the prior year. This is also a continuation of a downward trend that began in 2024, as labor costs had increased by 6.6% in 2023 and 11.2% in 2022 as the

industry struggled to hire and retain employees.

Also in the win column, there’s continued improvement in the industry’s turnover rates. The 2025 turnover rate for store associates was 140%, down from 146% in 2024 and 158% in 2023. Last year also saw the turnover rate for store managers experience a turnaround.

MOTOR FUELS

their third year of decline in

2025, with the weighted average price of all grades of gasoline and diesel fuel falling 6.3% to $3.14 per gallon, the second-lowest average price in the last five years. As such, the industry’s fuel dollar sales fell, declining 5.5%, while gallons saw a small uptick from a year ago, increasing just 0.8%. The average gross margin slipped 1.8% to 27.8 cents per gallon.

The percentage of convenience stores selling motor fuels held steady, increasing less than one percentage point to 80.7%.

INDUSTRY SALES MIX

Approximately 122,620 c-stores across the United States offered motor fuels last year.

Industrywide, total dollar sales of motor fuels reached $436.5 billion in 2025, down from $462 billion the previous year and the second-lowest figure in the last five years. Conversely, total gallons sold reached 139 billion, up from 137.9 billion, marking a new five-year high.

CIGARETTES

The decline of cigarette sales at c-stores continued in 2025 but at a slower pace, falling 1.7% to $383,422 in average sales per store. This drop, however, marked an

PROFIT DOLLAR MIX

DIRECT STORE OPERATING EXPENSES (dollars per store)

improvement from the 4.8% decline of the previous year.

Economy/value cigarettes were again the only notable area of growth at an 11.2% increase, up from 8.2% in 2024. While it remains the smallest segment in terms of actual dollar sales, this indicates consumers are increasingly interested in ways to save money on cigarette purchases. Premium/ super premium was the top cigarette segment by a significant margin, though average sales per store declined 3.3%. Midlevel cigarette sales were flat at 0.2%.

Total industry dollar sales of cigarettes also saw a slower rate of decline in 2025, falling 1.8% from the prior year. Total industry unit volume decreased 6.9%, marking the lowest rate of volume decline since 2021. The category’s share of in-store sales fell less than one percentage point to 19.59%, hitting a five-year low. This also marked the first instance of sub-20% share for the category during the five-year period.

OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS

Other tobacco products (OTP) had a better year than cigarettes despite mixed segment results. Average sales per store in 2025 increased 3.7% to $160,804, up from 2.7% growth the previous year. Still, most OTP segments posted flat to declining per-store sales.

Papers and smokeless tobacco alternatives were the only subcategories to see growth, with average sales per store rising 10.6% and 35.5%, respectively. The sharp increase for smokeless tobacco alternatives was enough to move this segment ahead of cigars and vaping products, even as its growth slowed from a 59.6% increase in 2024.

Total industry sales of OTP increased

EMPLOYEE TURNOVER

TRANSACTIONS

C-STORE SQUARE FOOTAGE

TOTAL MERCHANDISE & FOODSERVICE SALES (in billions)

IN-STORE SALES PER STORE

MOTOR FUEL SALES & MARGINS

*Weighted average, all grades and diesel

RETAIL GASOLINE PRICES (per gallon)

Price

FIVE-YEAR TREND: MOTOR FUELS

Prepared food once again led all foodservice segments in both growth and dollar sales, with per-store sales increasing 5.5%. Cold dispensed beverages and frozen dispensed beverages also posted gains, though growth slowed to 2.4% and 2.8%, respectively. Hot dispensed beverages was the only segment to decline, with per-store sales slipping 1.7% after growing 12.2% in 2024.

Total industry sales of foodservice increased 4.1% in 2025, the lowest growth rate of the last five years and a significant drop from 12.9% growth in 2024. Despite slower growth, though, the category’s share of in-store sales hit a five-year high, rising to 23.29%.

PACKAGED BEVERAGES

The cold vault’s overall performance improved in 2025 even as most packaged beverage segments struggled. Average packaged beverage sales per store increased 3% to $278,353, up from a negligible 0.1% bump in 2024.

For the second consecutive year, only a handful of beverage segments posted dollar sales growth. Energy and alternative drinks led the way with perstore sales of the top-selling segment rising 10%, while juice and juice drinks increased 4%. Carbonated soft drinks remained relatively flat with per-store sales inching up 0.3%, but the category continued to hold a comfortable No. 2 spot in total dollar sales. All other segments recorded declines. Ready-to-drink coffee saw the steepest drop at 7%, while bottled water fell 2.5%, moving this segment behind enhanced water.

Total industry sales of packaged beverages picked up from the previous year, increasing 2.9% from a relatively flat 2024. Total unit volume decreased 0.9%, slowing from the previous year’s 3.2% volume decline. Packaged beverages’ share of in-store sales grew less than one point to 14.22%, marking a new five-year high for the category.

3.8% last year, up from 2.9% in 2024. Total industry unit volume fell 0.5%, an improvement over the previous two years of volume declines. Year over year, OTP’s share of in-store sales saw a slight uptick to 8.24%.

FOODSERVICE

The foodservice category continued to grow in 2025 albeit at a more moderate pace, marking the first time in five years that its growth fell below double digits. Average sales per store increased 4.2% to $455,925, compared to 12.9% growth in 2024.

BEER & MALT BEVERAGES

The beer and malt beverages category saw worse results than the rest of the cold vault in 2025 due to mixed segment results. Average sales per store decreased 2.4% to $164,496, building on the 1.1% decline of 2024.

Imported beer claimed the top-selling segment seat in 2025, overtaking

IN-STORE SALES BY CATEGORY

FRESH LOOK STRONGER SALES

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Source: Swisher Sweets Pack Flash Report 10.10.2025, Behaviorally

CATEGORY ANALYSIS:

PRODUCTS

FIVE-YEAR TREND: CIGARETTES

FIVE-YEAR TREND: OTHER

premium beer, which posted its second consecutive year of steep declines. Average perstore sales of premium beer fell 5.9%, while imported beer saw a smaller decrease at 1.8%. A few segments posted per-store sales growth, including premium plus/super premium beer, alcoholic seltzers, cheladas, alcoholic cider, and nonalcoholic beer. Nonalcoholic beer delivered the strongest percentage increase at 24.3%, though it remained the smallest segment in total dollar sales.

The percentage of convenience stores selling beer and malt beverages remained relatively steady in 2025, inching up less than one percentage point to 82.1%. However, total industry dollar sales for the category declined 2.5%, worsening from a 0.8% decrease in 2024. Total unit volume also continued to slide, falling 2.4%, following a 1.5% decline the previous year. As a result, the category’s share of in-store sales dipped to 8.4%, its lowest level in the past five years.

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LIQUOR

A newly added category to the Industry Report this year, c-store liquor sales grew in 2025, buoyed by strong gains in several segments. Average sales per store increased 5.5% to $30,248.

Ready-to-drink cocktails, the category’s No. 2 segment, delivered the strongest performance with per-store sales jumping 33.8%. Prepared cocktails also posted robust growth of 22.3%, though this segment remains relatively small in total dollar sales. Distilled spirits comfortably retained its standing as the category’s top segment, though sales were essentially flat, rising just 0.8%.

Industrywide, total liquor sales increased 5.4% in 2025, slightly below the 6.1% growth posted by the category in 2024. Unit volume growth also moderated, rising