CStore Decisions November 2023

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Solutions for Convenience Retailers

CELEBRATING

TXB

The Texas-based chain, led by CEO Kevin Smartt, has earned CSD’s 2023 Chain of the Year Award for its commitment to operational excellence.

INSIDE

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Spirited Frozen Dispensed Drinks Spike Sales ….42 Hot New Products Contest Winners ................…64 2023 Restroom Awards ….................................106

November 2023

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Leading Through Innovation EDITORIAL

LEADERSHIP TEAM

VIDEO PRODUCTION

EDITOR EMERITUS John Lofstock

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DIGITAL MARKETING

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Erin Del Conte edelconte@wtwhmedia.com SENIOR EDITOR Emily Boes eboes@wtwhmedia.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Zhane Isom zisom@wtwhmedia.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Marilyn Odesser-Torpey ONLINE EDITOR Kevin McIntyre CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Howard Riell COLUMNIST David Spross

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CStore Decisions is a three-time winner of the Neal Award, the American Business Press’ highest recognition of editorial excellence.

Raymond Huff, President HJB Convenience Corp. • Lakewood, Colo.

Bill Kent, President and CEO The Kent Cos. Inc. • Midland, Texas Olivia Beck • Operations Beck Suppliers Inc. • Fremont, Ohio Reilly Robinson Musser, VP, Marketing & Merchandising Robinson Oil Corp. • Santa Clara, Calif.

Bill Weigel, CEO Weigel’s Inc. • Knoxville, Tenn.

NATIONAL ADVISORY GROUP (NAG) BOARD Vernon Young (Board Chairman), President and CEO Young Oil Co. • Piedmont, Ala. Joy Almekies, Senior Director of Food Services Global Partners • Waltham, Mass.

Mary Banmiller, Director of Retail Operations Warrenton Oil Inc. • Truesdale, Mo. Greg Ehrlich, President Beck Suppliers Inc. • Fremont, Ohio Doug Galli, Real Estate/Government Relations Reid Stores Inc./Crosby’s • Brockport, N.Y. Derek Gaskins, Senior VP, Merchandising/Procurement Yesway • Des Moines, Iowa Joe Hamza, Chief Operating Officer Nouria Energy Corp. • Worcester, Mass.

Brent Mouton, President and CEO Hit-N-Run Food Stores • Lafayette, La. Robin Hunt, Sales Hunt Brothers Pizza • Nashville, Tenn.

Kyle May, Director External Relations Reynolds Marketing Services Co. • Winston-Salem, N.C. Tony Woodward, Manager Sr. Account McLane Company Inc. • Temple, Texas

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Kalen Frese (Board Chairman), Director of Merchandising Warrenton Oil Inc. • Warrenton, Mo. Jeff Carpenter, Director of Education and Training Cliff’s Local Market • Marcy, N.Y. Megan Chmura, Director of Center Store GetGo • Pittsburgh Ryan Faville, Director of Purchasing Stewart’s Shops Corp. • Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Cole Fountain, Director of Merchandise Gate Petroleum Co. • Jacksonville, Fla. Alex Garoutte, Director of Marketing The Kent Cos. Inc. • Midland, Texas Daillard Paris, Director of Petroleum Supply and Trading Sheetz Inc. • Altoona, Pa.

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CONTENTS November 2023

•

Number 11

•

Volume 34

CStoreDecisions

®

FRONT END

8 Editor’s Memo: Becoming a Disruptor 10 NATO Update: Monitoring Congressional and FDA Tobacco Developments

14 Quick Bites: Outlook of Generational Shopping Habits 16 TXB Receives CSD’s 2023 Chain of the Year Award FOODSERVICE

36 Variety Propels Lunch Sales CATEGORY MANAGEMENT

42 Spirited Frozen Dispensed Drinks Spike Sales 46 Meat Snacks Evolve With Consumers 50 Health and Wellness Trend Drives Beverage Sales 56 Adapting to New Cigar Trends

COVER STORY

SPECIAL REPORT

64 Announcing the Winners of CStore Decisions’

24 Celebrating TXB

2023 Hot New Products Contest

TECHNOLOGY

The Texas-based chain, led by CEO Kevin Smartt, has earned CSD’s 2023 Chain of the Year Award for its commitment to operational excellence.

100 Enhancing Forecourt Marketing Innovations OPERATIONS

106 Focusing on the Facilities

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BACK END 112 Product Showcase 117 Ad Index 118 Industry Perspective: Monitoring POS and Back-Office Evolution

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Editor’s Memo For any questions about this issue or suggestions for future issues, please contact me at edelconte@wtwhmedia.com.

Becoming A Disruptor In Atlanta last month, we celebrated CStore Decisions’ 34th Chain of the Year Award winner, Texas Born (TXB), at an event at the Biltmore Ballrooms during the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show. CStore Decisions’ Chain of the Year Award is the oldest and most prestigious award in the industry. And unlike other industry honors, it isn’t based on store count or acquisition growth — it’s based simply on operational excellence.

TXB, which is featured in this month’s cover story, exemplifies operational excellence as it brings its core values of hospitality, authenticity and integrity to everything it does, from its commitment from ownership and leadership to make restaurant-quality food part of its culture to its tech-driven mindset that includes an artificial intelligence pilot, a robust loyalty program and mobile app, and a self-checkout rollout. With a modern design, a commitment to growth, new-to-industry builds underway, a private-label program and sustainability initiatives, TXB is going places.

Formerly Kwik Chek, the chain announced it was rebranding to TXB in 2020. TXB President and CEO Kevin Smartt knew he wanted TXB to focus on honoring the diversity of Texas, being local, supporting communities and being a great place for employees.

“When we decided we were going to be TXB or Texas Born, we loved what our mission represented because we thought it was authentic. We thought it represented where we operated and who we were,” Smartt said.

REVITALIZING C-STORE RETAIL

Like TXB, many in the industry are looking at how they want to reinvent themselves today to remain competitive tomorrow. For some this means investing in a proprietary foodservice offering, while for others it means upgrading technology from mobile apps and loyalty programs to electric vehicle charging to point-of-sale (POS) and backoffice infrastructure. Our industry perspective this month shares how retailers are looking at POS and back-office priorities heading into 2024.

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For those focused on foodservice, ensuring the store’s restrooms are in top condition from cleanliness to ambiance and fixtures is a crucial first step, as seen in this month’s 2023 Restroom Awards article that honors Onvo and Kwik Trip.

“To us, there is a direct correlation between how clean our restrooms are and foodservice in the c-store industry,” noted Ben Leibl, public relations specialist at Kwik Trip. “If we have dirty restrooms in our stores, the guest could think, ‘If their restrooms aren’t clean, what else isn’t clean inside the store?’”

As c-stores evaluate potential big changes, they can’t lose sight of the basics, such as getting the product mix right and staying on top of evolving category management trends, and CStore Decisions is here to help. This issue highlights the winners of our 2023 Hot New Products Contest, judged by a panel of c-store retailers and spanning 16 categories from beverage to technology.

Check them out and see if any are a fit for your stores.

LEAD THE CHANGE

If one thing is certain it’s that the market is rapidly evolving, and c-stores need to keep pace with the changes.

In his acceptance speech at the Chain of the Year Award event — which you can read more about in this month’s Chain of the Year pictorial — Smartt noted, “I became obsessed with this idea that we could either be a disruptor or be disrupted. And that is really where TXB grew from.”

His words offer sage advice in today’s rapidly shifting landscape. How can your c-store chain become a disruptor in today’s environment? Retailers who aren’t willing to ask the question and consider the opportunities could find themselves left behind as the industry changes.

Erin Del Conte

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You can’t sell what you don’t stock.

Maximize customer expectations and profit margins by keeping your ZYN inventory full.

FRONT END NATO Update

Monitoring Congressional and

FDA Tobacco Developments As the c-store industry awaits rulemaking decisions from the Food and Drug Administration, the National Association of Tobacco Outlets shares the latest regulatory developments.

David Spross • NATO

With most state legislatures adjourned until January, recent tobacco regulatory and legislative developments have centered around Congress and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP).

CONGRESSIONAL BILLS Two separate bills have been introduced that would substantially increase the federal excise tax on all tobacco products. The “Care for Moms Act” and the “Tobacco Tax Equity Act of 2023” federal tobacco tax increases provisions are similar in nature: • Double the tax on cigarettes from $1.01 to $2.02 per pack.

• Implement a new e-cigarette tax that would equalize to the tax on cigarettes (methodology based per 1,810 milligrams of nicotine).

• Increase the tax on moist snuff from 11 cents per 1.2-ounce tin to $2.02 per can.

• Establish a new tax on smokeless tobacco sold in discrete single-use units (e.g. modern oral products) to $100.66 per thousand units.

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CSTORE DECISIONS • November 2023

• Double the tax on small cigars.

• Change to a new weight-based tax methodology (to $49.56 per pound) on large cigars, resulting in a substantial tax increase.

• Double the tax on roll-your-own tobacco (from $24.78 per pound to $49.56 per pound).

• Equalize the tax on chewing tobacco and pipe tobacco to tax these products like cigarettes.

• Include an annual adjustment in the proposed rates based on inflation.

The “Care for Moms Act” supports the maternal health workforce, promotes access to both prenatal and postpartum care, and provides resources to mothers. In the news release that announced the introduction of the “Tobacco Tax Equity Act of 2023,” the bill’s sponsors are seeking to close tax code loopholes for tobacco products by establishing a new federal tax on e-cigarettes, updating the federal cigarette tax rate in order to restore its public health impact, and harmonizing the tax rate across tobacco products. These bills have been considered and subsequently failed in past Congressional sessions.

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FRONT END NATO Update

FDA CTP DEVELOPMENTS In the last few months, CTP has made announcements and statements regarding rulemaking for banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars and establishing very low nicotine content in combustible products; vapor product enforcement; and premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) review status.

CTP Director Brian King stated that the agency plans to issue a final rule prohibiting menthol in cigarettes and characterizing flavors in cigars by the end of 2023. (At press time the FDA had sent the final version of its proposed plan to the White House for review.) Previously, the agency indicated that these final rules would be published by August 2023.

When the final rules are released, it will also likely include an effective date of one year post publication of the rule, which could be pushed out further if the rules are challenged in court by the industry.

King has also indicated that a proposed rule regarding setting a maximum cap on nicotine in cigarettes and possibly other combustible tobacco products will likely be published sometime after the final menthol cigarette and flavored cigar regulations are released. This proposal is much earlier in the rulemaking process compared to the menthol/flavored cigar ban as there are a number of steps the agency needs to take before these regulations take effect, which include: • Submitting the proposed regulations to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The OMB needs to approve of any proposed regulations that would have a significant impact on the country’s budget and economy.

• Publishing the proposed regulations in th Federal Register, allowing the public to be able to review the regulations.

• P roviding the public a time period of 60-90 days to submit comments to the agency about the proposed regulations.

• Deciding whether any changes are to be made to the proposed regulations after reviewing and responding to all relevant public comments that were submitted.

• Re-submitting the final version of the proposed regulations to the OMB a second time for an additional review and approval.

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CSTORE DECISIONS • November 2023

• Publishing the final regulations in the Federal Register and setting a date for the regulations to go into effect.

CTP has also expressed its intent to increase its efforts to conduct compliance inspections at retail to check if stores are selling tobacco and vapor products that have been denied marketing authorization by the agency or are under FDA PMTA, but for which no final order has yet been issued by the agency.

To date, the FDA has only authorized the sale of 45 tobacco products through the PMTA process, which include 23 e-cigarette/vapor products/devices. (Note: most traditional tobacco products may be lawfully sold without having been approved through the PMTA process.) The FDA has stated it is prioritizing enforcement on products that did not submit a PMTA application, products that have received a marketing denial order and flavored disposable vapor products that have high youth usage rates. To that end, in September, the FDA issued warning letters to 15 online retailers and three manufacturers of e-cigarette products, including Elf Bar, EB Design, Lava, Cali, Ban and Kangertech, and for the first time issued the maximum ($19,102) civil monetary penalty fine to 22 retailers selling Elf Bar/EB Design vapor products.

The FDA is expected to file an updated status report on its review of pending vapor PMTA applications as part of a Maryland Federal District Court order by Oct. 23. In previous filings, the FDA indicated that it expects to complete its review of 68% of the 189 Covered Applications

by Sept. 30. A “Covered Application” is for vapor products that reach 2% or more of the total retail sales volume. These products include JUUL, Vuse, NJOY, Logic, Blu, SMOK, Suorin and Puff Bar. The FDA expects to finish review of all Covered Applications by Dec. 31.

David Spross is the new executive director of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO), a national retail trade association that represents more than 66,000 stores throughout the country. He comes to this position with 23 years of tobacco industry experience previously working in the government affairs departments at UST Inc. and at Reynolds American.

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QUICKBITES OUTLOOK OF GENERATIONAL SHOPPING HABITS Different generations are approaching shopping and how they spend money differently.

GEN Z AND ALCOHOL

ENGAGING WITH STORES

Gen Z is starting to decrease their alcohol usage. According to a Gallup poll conducted between July 3 and July 27:

As stated in Near's “The Great Generational Shopping Divide” survey, 88% of Gen Z and Millennials would like to engage with their favorite shopping center.

62% of adults aged 18 to 34 consume alcoholic beverages such as liquor, wine or beer. That’s down from 72% who said the same between 2001 and 2003.

On average, young adults have 1.6 fewer drinks per week now than they did a decade ago.

Source: Near, “The Great Generational Shopping Divide” survey, August 2023

Today, 52% of young adults said they’re worried about the health effects of consuming alcohol, up from 34% five years ago.

USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHOP

Source: Gallup, August 2023

IN-PERSON SHOPPING THRIVES

Despite each generation shopping in different ways, all of the generations still enjoy shopping in stores. Near's "The Great Generational Shopping Divide" survey also mentioned:

56.1% of consumers enjoy shopping in stores because it’s easier to see product quality.

As social media has become more popular over the years, consumers in different generations have started using it for more than just entertainment.

HubSpot’s Consumer Trends report noted that:

22% of Gen Z has bought a product through a social media app.

27% of Millennials have purchased a product through a social media app.

19% of Gen X have bought a product through a social media app.

8% of Boomers have purchased a product through a social media app.

Source: HubSpot, Consumer Trends report, May 2023

TACKLING INFLATION

42.2% of consumers enjoy shopping in stores because they enjoy the experience.

Due to the increasing cost of retail and grocery products, different generations are cutting back on buying these products. PYMNTS Consumer Inflation Sentiment stated that:

29.6% of consumers enjoy shopping in stores because they can get more help with their purchases.

50% of Gen Z cut down on buying retail products, and 41% cut down on groceries.

62.9% of Millennials cut down on buying retail products, and 57.4% cut down on groceries.

75.7% of Gen X cut down on purchasing retail products, and 60.8% cut down on groceries.

74.7% of Baby Boomers cut down on buying retail products, and 58.9% cut down on groceries.

Source: Near, "The Great Generational Shopping Divide" survey, August 2023

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CSTORE DECISIONS •

Source: PYMNTS “Consumer Inflation Sentiment,” May 2023

November 2023

cstoredecisions.com

Recognizing a Texas-Sized Effort InComm Payments Congratulates TXB on Winning

CStore Decisions’ 2023 Chain of the Year Award

InCommPayments.com

Front End | COY News and Pictorial

TXB Receives CSD’s 2023 Chain of the Year Award Texas-based TXB accepted CStore Decisions’ distinguished 2023 Chain of the Year Award in Atlanta at the annual NACS Show.

Emily Boes • Senior Editor

CStore Decisions named Texas Born (TXB) its 2023 Chain of the Year, and it ended the second day of the annual National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Show by officially presenting the Spicewood, Texas-based convenience store chain with the award.

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Fellow c-store retailers gathered at the Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta to celebrate TXB winning CSD’s 2023 Chain of the Year Award.

Top: President and CEO Kevin Smartt and the TXB team accept the Chain of the Year Award.

cstoredecisions.com

Front End | COY News and Pictorial

"CStore Decisions’ Chain of the Year Award is the oldest and most prestigious award for convenience retailing," noted Erin Del Conte, editor-in-chief, CStore Decisions. "Over the past decade, we have found that there are more and more chains deserving of this award. ... Tonight, we are honoring TXB for its growth, direction and retail execution."

THE HANDOFF

With industry colleagues gathered at the Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta, Tony El-Nemr, founder and CEO of Nouria, CSD's 2022 Chain of the Year winner, passed the award to TXB. "TXB isn’t just a brand; it’s a shining example of innovation and dedication, showcasing progress and transformation," said El-Nemr.

TXB operates 50 stores located in Texas and Oklahoma. Having originated as Kwik Chek, the first rebranded site celebrated its opening in August 2021 in Georgetown, Texas. TXB exemplifies Texas culture and strives to showcase authenticity, hospitality and integrity. The chain stands out with its fresh foodservice selection, use of technology and locally sourced private-label items.

Tony El-Nemr, founder and CEO of Nouria, CStore Decisions’ 2022 Chain of the Year winner, passes the Chain of the Year Award to Kevin Smartt, president and CEO of TXB.

The teams from the 2023 Chain of the Year Award winner TXB and the 2022 Chain of the Year Award winner Nouria pose together at the Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta.

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cstoredecisions.com

Front End | COY News & Pictorial

Left: Erin Del Conte, editor-in-chief of CStore Decisions; Kevin Smartt, president and CEO of TXB; and Tony El-Nemr, founder and CEO of Nouria, pose with the Chain of the Year Award.

Below: Kevin Smartt, president and CEO of TXB, accepts the Chain of the Year Award on behalf of his team.

"Overall, TXB is focused on building great stores that take care of the communities they serve, have great products, good food and that employees are proud of," said Del Conte.

"What’s so cool about TXB is how they blend tradition with cutting-edge ideas to create brand experiences. They’re not afraid to challenge the norms and venture into the unknown, bringing us some truly new solutions," El-Nemr added.

GROWING TXB

Kevin Smartt, president and CEO of TXB, accepted the Chain of the Year Award at the event, and he noted that he accepted the honor on behalf of the TXB team. He credited the people at TXB for the reason the company earned the award.

Left: Founder and CEO of Nouria, Tony El-Nemr, speaks on TXB’s growth and prepares to hand the Chain of the Year Award to TXB. Right: Industry colleagues applaud TXB’s accomplishments and the passing of the Chain of the Year Award to TXB. 20

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2023

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CO N G R AT S T X B !

We’re so happy TXB has been named 2023 Convenience Store Decisions’ Chain of Year. The Coca-Cola Company family of refreshments raises a glass to thank you for serving the community and being an excellent partner. Cheers to you!

©2023 The Coca-Cola Company

Front End | COY News and Pictorial

congratulations

CStoreDecisions 2023 Chain of the Year ®

The guests enjoyed a cocktail reception with appetizers, followed by dinner and dessert at the Biltmore Ballrooms prior to the ceremony.

"I truly believe a brand is not a brand unless it has heart. And our people are the heart of the company," said Smartt.

Smartt knew that TXB needed to be bold to compete in the convenience store industry, especially as the chain was undergoing its rebranding. He also recognized the importance and influence of convenience stores in the broader community.

"Because we play such a vital role in our communities, I believe we all are well positioned to continue to evolve and disrupt in retail," he said.

Smartt wanted TXB to resonate with both customers as well as the team, and as part of that initiative, TXB focused on fresh food as well as technology.

"I became obsessed with this idea that we could either be a disruptor or be disrupted.

And that is really where TXB grew from."

TXB's goal is to "Leave 'Em Better." And, as El-Nemr noted, "this (award) isn’t about what’s been achieved — it’s about the thrilling adventures that are yet to come, the mission to break new ground, and to chase excellence with new energy and fresh ideas."

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Thank you to our sponsors:

Thank you to our sponsors for helping to make this night possible.

cstoredecisions.com

Kevin Smartt and the entire team at TXB for being recognized as C-store Chain of the Year!

Our best to you,

Cover Story / TXB

CELEBRATING

TXB

The Texas-based chain, led by CEO Kevin Smartt, has earned CSD’s 2023 Chain of the Year Award for its commitment to operational excellence.

Erin Del Conte • Editor-in-Chief

With 50 stores in Texas and Oklahoma, Texas Born (TXB) stands out, even when compared to larger convenience store chains, for its commitment to restaurant-quality foodservice, new-to-industry (NTI) builds and tech-forward initiatives.

The Spicewood, Texas-based family-owned chain exemplifies operational excellence, strong leadership and a people-centric culture; and it is a powerful and growing competitor in the cstore industry.

CStore Decisions is proud to honor TXB as our 2023 Convenience Store Chain of the Year. TXB marks the 34th winner of the award, which is the oldest and most prestigious honor in the convenience store industry.

DEVELOPING TXB

TXB, formerly known as Kwik Chek, can trace its roots to 1972, when Kwik Chek was founded in Bonham, Texas.

Kevin Smartt, president and CEO of TXB, began working for Kwik Chek in 1992, moving through a variety of roles at the chain. In 1999, the owner of the business, Bob McCraw, approached Smartt, then president of Kwik Chek, and the company’s controller, Doyce Taylor, and asked if they wanted to purchase the company. Smartt and Taylor purchased the company together in 2001.

Taylor passed away in 2019. Around that time, Smartt belonged to a study group where he was working on his future vision for Kwik Chek and what he wanted the chain to represent. He kept coming back to the idea of the chain’s Texas roots being a key part of the brand.

Smartt decided he wanted the chain to be focused on honoring the diversity of Texas, being local, supporting communities and being a great place for employees, and most importantly, he wanted it to reflect the chain’s core values of authenticity, hospitality and integrity.

Kwik Chek had already been using the phrase “Texas Born” in its marketing campaigns. A couple study group members asked if he’d considered changing the chain’s name to Texas Born.

Cover Story / TXB

President and CEO Kevin Smartt purchased Kwik Chek in 2001.

In 2020, the chain announced it was rebranding to Texas Born.

Smartt took his concept and the name Texas Born to key executives at the company.

“Every single one of them came back and said, ‘Kevin, it’s a no-brainer. You’ve got to do it,’” he said.

Smartt first announced that Kwik Chek was rebranding to TXB in 2020, and the first rebranded site celebrated its opening in August of 2021 in Georgetown, Texas.

The rebrand included far more than just a new look and logo. It was a chance to focus on the company’s identity as a chain with fresh food, convenient technology, a clean environment, hospitable employees and a host of locally sourced private-label items, all bagged, bottled, manufactured and produced in Texas.

As the company built TXB’s programs, it was intentional about staying connected to its core values and Smartt’s vision.

It introduced the motto, “Leave ‘Em Better,” which encapsulates how TXB strives to ensure its guests have a first-class experience, leaving guests, communities and team members better than they were before.

TXB’s Kyle, Texas, store opened in July. New-to-industry TXB stores feature square LED lights that can change color for different occasions.

The chain uses squares throughout its design, including in its logo.

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“When we decided we were going to be TXB or Texas Born, we loved what our mission represented because we thought it was authentic. We thought it represented where we operated and who we were,” Smartt said.

GROWTH ORIENTED

Over the past three years, TXB has been aggressively remodeling existing Kwik Chek sites to the TXB brand.

“We started on the pathway of converting what I call soft items first,” Smartt said. The chain updated its fountain and coffee cups, uniforms and point-of-sale (POS) signage to reflect the new brand identity.

“We did all kinds of things inside the store, and we started telling the story to our internal team members and customers of the meaning behind what was happening,” Smartt said.

It took around 12 to 18 months to convert the soft components at all Kwik Chek stores over to the TXB brand.

Then, the chain embarked on full remodels of units. So far, TXB has completed 16 full remodels, with more underway.

“We’re trying to do it in pockets of the state, so it makes sense for us from a marketing and advertising perspective, and so we’re doing two to three stores at a time,” Smartt said.

The remodel process has been slowed by skyrocketing construction costs and supply chain challenges. Smartt noted waiting 30 weeks for a walk-in cooler. As a workaround, TXB has started pre-buying major equipment in advance of future products.

“If you don’t get in the queue, you can’t get the subcontractor lined up,” Smartt explained.

“Typically, we don’t like to close a store when we remodel, so we’ll either bring in a temporary unit somewhere to service our customers, or we’ll figure out how to keep that store open and viable while we remodel,” Smartt said.

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C ONG R ATS 2023 CSD’S

CHAIN OF THE YEAR

You truly are a pioneer of the C-store industry.

Congratulations on being named CStore Decisions’ Chain of the Year.

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Cover Story / TXB

At TXB, tacos and quesadillas are prepared on fresh-pressed tortillas. The chain’s ability to produce restaurant-quality food starts with a commitment from ownership and leadership.

Smartt predicted it will take another 2.5 to three years to completely remodel all existing stores, particularly because it’s simultaneously focused on an aggressive new store build schedule. TXB has opened five NTI stores in the last two years. Its most recent sites debuted in Texas in the Kyle and Bryan-College Station markets in July and August, respectively. The chain has two more stores currently under construction, with a goal to open five to six new stores a year.

NTI TXB stores feature TXB’s proprietary fuel brand, while existing stores partner with Exxon and Valero.

TXB’s standard prototype measures 6,400 square feet, while its interstate model spans 7,300 square feet. In its newest locations, TXB positioned the front door to where it is centered in the foodservice area, so customers walk directly into the foodservice area when they arrive at the store. This creates a more food-centric feel.

The stores showcase a clean, modern design and timeless black and white color scheme that allows colorful c-store products to pop off the shelves.

TXB’s proprietary TXB Market food program is known for its Texassized tacos and jumbo hand-breaded chicken tenders made on-site.

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“We use squares in the store for a lot of different things kind of symbolically,” Smartt noted. For example, the letters TXB in the logo are positioned in square boxes, and the stores feature square LED lights that can change color for different occasions.

Overall, the stores offer a warm, inviting and foodfocused vibe.

RESTAURANT-QUALITY FOOD

TXB’s proprietary TXB Market food program is known for its Texas-sized tacos and jumbo hand-breaded chicken tenders made on-site. Tacos and quesadillas are prepared on fresh-pressed tortillas. The chain’s ability to produce restaurant-quality food starts with a commitment from ownership and leadership.

“We made that part of our food culture early on,” Smartt said. He credited the company’s skilled and welltrained food team for their superior execution day in and day out and their belief in the company’s mission to deliver top-notch foodservice.

The food is prepared fresh in front of customers, so guests can watch employees grilling tortillas, slicing fresh vegetables and cooking the marinated meat. Popular menu items include handmade quesadillas that range from simple to more complicated limited-time offers, brisket tacos and crispy chicken tenders.

“I know a lot of people do chicken, but everything we do is fresh. It’s not frozen. It’s hand battered in front of you, cooked in front of you, and we take the quality of that very seriously,” Smartt said.

Breakfast tacos on hand-pressed tortillas are another customer favorite.

“Our breakfast tacos do really well. I think one of the reasons they do well is because we make those tortillas fresh right before we make the tacos. There’s nothing like eating a breakfast taco on a freshly prepared warm tortilla. It’s just tremendous,” Smartt said.

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It’s Snack O’clock Somewhere Hostess is proud to celebrate TXB as this year’s Chain of the Year winner.

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Cover Story / TXB

Customers who order ahead can access their mobile order from a food pickup locker that can be heated or set to room temperature.

“We’ve put the conduit under the ground for the drive-through menu board,” he added. “The pressure sensor and everything we need is there. If we want to add a drive-through, we can do it. There was a push after the pandemic for retailers to add drive-through, which was a good thing. And we may get there. We just weren’t ready to do it with everything else we had going on.”

In addition to its proprietary foodservice offering, TXB operates some quick-service restaurants on its property, including a Papa Johns and a Church’s Chicken that were in place when the stores were acquired. It has also added Subway franchises to some stores in conjunction with the TXB food offering.

TXB further sets itself apart with its private-label product line that consists of high-quality, unique and locally sourced items, including TXB-branded jerky and meat sticks, water, enhanced water, isotonics, iced tea, juices, coffee and salsa. In September, it launched its Nitro Brew cold brew coffee-in-a-can line, and in October, it introduced a line of roasted peanuts.

TXB also considers its meals-to-go selection and cold grab-and-go items, which are all privately packaged, to be part of its private-label line. It also has a line of TXB general merchandise that includes items like soft coolers, hard coolers, shirts and caps featuring the TXB logo. “Cluck Yeah” items will also be included in Q4. It’s currently working on a candy line that is expected to launch in 2024.

Customers also have the option of getting creative with their food selection. “We have so many customers that love that ability to create a unique kind of wrap or taco or quesadilla,” he said.

TXB cares so much about its commitment to quality that it’s created a catch phrase — “Cluck Yeah” — and a mascot around the concept that will be launching in Q4.

The “Cluck Yeah” chicken mascot is a “cool hip Texas chicken,” Smartt explained.

“Instead of a cowboy hat, he’s got a flat bill cap turned backwards and is wearing shorts and boots. But his thing is about ‘cluck yeah,’ our commitment to 100% quality every day, all the time, always fresh,” Smartt said.

The chain also features bean-to-cup coffee at all new stores, and it’s rolled it out to around 60% of its existing locations. About 85% of TXB’s stores offer delivery through third-party delivery services.

Customers who order ahead can access their mobile order from a food pickup locker that can be heated or set to room temperature. The lockers are built into the wall and feature glass doors.

Customers enter a code to open the door.

While TXB isn’t focused on drivethrough — Smartt estimated the chain has only five stores with drivethroughs — as TXB builds new stores it’s ensuring they’re set up so it has the option of adding a drive-through easily, if it chooses to at a later date.

“We’ve allowed (space) for the drive lane around the building. Inside the store, we’ve set the drive-through wall and window area up. So, all we have to do is knock it out and we’ll be TXB features a private-label product line that offers high-quality, unique and locally sourced items ready to go,” he said. including coffee. It also offers TXB-branded merchandise.

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WB45432_2023 SMG - CSD Trade Ad_8x10.875 FP.pdf

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Cover Story / TXB

“Our goal is not to create a line of products that are going to be lower cost than the other products (that are) similar in that category,” Smartt said. “Our goal is to create a line of products that is high quality and unique — and could be unique in flavor, unique in size or unique in some way. So, high quality, unique and that helps build the brand of TXB.” TECH-FORWARD APPROACH

On the tech front, TXB offers a mobile app through which customers can access its TXB Rewards program, order food, access digital offers and coupons, play games, activate their gas pump and pay for fuel. The TXB Rewards program allows customers to both earn and spend points on anything from fuel to in-store products.

“Our app is really sophisticated in the sense that if you pull up to our pump, you can authorize that fuel dispenser while sitting in your car on your phone,” Smartt said. “You can get out and pump your gas, and whatever discount loyalty points you have, it’ll (automatically) take it off.”

If a payment card is loaded to the app, it can charge it, so customers don’t have to pull out a card.

“For a 50-plus store chain … I think we do loyalty and digital as good as anybody in the industry. …” Smartt said.

Customers can find ample digital signage at TXB from the fuel dispensers to the menu boards, lottery screens and fountain area. It’s also adding self-checkout kiosks to all stores going forward.

TXB is adding EV charging to all new stores going forward. The chain plans to later go back and evaluate if existing stores are a fit for EV. 32

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New-to-industry stores feature TXB’s proprietary fuel brand, while existing stores partner with Exxon and Valero.

TXB is also partnering with SparkCognition to test a visual artificial intelligence program at three locations, with plans to expand the pilot to a larger pool of stores.

Through the pilot, TXB uses its existing security cameras to monitor various aspects of the store for safety and efficiency. Examples include ensuring food employees are wearing gloves, monitoring guest counts entering restrooms to ensure timely cleaning based on traffic, or alerting store personnel of how many associates are needed at the register based on estimated time to register for current customers. The system would also send an alert in a safety situation, such as if someone in the forecourt or store pulled a weapon.

“If there was a water or liquid spill, and it’s on the floor … it circles it on the screen; it sees it immediately. So, it notates that there’s a potential slip and fall here,” Smartt explained.

TXB is also adding cameras to the process that aren’t part of the security system that can look at specific areas of the store and offer intelligence.

“We’re adding WIFI-type cameras in our beer caves, so we can look specifically at the section of shelving, so we know when we’re out. If we’re out, (it) sends a message,” Smartt said. TXB is also testing this in its cigarette and tobacco section.

Smartt noted that while a lot of opportunity exists in this area, one challenge is that the industry is inundated with data. Smartt was clear that more data wasn’t his goal.

“What we told SparkCognition was don’t give us more data,” he said. “We don’t want that. What we want is actionable information, things that we can act on that’s going to improve our business immediately. And so that’s really what they’ve been focused on, is trying to tell us actionable items that will help us improve our business or make us a safer place to work really quick. And so that’s been our focus, and I think we’ve been doing it probably over a year now.”

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Cover Story / TXB

TXB takes a lot of care in bringing in high-quality employees who are committed to serving customers and who believe in what the chain does and how they do it.

All new TXB stores have electric vehicle (EV) chargers.

“We’ve made that commitment that we’re going to put them at all the new stores, and then we’re going back and looking at our existing stores,” Smartt said.

The chain is currently working to integrate EV charging into its loyalty program.

TXB is also committed to sustainability, prioritizing eco-friendly resources. For example, TXB uses compostable TXB coffee k-cups, glass bottles with paper labels for its private-label teas and 100% recyclable and rPET-free TXB water bottles. TXB estimated it will save the environment from more than 3 million pounds of plastic over the next 10 years by designing its privatelabel line with sustainable resources.

By transitioning to paper coffee cups, chicken boxes, sandwich wraps and to-go containers, TXB expects to save the environment from nearly 1 million pounds of foam and plastic materials over the next 10 years. It’s also adding energy-efficient high-speed hand dryers in place of paper towels and retrofitting existing stores with LED lights that use 75% less energy.

“We’ve added these really large water catchers, like water cisterns, and so they catch all the rainwater off the roof, and we’re using that back onto the property to help water the landscape. We’re trying to do some things that are a stronger message of sustainability and being a better community partner in that area,” Smartt said.

SERVING CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES

TXB’s Leave ‘Em Better motto extends to its employees. It strives to wow customers and ensure employees are proud of and love where they work.

TXB takes a lot of care in bringing in high-quality employees who are committed to serving customers and who believe in what the chain does and how they do it.

“We look for people who truly at their core — at their heart — are good people and want to take care of people. And when you get that, a great work culture is built,” he said. “We do a good job of constantly trying to bring what I would call long-time employees, who have grown with this culture and helped build this culture, and a lot of the new employees together to spend 34

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time together and have meetings together. So, there is a sense of being able to communicate some of the history along the way.”

“As you grow and you build, you have to keep a focus on always talking about where you’ve come from, why you’re doing what you’re doing, where you’re going and what the purpose is,” he added.

Smartt noted he devotes 40-50% of his time coaching and mentoring people in the organization, and other executives do the same.

TXB is also a big supporter of its local communities.

It hosts multiple annual campaigns to support CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), an organization that supports and promotes volunteer advocacy for children in the foster-care system who have experienced abuse or neglect. TXB has donated more than $900,000 to CASA. TXB’s app gives guests the option to donate their loyalty points for cash to their choice of over 12 nonprofits, including CASA. TXB also donates gift cards, tacos, coffee and TXB water bottles to multiple schools, teachers and local sports teams throughout the year.

Overall, TXB is focused on building great stores that take care of the communities they serve, have great products, good food and that employees are proud of.

Most importantly, the chain brings its core values of authenticity, hospitality and integrity to everything it does.

As he looks to the future, Smartt plans to continue delivering a unique, high-quality experience for customers and employees.

“I want our employees to be proud of where they work. I want our customers to come in and enjoy the experience and be wowed,” Smartt said. “I want our team members and employees to love where they work. And I think when we continue to (create) that, we’re going to grow. My vision is to continue to create that atmosphere within the stores.”

“It’s an absolute honor to receive and be recognized for the Chain of the Year Award,” Smartt added. “It’s been a fun and pivotal journey to get TXB where it is today, and there’s so much more to expect in the future.” CSD

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2024

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Foodservice | Lunchtime Solutions

VARIETY PROPELS LUNCH SALES Whether food items are made to order or grab and go, a range of fresh choices piques the appetites of c-store customers at lunchtime, including sandwiches, pizza, chicken or healthy options such as salads.

Marilyn Odesser-Torpey • Associate Editor

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Foodservice | Lunchtime Solutions

Lunch is such a popular daypart that, in some stores, it ties with or even overtakes breakfast in sales.

Many chains are thus experimenting with their menus, testing limited-time offers (LTOs) and adding new items.

For example, at Kwik Trip and Kwik Star locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and South Dakota, lunch sales are as brisk as breakfast sales. The company currently operates more than 850 stores.

Among the most popular items are burgers, chicken sandwiches, pizza slices, chicken tenders and boneless wings, said Paul Servais, retail foodservice director for the chain.

Aside from those mainstays, the stores have a “very aggressive limited-time-offer and newitem schedule,” he noted.

“In a typical year we will do 60 to 80 LTOs (among) hot food, pizza, roller grill, bakery and hot beverage,” Servais added.

At State College, Pa.-based Nittany Oil’s MinitMart c-stores, lunch is the “strongest volume driver,” reported Nicole Masullo, director of operations for Nittany Oil. Nittany Oil operates 28 locations, all but one with foodservice, in 11 counties in Pennsylvania.

The midday menu includes pizza, hoagies, fried chicken, hot and cold sandwiches, and wraps. A new item, the Nittany Flip, which is pizza dough folded over fillings of meats and cheeses, has extended the offerings even further.

Lunch is also “huge and constantly growing” at Cliff’s Local Market’s stores, according to Derek Thurston, director of foodservice operations for the chain. Thirteen out of the chain’s 20 locations in New York have foodservice programs.

“Lunch rushes were record breaking in the summer,” he said.

The most popular menu options are sandwiches, wraps, melts and salads, as well as pizza slices and burgers from the hot cases. LTOs, which are rotated once every 38

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quarter, tend to create excitement and sell very well, he said. He mentioned a recent promotion that offered chopped brisket three ways (“a definite home run for us”) and a beer cheese topping on cheesesteaks that doubled sales of that item.

With Nouria Energy’s New England c-stores, lunch accounts for 30% and breakfast 40% of foodservice sales, said Roland Von Gunten, director of culinary and fresh foods for Nouria.

Pizza from the hot case and made-to-order and grab-and-go ham sandwiches are among the best sellers.

The company has introduced Krispy Krunchy Chicken in three locations with five more planned over the next two-and-a-half months.

Von Gunten pointed out that in addition to sandwiches and salads from the company’s Nouria’s Kitchen, the stores offer seasonal LTOs such as a Thanksgiving Sandwich with turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce for fall and winter. In summer, some of the stores offer a one-pound lobster roll.

“For the coming year, we’ll be working with our distributors to create LTOs six times a year, each one lasting two months,” he continued.

Nouria operates 170 locations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Among the most popular items at Kwik Trip are chicken tenders and boneless wings. cstoredecisions.com

Foodservice | Lunchtime Solutions

Nittany Oil’s MinitMart offers a midday menu, which includes hot and cold sandwiches and wraps. These items see an uptick in sales at the beginning of the year.

HEALTHY OPTIONS

Many customers are searching for healthy options in addition to traditional c-store fare.

For customers looking for more healthful lunch items, Cliff’s has offered some creative salads made with “superfoods” and assorted fancy greens and toppings.

“I wouldn’t call these salads home runs, but they hold their own and bring in different customers, including females and people who work out,” Thurston remarked.

At MinitMart, although the stores carry wraps and salads year-round, they traditionally see an uptick in sales of these more healthful items at the beginning of the year, Masullo stated.

At Nouria, while the majority of customers “are very happy to buy sandwiches and fried chicken,” the chain has noticed that customers are looking for more healthful alternatives, and it has added salads and veggie burgers to its menu, Von Gunten pointed out.

However, healthy items do not always perform well, even when it seems like customers will prefer them.

When it comes to more healthful selections, customers have requested “all the current buzzwords and fads around eating healthy,” Kwik Trip and Kwik Star’s Servais said. “But every time we have tried to offer ‘healthy halo’ items they fail to sell.”

FOODSERVICE MARKETING

Simply having lunch menu items on offer is not enough for lunchtime foodservice success.

C-stores need to reach their customers through different marketing tools to promote their items, as well.

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MinitMart stores promote their lunch offerings through mediums such as the loyalty program, mobile app, online ordering, billboards, pumptoppers and outdoor signage.

Kwik Trip and Kwik Star locations also promote their lunch offerings on billboards, but the chain also utilizes the sides of its trucks, social media and bi-weekly newspaper ads to get the word out about its lunch menu.

At Cliff’s, Thurston attributed much of the stores’ lunch sales to eye-catching stop-motion digital menu boards with professional-quality food photography.

When determining the best way to feature its lunch menu items, Nouria also decided to use its loyalty app. Additionally, it used methods such as posting on social media platforms and promoting its lunch menu on the company’s website and with in-store signage.

“The company is also planning to restart its sampling program,” Von Gunten concluded. CSD

fast facts: • Lunch remains a foodservice driver at convenience stores.

• Limited-time offers have the potential to add variety to lunch menus.

• C-store retailers should consider offering some healthful options.

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Category Management | Adult Frozen Beverages

Spirited Frozen Dispensed Drinks

Spike Sales Although alcoholic frozen dispensed beverages is still a small category, it is growing both in convenience stores and elsewhere, and the c-store channel is primed to invest in innovation.

Marilyn Odesser-Torpey • Associate Editor

Alcoholic frozen beverages are becoming more popular with each passing year, and convenience stores are helping to pave the way for the drink with new innovations and flavors.

York, Pa.-based Rutter’s, for instance, has been offering alcoholic frozen dispensed beverages — called Spiked Slushies — since 2018, according to Adam Long, category manager for Rutter’s.

“Innovation is part of our identity at Rutter’s, and we developed our Spiked Slushies offering to be on the forefront of innovation and in our ongoing efforts to give our customers new and exciting products,” Long explained.

Among a selection of 13 foodservice venues (from restaurants to bars and cruise ships) covered by Datassential’s annual SIP reports on alcohol at foodservice venues updated in October, consumers are most interested in purchasing frozen alcoholic beverages at quick-service and casual restaurants, hotels and resorts, movie theaters and cruise ships.

Despite this, convenience stores are well poised to offer this adult beverage to customers, and for retailers who already found a place for the drink in their stores, sales are steadily coming in.

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Category Management

“Spiked Slushies are an important part of our alcohol category product mix and add incremental sales to our offering,” Long continued.

In most of Rutter’s locations, customers can choose from 10 flavors, with some stores offering as many as 14.

Most popular are tropical flavors (Jamaican Me Happy and Peach Mango), Blue Raspberry and Long Island Iced Tea, he pointed out.

The spirited libations are served by store team members. Long pointed out that adhering to regulatory requirements and the company’s own imperative as a responsible operator mean customers are carded before they are served alcoholic beverages.

Rutter’s operates 85 stores across three states: Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia. Currently, only the Pennsylvania stores are able to carry the Spiked Slushies.

Giant Eagle’s GetGo Café + Market c-stores, additionally, have been offering frozen dispensed alcoholic beverages, also branded Spiked Slushies, since early 2020, according to Jenni Yappel, leader of the category at GetGo Café + Market, which operates 72 locations in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Sales have been steady, Yappel said, with increased interest during the summer season.

The stores feature up to six flavors in each location.

Core flavors include High Voltage Long Island Iced Tea — at 12% alcohol by volume (ABV) — Strawberry Daiquiri, Orange Cream Pop, Hawaiian Ice, Blue Slush and Banana.

The Spiked Slushies are all served from behind the counter and follow state alcoholic beverage requirements for purchase and consumption, including carding customers, Yappel noted.

Sales of these beverages mostly begin later in the afternoon and continue through late night.

7-Eleven, in an alternative method of catering to this trend, provides do-it-yourself recipes combining its iconic Slurpees and spirits on its website. The recipes, named The Party Hard Slurpee Cocktail, Poolside Colada Hard Slurpee Cocktail and Sunday Funday Hard Slurpee Cocktail, each combine two flavors of the frozen drink with vodka or rum.

LTO OPPORTUNITY

An effective way to maintain consumer engagement with the category is through offering limited-time flavors.

Rutter’s is continuously evaluating options to maintain a fresh and exciting program.

“Quarterly rotating limited-time-offer (LTO), seasonal flavors are a great way to add some buzz to our Spiked Slushies,” Long noted.

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GetGo, too, offers LTOs to entice customers and get them excited about trying the chain’s Spiked Slushies.

Sales of the core flavors are reevaluated annually at GetGo, and LTOs are introduced seasonally. In September and October, the LTO was Sour Caramel Apple (12% ABV); for November through mid-December, it is Cranberry Sauce; and in mid-December through January, the LTO is Mimosa.

GAUGING CONSUMER INTEREST

In Datassential’s 2022 Future of Drink study, researchers found that 60% of consumers were aware of frozen wine and wine slushies, and 67% said they were interested in trying them.

Datassential’s 2023 study on wine preferences revealed that between 8% and 14% of consumers typically prefer to drink wine as frozen slushies. Among major wine types, frozen rosé was the most popular at 14%.

During the consumers’ last occasion at a limitedservice restaurant, nearly a quarter purchased a frozen cocktail. Furthermore, consumer interest in purchasing frozen alcoholic beverages has increased across every single foodservice venue surveyed.

“All in all, it’s clear that consumer awareness of — and affinity for — frozen alcoholic beverages have seen solid growth over the past few years, and I predict this trend will continue to gain popularity in the years to come,” concluded Huy Do, research and insights manager/content at Datassential. CSD

FAST FACTS:

• Over the past few years, consumer awareness of frozen alcoholic beverages has increased.

• Consumer interest in the category seems to grow in the summer and in the evenings.

• Seasonal flavors and limited-time offers add buzz to the adult frozen beverage category.

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Category Management | Meat Snacks

Meat Snacks Evolve With Consumers While inflation plays a role with meat snack sales, c-store retailers are finding ways to draw consumers to the category, including by stocking changing flavor and package size preferences.

Howard Riell • Contributing Editor

Stubborn inflation may be impacting meat snack sales at c-stores, but loyal customers are still finding ways to grab their favorite meat snacks on the way out the door.

Price aside, health concerns, taste trends, package size and promotions that stress value have become more important than ever.

For the 52 weeks ending Sept. 10, sales of dried meat snacks across the c-store channel totaled $2.2 billion, down 1.4%, according to Chicago-based market research firm Circana. Within that category, jerky notched sales of $872 million, a drop of 5.1%.

“In the U.S. convenience store market, meat snacks have a positive sales outlook, with a compound annual growth rate of 7% from 2022 to 2027, reaching a total value of $1.7 billion in 2027,” reported Hannah Cleland, an analyst in the consumer division of GlobalData.

“Convenience stores are an important channel for meat snacks, accounting for 25.6% of all U.S. retail sales in 2022 and increasing to 26.4% by 2027. This said, convenience stores and meat snack brands will have to address evolving consumer trends in order to stay competitive.”

Motor Fuels’ High’s Stores, which operates 60 c-stores in Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

“The higher costs and retails on meat snacks have definitely impacted sales. I believe customers are looking at the high retails on the larger bags and are choosing to spend that money on something else. When a bag of jerky costs almost the same, if not more, than a sandwich and a drink, the customer is deciding to spend their money on a meal,” he continued.

PRICING PREDICAMENT

Despite meat snack sales only dipping minimally across all c-stores, per Circana, individual chains are seeing different results.

“All brands have seen a major decline in unit sales thus far in 2023. Customers seem to definitely be monitoring how they spend their money,” said Mike Jackson, category manager for Carroll 46

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2023

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Category Management | Meat Snacks

At the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, two-for-$12 pricing, as well as bundling a meat snack with a beverage, are helping to drive meat snack sales, while hot-and-spicy is the fastest-growing flavor.

TREND ALERT

Additionally, Cleland pointed out that meat snacks typically have a higher price point than other savory snacks, such as nuts and potato chips. “Brands will have to combat this through meat snacks’ positioning as onthe-go, nutrient-rich products as additional justification of value,” she said.

For those customers choosing to purchase meat snacks at High’s, it seems as though sales have seen a return to the stick segment.

“The majority of SKUs showing increases in unit sales compared to last year are the lower-priced sticks. The 3.25-ounce jerky has seen a significant decrease, but the largest decrease has been the larger 10-ounce-sized bags,” reported Jackson.

High’s stores feature meat snack endcaps that are highly visible to customers and carry both stick and jerky products. “This allows the customer to compare prices and determine for themselves what the best value is,” Jackson noted.

Jackson explained that High’s has implemented a variety of promotions this year to help garner sales.

“With retails so high, doing any kind of two-fer or bundle promotion is problematic. The price point is just too high for customers to consider it a value,” he said.

At the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s (AAFES) stores, on the other hand, “our two-for-$12 pricing is seeing great results,” Randy Demster, the system’s consumables meat snacks buyer, reported. “In addition, bundling a meat snack and a beverage is a very effective promotion.”

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Health and wellness remains the most influential consumer trend in shoppers’ product and service choice, according to GlobalData’s TrendSights consumer trend framework.

“Meat snacks, which can be viewed as highly processed, fatty and salty, will have to improve formulations and marketing to persuade customers of the health benefits,” Cleland said. “For instance, leaner cuts of meat could prove beneficial due to low fat and high protein content, if positioned correctly.”

Additionally, meat substitutes and plant-based products could still stand to offer a nutritionally and sustainably superior alternative to meat snacks, GlobalData found. However, the plant-based/meat-substitute market has been struggling with dampened growth projections and formulations and production processes yet to be perfected.

“Alternate protein sources such as chicken and pork are a growing trend in meat snacks at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s Express stores,” said Demster. “Bulk bagged meat sticks and beef jerky are trending, as well.”

AAFES operates more than 580 Express c-stores.

At present, Demster has added Jack Link’s, Old Trapper, Cattleman’s Cut and No Man’s Land Beef Jerky, which are all hot brands at Exchange stores.

“The fastest-growing flavor is hot-and-spicy, and the Exchange is seeing unit movement increasing in the core sizes of two-ounce and 3.25-ounce bags,” he said.

Inflation has caused shoppers to move to smaller pack sizes in meat snacks.

At High’s, spicy items are also still at the top of unit sales.

“Meat snacks are an impulse buy and should be merchandised on queue lines and in self-checkout lanes,” Demster recommended. “Shippers are also a great way to merchandise the products, creating secondary locations in the store and increased takeaway.”CSD

FAST FACTS:

• Stocking healthier meat snack options could prove beneficial to c-stores.

• Meat snack sales have shown a decline over the last year, per Circana.

• Customers are looking to buy smaller pack sizes.

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Category Management | Packaged Beverages

Health and Wellness Trend Drives Beverage Sales Energy drinks are thriving within the packaged beverage category, and healthy options are spearheading growth amidst inflation.

Howard Riell • Contributing Editor

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CSTORE DECISIONS •

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About “Chain of the Year” CStore Decisions’ Convenience Store Chain of the Year Award annually honors a convenience store or petroleum chain that has established itself as a superior retailer and innovator in the c-store industry. TXB follows the 2022 Chain of the Year Winner Nouria Energy. Past winners of this prestigious award include Sheetz, Maverik, RaceTrac, 7-Eleven Inc., Kwik Trip, Alimentation Couche-Tard, QuikTrip, Rutter’s and Family Express.

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Category Management | Packaged Beverages

The packaged beverage category, which includes soft drinks, water, juice, energy drinks and more, continues to be a convenience store powerhouse despite the effects of lingering inflation on customers’ wallets.

In fact, rising prices are helping to drive dollar sales for the category.

“Refreshment beverage volume has been relatively soft this year, but revenues have been strong due mostly to continued inflation,” reported Gary Hemphill, managing director of research for Beverage Marketing Corp. in New York City. “Most categories have slowed, but energy drinks continue to be a bright spot with mid-single-digit growth.

The category has benefited from innovation and continued high demand.”

Energy drink dollar sales shot up by 14% for the 52 weeks ending Sept. 10, according to Chicago market research firm Circana. Sports drink dollar sales have grown by 8.7% to reach $4.8 billion over the last year, and bottled water saw 6.3% growth.

Hemphill added, however, inflation appears to be slowing.

Energy Dominates Packaged Beverages Energy drinks saw a 14% growth in sales over the past year, reaching $13.6 billion, with sports drinks following at an 8.7% increase.

Packaged Beverages

Dollar Sales

1-Year % Change

Energy Drinks

$13.6 B

14%

Bottled Water

$5.7 B

6.3%

Sports Drinks

$4.8 B

8.7%

Bottled Juices

$1.7 B

2.5%

Juices/Drinks

$714.8 M

-0.8%

Source: Data for the 52-week period ending Sept. 10, 2023, from Circana, a Chicago-based market research firm

“We expect improved volume performance for many categories next year, with revenue growth slowing somewhat,” he noted.

The total soft drinks market in the American convenience channel is set to grow by 3.9% between 2023 and 2027, according to research firm GlobalData. Energy (by 6%) and sports drinks (by 6.4%) are expected to grow above that compound annual growth rate.

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service in particular has seen growth in healthier beverage options, especially since its stores are located on military bases.

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Category Management | Packaged Beverage

This will largely be due to consumer trends in health and wellness, which are promoting the consumption of these products as part of a healthy and active lifestyle. They are also looked at as an alternative to soft drinks and juices, which may have more negative perceptions when it comes to health due to sugar consumption.

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), which operates more than 580 Express c-stores, in particular has seen growth in healthier options, especially since its stores are located on military bases.

“We continue to see better-for-you and zerosugar options increase across all segments,” said Melissa Kitchen, the system’s buyer for non-alcoholic beverages, “which directly ties into the Exchange’s BE FIT program to help soldiers, airmen and guardians stay ready and resilient.”

CONSTANT GROWTH

Power Energy Corp. in Elmhurst, Ill., which has 1,359 sites in nine states, 96 of which are corporately owned under the Power Mart, Power Market and Powmaro’s banners, is seeing constant growth in packaged beverages.

The chain is showing a 3-5% monthly increase from last year’s base.

“We attribute it to weather and stocks. We had a hot summer, and the supply chain is much better in getting us products,” said Melissa Galasso, the convenience store category director of merchandising for the chain.

Galasso pointed out that the energy and zerosugar segments are trending faster than others.

In addition, she reported that ready-to-drink 54

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2023

(RTD) coffee is still trending, noting the chain has seen 2% growth versus its base last year.

RTD coffee is also still a customer favorite at AAFES stores. It continues to trend up from last year.

“With the exceptionally hot temperatures this summer, the Express saw higher demand for non-alcoholic beverages across all segments,” revealed Kitchen.

On another note, inflation has proved to be a factor at Power Energy Corp.’s stores.

“We have monitored consumer behavior. We have seen a better growth with the same products (but) less quantity, which has given a better price to consumers,” Galasso said.

AAFES, too, has seen the effects of inflation.

“Packaged beverages are faring well in AAFES Express stores,” said Kitchen. “Dollar trend is positive from last year because of the increase in average selling price. Units are trailing slightly behind last year.” CSD

FAST FACTS: • Energy and sports drink dollar sales led the growth in the packaged beverage category, according to Circana.

• Customers are searching for healthier options within packaged beverages.

• Inflation has shown to be a boon for retailers, leading to increased dollar sales in the segment.

cstoredecisions.com

Category Management | Cigars

Adapting to

New Cigar Trends

With the flavor ban still up for consideration, retailers are seeing new trends and finding new ways to stock their backbar.

Zhane Isom • Associate Editor

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CSTORE DECISIONS •

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cstoredecisions.com

Category Management | Cigars

Along with keeping an eye on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision regarding the flavored cigar ban, retailers are also finding new ways to keep up with consumers’ demands and the different cigar trends they’re seeing.

Last year, the FDA announced the proposed rule to ban all flavors in cigars. As of now, the FDA still plans to finalize these rules by the end of this year.

“On Oct. 13, the FDA sent its final rule on the proposed ban on characterizing flavors in cigars to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. While OMB is supposed to complete its review in 90 days, it will not adhere to this timetable. The Cigar Association of America will meet with OMB to make the industry’s case,”

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Category Management | Cigars

Cigar Dollar Sales Roll in Flat as Unit Sales Decline Cigar dollar sales rang in flat (down 0.1%) during the latest 52 weeks ending Oct. 8, while unit sales dropped 3.1% for the same period.

Dollar Sales

Product Cigars

Unit Sales

Price Per Unit

Current

1-Year % Change

Current

1-Year % Change

Current

1-Year % Change

$4.00 B

-0.1%

2.30 B

-3.1%

$1.76

3.2%

Source: Circana Total U.S. Convenience data for the 52 weeks ending Oct. 8, 2023

said David Ozgo, president of the Cigar Association of America. “To promulgate a final rule, the FDA is required to show that the proposed ban directly addresses a specific problem.”

Ozgo also mentioned that even after OMB approves a final rule, there will be a period of time before it is implemented. That implementation could be delayed if there should be a legal challenge.

However, as retailers wait for that rule, they must continue to watch cigar trends and improve cigar sales in their stores.

CIGAR SALES IN C-STORES

For the 52 weeks ending Oct. 8, cigar dollar sales slightly dipped by 0.1%, while unit sales dropped 3.1%, according to Circana, a Chicagobased market research firm.

Smoker Friendly, which operates 290 stores in 13 states, is one c-store chain that has seen a dip in cigar sales.

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“For 2023, our overall company domestic cigar sales have been flat,” said Jeremy Weiner, category director of cigars and premium products for Smoker Friendly. “However, in a few of our markets, our sales are slightly down.”

“Through July 2023, large cigar imports were down 12.6% in volume, while premium cigar imports were down just 3.4%,” added Ozgo.

CIGAR TRENDS

Natural-leaf cigars continue to be a trend for retailers to watch.

“Customers tend to be purchasing more of the natural-leaf offerings,” said Weiner. “Homogenized tobacco-leaf wrappers and filtered cigars have been losing sales the last couple of years.”

Nonetheless, some old trends and consumer demands continue to be a hot commodity in stores and with manufacturers.

“Major domestic cigar manufacturers still seem to be focusing on limited-time flavor

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Category Management | Cigars

offerings, and very few new items or brands were introduced in 2023,” said Weiner. “Many manufacturers have also added more non-flavor options to their portfolio, which I believe is to make sure they have items available if a flavor ban happens.”

Smoker Friendly stores offer a large variety of cigars for consumers to choose from, which allows the retail chain to keep up with the new trends and prepare for a possible flavor ban.

“Our stores offer anywhere from a four-foot to eight-foot section of domestic cigars,” said Weiner. “Our Smoker Friendly stores’ average domestic cigar set has about 180 SKUs of cigarillos, large cigars and filtered cigars.”

As 2023 comes to an end and 2024 begins, retailers will continue to organize their cigar section or backbar the way they see fit to improve cigar sales, keep up with trends and adhere to any cigar regulations that may come.

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FAST FACTS: • For the 52 weeks ending Oct. 8, cigar dollar sales slightly dipped by 0.1%, while unit sales dropped 3.1%, according to Circana, a Chicago-based market research firm.

• Consumers are demanding more naturalleaf cigars.

• The FDA plans to finalize the rules surrounding a potential flavored cigar ban by the end of this year.

“In our stores, we are looking at SKU rationalization and discontinuing items that don’t have the sales value to warrant being on the cigar set,” said Weiner. “We continue to work with the manufacturers to offer monthly promotions and special deals to loyal customers.” CSD

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Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

Announcing the Winners of CStore Decisions’ 2023 HOT NEW PRODUCTS CONTEST

Winners were determined based on key factors for success at c-stores, including innovation, packaging and more.

A CStore Decisions Staff Report

THOUSANDS OF NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES LAUNCH in the convenience store industry each year. But which will be successful in today’s competitive marketplace?

CStore Decisions’ 2023 Hot New Products Contest evaluated a number of new product launches and is awarding the products set for success at c-stores this year.

CStore Decisions received numerous entries across more than a dozen categories. A panel of retailer experts judged this year’s entries. Winners were determined using a point system that examined key factors for success, including innovation, packaging and more.

New products and services are defined as having launched in 2023.

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CSTORE DECISIONS •

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Introducing the 2023 CStore Decisions Hot New Products Contest winners...

cstoredecisions.com

WINNER

GOLD AWARD Energy Category

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

BEVERAGE CATEGORY Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream

by Keurig Dr Pepper

Dr Pepper has introduced Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream.

Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream blends the one-of-a-kind taste of Dr Pepper with layers of refreshing strawberry flavor and a smooth, creamy finish. This new flavor of Dr Pepper is available in both regular (12-ounce and 20-ounce 12-pack cans) and zerosugar (12-ounce 12-pack cans) varieties. In the convenience store channel, Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream quickly exceeded all forecasts and benchmarks, achieving distribution greater than 85% annual contract value in less than five months while delivering over $45 million in sales since launch, the company reported.

Coca-Cola Creations Ultimate

by The Coca-Cola Co.

The limited-edition Coca-Cola Ultimate is the result of a collaboration between Coca-Cola and Riot Games, the developer behind the renowned game League of Legends.

Coca-Cola Ultimate’s flavor embodies the concept of Experience Points (+XP), the universal unit of rewards earned by players as they progress through a game. The striking packaging design fuses elements of both iconic brands, taking visual cues from League of Legends lore — including a bespoke “Ultimate” crest with a blue Hextech backlit glow; a Spencerian Script inspired by Nexus crystals in “Runeterra”; and a bold, gold and black manifestation of the Coca-Cola Creations logo. Coca-Cola Ultimate offers a triple threat for operators of bold taste, interactive experiences and connection to gaming.

Coca-Cola Ultimate is available in original and zero-sugar options that can be purchased in 20-ounce single-serve PET bottles and 10-packs of 7.5-ounce single-serve cans, increasing the flexibility of the offering for operators.

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CSTORE DECISIONS •

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Salted Caramel Oat Milk Nitro Cold Brew Latte

by RISE Brewing Co. RISE Brewing Co.’s Salted Caramel Latte features its nitrogeninfused cold brew coffee, enhanced with sweet caramel and a dash of sea salt — proudly organic, dairy free, vegan, plant based and non-GMO.

cstoredecisions.com

DR PEPPER is a registered trademark of Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. ©2023 Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. SUNKIST is a registered trademark of Sunkist Growers, Inc., USA used under license by Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. CORE is a registered trademark of Core Nutrition, LLC. ©2023 Core Nutrition, LLC. SQUIRT is a registered trademark of A&W CONCENTRATE COMPANY. 7UP is a registered trademark of Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

CANDY CATEGORY Dark Chocolate Coconut Cup Two-Pack

by Chocxo

Chocxo’s latest product innovation makes for the perfect organic and convenient chocolate treat that is truly indulgent and lower in sugar (without artificial sweeteners).

Chocxo’s Dark Chocolate Coconut Cup Two-Pack features individually wrapped cups that include organic coconut that is mixed with slightly sweet white chocolate before being encased in an 85% cacao dark chocolate shell. The intense dark chocolate complements the sweet, nutty flavor of the coconut without overpowering it for a truly indulgent lower-sugar, organic treat. One cup has just 80 calories, three grams of sugar and is organic, non-GMO, gluten free and kosher, making for the ultimate guilt-free treat available at convenience stores.

Welch’s ZERO SUGAR Fruity Bites

Welch’s Juicefuls Heart Throbs Juicy Fruit Snacks

by PIM Brands Inc.

by PIM Brands Inc.

Welch’s ZERO SUGAR Fruity Bites are chewy, fruity and 100% sugar free, with 25% fewer calories than the original Welch’s Fruit Snacks but with all the great taste. The new snacks are fat free, gluten free, aspartame free and contain no preservatives.

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CSTORE DECISIONS •

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Welch’s Juicefuls HeartThrobs are the heart-shaped version of Welch’s Juicefuls Juicy Fruit Snacks, the fruit snack that is bursting with real juice consumers can see and fruit they can taste. Released in advance of Valentine’s Day 2023, Welch’s Juicefuls HeartThrobs Juicy Fruit Snacks come in vibrant seasonal packaging that includes a “To & From” note card on the pack itself, making them a great Galentine’s Day party favor or a sweet Valentine’s Day gift.

cstoredecisions.com

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

ROLLER GRILL CATEGORY Spicy Queso Beef Tornados

by Ruiz Foods Inc.

Ruiz Foods’ new Spicy Queso Beef Tornados are crafted to delight the growing number of c-store customers seeking bolder choices from the roller grill or hot case. This bold, spicy variety gives consumers an exciting new reason to check out roller grills for snacks or meals. Each bite packs a flavorful kick with spicy, melty queso and seasoned ground beef inside the zesty, crispy shell.

Eisenberg Blazing Cheddar Sausage

by Home Market Foods

by Home Market Foods

Eisenberg Blazing Cheddar Sausage is a spicy sausage loaded with toppings inside to deliver all the flavor with none of the mess. The sausage is made with premium cuts of pork and beef, 100% real cheddar cheese, and red pepper sauce for a hot, fresh, proteinpacked, onehanded snack on the go.

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CSTORE DECISIONS •

Mike’s Hot Honey Chicken RollerBites

November 2023

Mike’s Hot Honey Chicken RollerBites are savory, sweet and full of heat.

Made with 100% white meat chicken; coated in a crispy breading; seasoned with cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic and, of course, Mike’s Hot Honey, these RollerBites are perfect for a hot and fresh, proteinpacked, one-handed snack on the go.

cstoredecisions.com

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

LUNCH DAYPART CATEGORY Cheesy Pull Apart Flatbread

by Rich Products

Cheesy Pull Apart Flatbread from Rich Products is a labor-saving, time-saving product that fits every c-store menu. Simply bake it and pull it apart along pre-cut impressions to separate it into soft, individual sticks or serve it as a shareable snack that consumers pull apart themselves. C-stores can choose from two versions: Cheesy Pull Apart Flatbread, which comes topped with six different cheeses and sprinkled with Italian herbs, and individually wrapped, retail-ready Cheesy Pull Apart Flatbread for those seeking a take-and-bake option.

Featuring a crisp, chewy bite with a light, airy center, Cheesy Pull Apart Flatbread comes topped with mozzarella, cheddar, provolone, parmesan, Romano and asiago cheeses and sprinkled with Italian herbs. It is 4.5 inches by nine inches, weighs 9.675 ounces and comes 24 per case, with a shelf life of 270 days frozen and five days refrigerated. The retail-ready Cheesy Pull Apart Flatbread is similar, yet wrapped and ready for consumers to bake at home.

Everything Fried Chicken Sandwich

by Chester’s Chicken

Chester’s new Everything Fried Chicken Sandwich is a 2.0 version relaunch of the fan favorite on the menu.

The new sandwich is built with a marinated and double-breaded whole breast fillet, topped with Chester’s bold and tangy signature sauce and crunchy crinkle-cut dill pickles and served on a Martin’s Famous potato roll. The result is a juicier, crispier, more flavorful version of the chicken sandwich that made Chester’s famous. When surveyed, overall flavor preference increased by 73%, and purchase intent increased by 45% versus the original sandwich. Since releasing the original fried chicken sandwich in 2019, it’s become a fan favorite on the menu. Chester’s sold three million chicken sandwiches in 2022.

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CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2023

Italian Trio Pizza

by Hunt Brothers Pizza

Italian Trio Pizza features Hunt Brothers Pizza’s original crust blended with an Italian herb seasoning, signature tomato sauce and 100% natural part-skim mozzarella cheese. The pizza is topped with Italian sausage, cured salami, cup-and-char pepperoni and a sprinkling of Hunt Brothers Pizza’s secret blend of Italian seasoning; it’s finished with its signature Just Rite Spice. This limitedtime offer is the first of its kind for Hunt Brothers Pizza, offering a new depth of flavors with Italian herbs blended into the dough of its original crust.

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Jimmy Dean® Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Biscuit Roll-Ups

The brands you trust and customers love.

Scan to see our products.

Contact your Tyson Foodservice Representative or visit tysonfoodservice.com for product info, resources and market-relevant solutions backed by our trusted brands. ©2023 Tyson Foods, Inc. Trademarks and registered trademarks are owned by Tyson Foods, Inc. or its subsidiaries, or used under license.

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Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

BREAKFAST CATEGORY Berries and Cream Waffle Sandwich

by Nordic Waffles

Nordic Waffles’ new Berries and Cream Waffle Sandwich joins its savory breakfast waffle sandwiches and is now available for heat and serve or grab and go. This combination of Nordic Waffles’ soft, thin waffles and a luscious mix of strawberries, raspberries and Norwegian vanilla cream is set to captivate taste buds and redefine breakfast indulgence.

Jimmy Dean Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit Roll-Ups

by Tyson Foods

Fully Cooked — Heat and Serve Mini Waffled Hash Brown

by Lamb Weston

Jimmy Dean Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit Roll-Ups deliver savory and quick on-the-go flavors that are easy for customers to enjoy anytime. This product is easy to prep, helping reduce labor time and costs, and holds well for four hours in the included serving sleeve. The Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit Roll-Ups offer all the best flavors of breakfast in a flaky biscuit crust, giving customers a fun way to help fuel their day.

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Made from real shredded potatoes and baked to crispy perfection, new Lamb Weston Fully Cooked — Heat and Serve Mini Waffled Hash Browns feature classic hash browns in a fun waffle shape. They’re simply an out-of-thisworld new way to thrill customers who are hungry for something beyond the ordinary.

cstoredecisions.com

36213 LW New Hot Product Award Ad 10.17.23 CF Final with BleedCrop.pdf

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An out-of-this-world new way to thrill customers who are hungry for something beyond the ordinary.

Scan the QR Code to Explore the Intrigue © 2023 Lamb Weston, Inc. All rights reserved.

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

FOODSERVICE COMPONENTS AND INGREDIENTS CATEGORY La Brea Bakery Plant-Based Brioche Bun

by Aspire Bakeries

Retailers can expand their menu with a premium bun that meets consumers’ needs for gourmet offerings and trending health halos without compromising taste and quality. Buttery, rich, mildly sweet and flavorful, the new soft brioche bun has a tender crumb that’s hearty enough to hold up to the juiciest sandwich builds. This plant-based brioche uses alternative ingredients to create its great flavor and texture. The buns are distributed frozen, ready to thaw and serve.

Hillshire Farm Cupping Pepperoni

by Tyson Foods

by Rich Products

Hillshire Farm Cupping Pepperoni brings new flavor and excitement to an American favorite — pepperoni pizza. This quality cupped, crisp-yettender pepperoni can be the star of the pizza or a specialty ingredient that gives other menu items their unique, craveable edge.

Sprinkle cooked pepperoni cups over potato skins, dips, salads, pasta and soups, or bake them into hot sandwiches for a tasty concept twist. With Hillshire Farm Cupping Pepperoni, the application options are endless.

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Gluten-Free Parbaked Detroit-Style Pizza Crust

November 2023

The new Gluten-Free Parbaked Detroit-Style Pizza Crust from Rich Products satisfies two growing consumer trends: the increased demand for gluten-free and Detroit-style pizzas. Like other parbaked pizza crusts from Rich’s, this premium personal-sized crust offers c-store operators the flexibility and ease of a freezer-to-oven format that bakes up reliably and consistently every time with minimal skill required.

The thick crust is first loaded with toppings, then a layer of cheese, with the sauce added last. The result is a unique pie that bakes up with perfectly crispy, caramelized cheese around the edges. Parbaked and ready to top, Rich’s Gluten-Free Detroit-Style Pizza Crust satisfies customers looking for a gluten-free, flavorful option with a crisp outside bite and airy center.

Operators can top this versatile, personal-sized crust in a variety of custom ways. It’s the ideal solution for c-store operators since it’s labor friendly.

The crusts are each nine ounces and come 20 per case, with a shelf life of 240 days frozen or seven days refrigerated. Simply remove from the freezer, top, bake and serve. cstoredecisions.com

NEW!

PLANT BASED BRIOCHE BUN

GOLD WINNER

Expand your menu with a premium bun that meets consumers needs for gourmet offerings and trending health halos without compromising taste and quality. And, let’s be honest...your customers deserve better brioche!

{

Buttery, rich, mildly sweet and flavorful, our soft brioche bun has a tender crumb that’s hearty enough to hold up to the juiciest sandwich builds.

This plant-based brioche uses alternative ingredients to create it’s great flavor and texture. Distributed frozen, ready to thaw and serve.

}

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

FOODSERVICE PACKAGING CATEGORY Safe-T-Chef

by Inline Plastics Corp.

Inline Plastics brings over 55 years of innovation to the food packaging industry. The company transformed the marketplace with Safe-T-Fresh, its patented technology that introduced tamper-resistant and tamper-evident safety solutions. With the recent launch of Safe-T-Chef food packaging, this patented technology is available for hot food applications. This is the first and only tamper-evident, tamperresistant, all-clear polypropylene product line. The high clarity and smooth, modern designs create impressive displays and ensure customers are ready as the shift from black carbon plastic continues. Safe-T-Chef keeps contents safe and secure when using third-party delivery services, a “must have” for restaurants, convenience stores, foodservice, supermarkets and processors.

Anchorware Reusables

by Anchor Packaging

Anchorware Reusables containers add value customers recognize and provide an innovative sustainability solution that breaks through the noise to build an operator’s brand. In addition to providing a sustainable alternative to single-use, these containers add value to foodservice offerings. Anchorware Reusables are microwave and dishwasher safe, and all sizes are Association of Plastics Recyclers design compliant for optimal recycling at the end of use.

Anchorware Reusables are available in nine sizes. Round, square and rectangular bases offer capacity versatility, while common footprints with interchangeable lids minimize inventory.

An easy, one-step, push-button design snaps the lid tight to keep operations running smoothly. Larger sizes provide value-added solutions for catering and meal kits.

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learn more

GET F’REAL

TODAY!

f’real has the ideal self-serve frozen beverage program for you with our B6 blender. Take a look at this solution and just picture the labor-savings!

Self-Serve Shakes & Smoothies f’real’s self-service program lets customers blend their own milkshakes and plant-based smoothies with the push of a button. Save on labor with this program since all you need to do is keep the freezer stocked and let your customers blend, sip, and chill. It’s really that easy!

program includes:

Automatic Low-Touch Blending

Let your customers do the work. They select a mouthwatering milkshake or plant-based smoothie flavor from the freezer, place the selected treat in the cup holder of the blender, select their preferred thickness, and hit blend! In about a minute, they have a blended, customized, indulgent shake or smoothie ready-to-go.

Pre-Filled Frozen Cups

Self-Sanitizing

contact us: sales@freal.com or (800) 483-3218

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

FOODSERVICE EQUIPMENT CATEGORY PLEXOR A3 Automated Ventless Oven

by TurboChef

The Plexor ventless, automated oven offers three different cooking technologies in one easy-to-use appliance. Impingement, Rapid Cook and TurboVect modules can be configured in any combination. Modules can be easily replaced with a different cooking technology as menus change. The oven can be ordered in left or right automated loading/unloading door orientation to offer additional flexibility. Being ventless, the high-speed oven can be placed anywhere it’s needed. By configuring the unit using any combination of the following functions, restaurants can serve customers faster.

Since space is premium in every kitchen, the Plexor A3 maximizes every inch. The stackable design allows users to triple their throughput, not their footprint, with one user interface and one plug. Entire menus can be cooked to perfection by automating, simplifying and diversifying the cooking process. In a labor-challenged foodservice industry, Plexor enables users to increase productivity without sacrificing quality and consistency.

Prep Assistant

by PreciTaste

The Prep Assistant is an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered restaurant solution revolutionizing how foodservice operations prep bulk ingredients. It takes the work from spreadsheets and clipboards to digital screens with an AI-powered interface. It automates internal prep processes by collecting data and information to generate demand predictions through AI, thus creating more precise production. With the Prep Assistant, the crew can clearly see what they need to prep and when on an easy-to-use interface, decreasing overproduction and stockout. These benefits lead directly to fresher food and better service, resulting in an up-to-5% decrease in food costs, one hour saved per day per manager and crew member, and an up-to-4.6% increase in sales.

The Prep Assistant allows managers at any convenience store with foodservice operations that require prepping fresh ingredients to focus more time on the quality of meals served and ensuring they are focused on a positive crew and customer experience.

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Pizza Prep Table Refrigerator

by Hoshizaki America Inc.

The new pizza prep tables are designed with patent-pending technology that keeps food at ideal temperatures in both the rail and the cabinet while requiring less labor and maintenance. Night/ Day mode allows for automatic changing of the rail set point while the lid is open, so food stays fresh in the rail — even overnight without freezing. There are two controllers with one refrigeration system for ideal temperatures in the rail and cabinet — customizable for every operation. Rail airflow is back to front, so each pan is kept at consistent cooling, no matter what the depth. The front-accessible, removable filter is easy to clean. With these features, keeping food in the rail overnight means less labor required to move food products every morning and evening and cost savings to the operation, not to mention fresher food for longer. cstoredecisions.com

MSE-SD-Cooler-FullPage-Oct-PRINT.pdf 1 10/17/2023 9:51:10 AM

LOCKING DISPLAY CASES & COOLER DOORS

Locking display cases in 4 sizes secure high-theft merchandise.

Available on frameless and French swing doors and can be retrofit to existing cooler doors.

Modern Store Equipment offers an unparalleled level of protection from theft with Secure Cooler and Secure Display. High power electromagnetic locks have the muscle to withstand hundreds of pounds of force per door. Access is easy with the swipe of a keycard or fob. The advanced app lets you program and control access from anywhere in the world 24/7. It’s easy to manage alcohol sales per your local laws with auto lock and unlock at the same time every day. Available on new cooler doors and can be retrofit on your existing cooler doors.

Freestanding non-refrigerated displays available in 4 sizes.

LEARN MORE

modernstoreonline.com info@modernstoreonline.com | 877.532.8433

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

GENERAL MERCHANDISE CATEGORY Scripto Hybrid Lighter Designer 50 Count

by Calico Brands Inc.

With Calico Brands’ Scripto Hybrid Designer series, there is a wrap for everyone. It offers a variety of unique wrap options to choose from or the option to create custom designs. It features a refillable tank, an extended nozzle for safer lighting, a push-button mechanism and an adjustable flame.

BIC Ecolutions Lighter

by BIC USA

The BIC Ecolutions lighter is designed to be more eco-friendly while providing the same quality, safety and number of lights as the current BIC Maxi Lighter. BIC Ecolutions is made with 55% recycled metal and has a 30% carbon offset by investments in climate projects. Like all BIC Pocket Lighters, Ecolutions lighters are made in factories that utilize a mix of renewable energy sources. BIC Ecolutions lighters are long lasting, reliable and 100% quality inspected versus BIC Maxi Lighter.

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BPA-Free Pet Toy

by Treat Planet

Treat Planet has released its first line of pet toys for its Cosmo’s Snack Shack brand, furthering its mission of creating the highestquality dog treats and pet products in the market. To better serve retailers’ needs, Treat Planet has developed BPA-free natural rubber, non-toxic, latex-free toys that are easy to clean. The toys are available in fun, different colors, and the packaging is peggable. The Fly N’ Float is a high-flying frisbee that is lightweight and floatable. This frisbee is tough yet soft, pliable and gentle on a dog’s mouth. The Fling N’ Fetch is an entertaining, erratic bouncing ball attached to a string. The Fling N’ Fetch is the perfect interactive fetch toy that is safer for a dog’s teeth than a tennis ball. These new additions to Treat Planet’s Cosmo’s Snack Shack brand will continue to meet the needs of today’s pet parents on the go. cstoredecisions.com

YOU LIGHT THE WAY TO THE TOP!

ON WINNING

CHAIN OF THE YEAR

Eye-catching designs, safety, quality, and reliability make BIC® America’s #1 Lighter Brand*.

Visit BIC.com.

* *Source: Information Resources, INC. C-MULO 52 weeks ending 07/02/23

© 2023 BIC USA Inc., Shelton, CT 06484

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

ENERGY CATEGORY Mojo Balanced Energy Pouches

by E-Alternative Solutions (Mojo Balanced Energy)

Today’s consumers are far more discerning and informed than ever before, constantly seeking value, not just in terms of cost efficiency on the products they purchase, but for high-quality c-store items that deliver on their promises. Mojo Balanced Energy Pouches is successfully meeting the changing needs and preferences of the modern convenience store consumer. As a novel product line, it delivers a great-tasting, exhilarating, satisfying experience without nicotine, tobacco, sugar or calories. It is also superior to traditional energizing options, offering a far lower cost per milligram of caffeine than competitors. It presents a unique, convenient form factor for maintaining focus and productivity. The innovative brand proudly reinvents a familiar experience, adapting it to modern consumers’ economic and wellness-conscious considerations and sensibilities.

Vitamin Energy “Clinically Proven” Energy Shots

by Vitamin Energy

New for Q3 2023 — Vitamin Energy shots are now “Clinically Proven.” Vitamin Energy has recently completed clinical trials on all of its energy shots and is pleased to announce that Vitamin Energy is now officially the world’s first and only “clinically tested and proven” energy shot brand. Increased energy levels, increased happiness, increased mental focus and supported weight loss are a few of the claims the study was able to determine through science and data. A new gold emblem is added to all bottles to reflect this.

The new bottles are now available to the public.

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Fastkaps

by Vivazen

Vivazen’s new Fastkaps are available in four-packs and 10-packs and are best for fast-acting relief in bulk.

Vivazen’s products are made with only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients, and its sourcing practices guarantee that its Kratom is sustainably grown and ethically sourced. Paired with its rigorous production and quality checks that go above and beyond regulatory minimums, Vivazen can guarantee an impeccable customer experience — every product, every time.

cstoredecisions.com

VIVAZEN® thanks CStore Decisions for the Bronze Award on our 4pk & 10pk Fastkaps™.

Vivazen®’s new Fastkaps™ are available in 4pk and 10pk and are best for fast-acting relief in bulk†. Vivazen’s products are made with only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients, and our sourcing practices guarantee that our Kratom is sustainably grown and ethically sourced.

Paired with our rigorous production and quality checks that go above and beyond regulatory minimums, Vivazen can guarantee an impeccable customer experience — every product, every time.

Vivazen® is the #1 selling CONVENIENCE supplement in the USA*

www.vivazen.com *Nielsen, 52-week period ending September 2023, Convenience Channel, USA, Revenue Based †THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

TOBACCO AND TOBACCO ALTERNATIVES CATEGORY Black Buffalo ZERO (Nicotine-Free) Pouches and Long Cut

by Black Buffalo

With California’s ban on flavored tobacco products becoming effective in December 2022 (CA Senate Bill 793, supported by Proposition 31), two of the state’s largest convenience retailers called on Black Buffalo to immediately begin stocking their stores with Black Buffalo’s nicotine-free ZERO products. These products, in both pouches and long-cut forms in multiple flavors, are not subject to the flavored tobacco ban as they contain no tobacco.

Black Buffalo is now positioning these products for states and municipalities that no longer allow flavored tobacco products. Sales have been very strong since its launch in California retailers. Black Buffalo expects to continue to position its ZERO product portfolio for the ever-increasing number of jurisdictions banning flavored tobacco sales.

Game Leaf Dark Rum

by Swedish Match

After seeing the success of the April 2022 launch of Game Leaf Dark, the obvious conclusion was to give consumers a limited-time offer on a dark rolled leaf cigar. Swedish Match’s proprietary darkening process of aging small batches of premium broadleaf for six months sets Game Leaf Dark apart from the rest of the segment. Game Leaf Dark Rum fills a need for rolled-leaf consumers that has not been met before.

Dark leaves, fresh cigars, innovative flavor and consumer rewards are all rolled into one smoking experience.

This limited-edition loose leaf is offered in three different price points: two for $1.29, unpriced twopacks and five for $2.99 to ensure flexibility at all retail locations.

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Djarum Bliss

by Kretek International Inc. Djarum Bliss offers a new nicotine-free choice for clove smokers past, present and future. The natural blend of Indonesian cloves and botanical ingredients is balanced to offer the same full clove experience — without any tobacco or nicotine. The Djarum Black Bliss line has enjoyed a steady rollout as nicotine-free products are being included in future c-store shelf sets. Djarum’s planned progress through early markets shows that even with restrictions estimated for late 2024, it’s not too early for tobacco-free alternatives.

Djarum Special Bliss offers a robust new addition as retailers plan tobacco-free facings. Djarum Special’s brown LIP paper-wrapped clove smokes deliver 26% of the brand’s current total sales, built on years of consumer loyalty to its smoother clove taste and aroma.

Djarum Bliss Java offers an amazing fresh-brewed blend of clove and coffee like nothing Djarum has done before. Djarum Bliss Java is packaged to be a companion style to Djarum Special and features the same distinctive brown wrapper and filter tip.

cstoredecisions.com

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

SWEET SNACKS AND DESSERTS CATEGORY Hostess Kazbars

by Hostess Brands

Introduced in March 2023, Hostess Kazbars are a first-of-its-kind candy barinspired innovation within the snack cakes market. The new Hostess innovation combines layers of soft chocolate cake, crème, candy crunch, and melt-in-your-mouth caramel or smooth chocolate fudge. The bars are covered in a rich chocolate-flavored coating and topped with a delightful drizzle for an afternoon reward and on-the-go snack that is sure to satisfy convenience store shoppers.

Hostess Kazbars come in a 2.75-ounce single-serve package and are available in two fan-favorite flavors: Chocolate Caramel and Triple Chocolate.

Our Specialty Treat Shop Tres Leches Style Cake Cups

by Rich Products

Our Specialty Treat Shop Tres Leches Style Cake Cups are the ideal solution for c-stores looking to offer a convenient grab-and-go treat with global flavors. Popular in Mexico and Latin America, Tres leches cake is a moist sponge cake that is soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and whole milk or heavy cream.

Our Specialty Treat Shop Tres Leches Style Cake Cups are made in Mexico using premium, high-quality, authentic ingredients. Consumers can choose from three flavors, including chocolate, strawberry and original. Each cup delivers sumptuous flavor and texture with convenient grab-and-go packaging conducive for handling and travel. These are the ideal turnkey solutions for c-stores, requiring no added labor.

They arrive frozen, in retail-ready packaging. There are eight per case, with a shelf life of 365 days frozen and 10 days refrigerated.

This turnkey, thaw-and-display solution saves c-stores valuable time, labor and space; plus, these indulgent treats inspire curious cravings and impulse purchases.

The made-in-Mexico authenticity will satisfy nostalgic traditionalists and flavor explorers alike.

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Mocha Macchiato Ice Cream Sandwich

by Ruby Jewel

Ruby Jewel’s new Mocha Macchiato Ice Cream Sandwich has caramelized espresso ice cream sandwiched between two double chocolate chip cookies.

The large, single-serve ice cream sandwich comes packaged in a flex pouch that makes it easy to take on the go without dripping.

cstoredecisions.com

®

Visit us at www.hostesscakes.com

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

SALTY SNACKS CATEGORY Whisps Cheddar Baked Cheese Bites

by Whisps Corp.

Whisps Baked Cheese Bites are bite-sized versions of Whisps cheese crisps, providing more than 50 pieces of baked cheese and over 10 grams of protein from 100% real cheese per one-ounce serving. Available in cheddar and parmesan, Whisps Baked Cheese Bites celebrate one whole ingredient — 100% real cheese — and each serving has 10 grams of protein, only one gram of carbs and zero sugar.

Chex Mix Remix

Popped Crisps

by General Mills Convenience

by 1440 Foods (Pure Protein)

Pure Protein Hickory Barbecue and Sour Cream & Onion Popped Crisps are a new flavor-packed protein snack to satisfy those crunchable cravings. Crafted with 12 grams of protein, Popped Crisps are big on flavor and crunch, yet never fried. They are gluten free and non-GMO. So whether consumers are snacking at home or on the go, they can grab a bag of Pure Protein Popped Crisps for a portable protein snack.

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Chex Mix Remix is a new snack mix for the warehouse salty aisle featuring unique flavored pieces inspired by consumers’ late-night cravings. The intense flavors include Zesty Taco and Cheesy Pizza, delivering an exciting eating experience for new occasions. Chex Mix Remix has a suggested retail price of $4.29.

cstoredecisions.com

Congratulations to TXB

on the well-deserved Chain of the Year Award!

Excellence in customer experience, an innovative spirit and sound operating fundamentals are clearly a winning combination.

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

MEAT SNACKS CATEGORY Fiorucci Pizza-Flavored Paninos Snack Pack

by Fiorucci Foods Inc.

Fiorucci Foods’ new unique-to-market Pizza-Flavored Paninos are now available in a 1.5-ounce, two-count, easy-open package. Each serving contains no artificial flavors, colors or ingredients and is a good source of both protein and calcium. The product is gluten and trans-fat free; low carb with no sugars; and great for those following keto-friendly, paleo or Mediterranean diets. The pizza-flavored Paninos offer consumers a familiar flavor perfect for those who enjoy the classic taste of a Margherita Pizza. The pizza-flavored salami is slowly aged, dry cured and reddish-orange in color with fine specks of white fat, seasoned with notes of anise, red pepper, fennel seed and natural mesquite smoke. The flavor is zesty and robust, with a hint of tomato, garlic, paprika and marinated red wine. The mozzarella cheese is creamy white with a smooth, buttery texture and soft, mild flavor.

Old Wisconsin 2.5-Ounce Hot and Spicy Sausage and Pepper Jack Cheese Sticks

by Carl Buddig and Co.

Turn up the heat with Old Wisconsin’s new 2.5-ounce Hot and Spicy Sausage and Pepper Jack Cheese sticks. The sausage is naturally slow smoked and packed with a bold flavor blend of serrano, jalapeño and red peppers, and it’s perfectly paired with a spicy pepper jack cheese. It’s a perfect way to add a little extra kick to consumers’ everyday snacking occasions.

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Bacon Cheddar Sticks Two Ounce

by Wenzel’s Farm

Wenzel’s Farm blends its rich, smoky beef flavor with cheddar cheese and bacon to create a snack stick that tastes as good as it sounds, and now it is available in an easy-to-grab two-ounce package.

It combines two Midwestern favorites for an unforgettable culinary experience. It’s like taking the flavor sensation of a bacon cheddar burger and putting it into a healthy, protein-packed snack stick.

cstoredecisions.com

Old World For The Modern Age:

C-Store Snacking With Authentic Italian Appeal Convenient snacks are on-trend! Snacking has evolved from a once-in-a-while treat to a modern everyday lifestyle.

34 in

consumers snack at least once a day, up from just 58% in 2021.1 C-stores are go-to stops for products like charcuterie, a top-seller that falls under the snacking umbrella.

1

#

ranking appetizer in 2023 that is extending its reach across daypart meals — snacking included.2

Discover our everyday snacking portfolio of new items with unique-to-market flavor profiles and traditional favorites.

Fiorucci Pizza Flavored Paninos: The Winner Of CStore Decisions’ 2023 Hot New Products Award.

Visit Us at NACS Booth #C8643

To bring “Truly Authentic Italia” to your store’s snack lineup, visit FIORUCcIFOoDS.COM Sources: 1. Mintel Snacking Trends 2023, 2. Datassential Menu Trends YE 2022

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

STORE EQUIPMENT CATEGORY Stowaway Cart

by Adco Industries

The Stowaway two-tier folding cart provides heavy-duty service use with the ability of folding to minimize footprint for storage. Stowaway can be used in all areas in convenience stores. The Stowaway Cart capitalizes on its ability to fold up and minimize floor space when not being used and offers a generous weightcarrying capacity when deployed for use. Stowaway comes with locking casters and uses patented center wheels to increase stability and support a load capacity of 350 pounds, extending service life. A long-wear, durable, powder-coated finish, along with available tops, offer valuable features that can benefit even the smallest of locations. The cart is available in small — 30.5 inches in width by 18 inches in diameter by 36.25 inches in height at $239.99 — and large — 30.5 inches in width by 22 inches in diameter by 36.25 inches in height at $279.99.

LAS1 LED Architectural Strip with Selectable CCT

by US LED

The LAS1 LED Linear Architectural Strip delivers brilliant illumination and visual comfort for those looking for a sophisticated indoor lighting solution. With a sleek form factor, the LAS1 comes standard in a beautiful white finish (or custom colors) to integrate seamlessly into any indoor application to make the right lighting design statement. The LAS1 allows consumers to select their preferred correlated color temperature in the field for more flexibility, further simplifying lighting design and installation.

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Secure Display Case

by Modern Store Equipment The Secure Display case from Modern Store Equipment offers an unparalleled level of protection from theft. Four high-power magnetic locks secure the acrylic French-swing doors and provide the strength to withstand up to 600 pounds of force per door.

Secure Display’s intelligent access panel provides instant entry with a keypad, fob or card. Management can also monitor all activity from an app on a smartphone, tablet or computer. The case’s interior is flooded with front, back and side LED that stays cool and uses minimal energy while providing maximum visibility to make merchandise pop, creating interest and spurring more sales.

Secure Display’s halfinch acrylic doors not only provide distortionfree clarity, but they are also stronger than tempered glass and half the weight. The doors are also secured to the frame with heavyduty hinges. Reinforced metal trim and lowleverage door pulls are added theft deterrents. cstoredecisions.com

HEAVY DUTY STOWAWAY

CART

• Space Saving Design • 400 Lb. Capacity • Anti-Pinch Construction • 6 Casters for Durability • Locking Casters • Powder Coat Finish

• Inventory Cart • Beverage Cooler • Retail Floor/Warehouse • Back Room/Office • Loading/Unloading • Merchandising

Large: 22”W x 37.5”L x 38”H

27900

$

Small: 22”W x 29.5”L x 38”H U.S. and foreign patents pending.

$

23900

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

TECHNOLOGY CATEGORY Epson OmniLink TM-m50II-H POS Receipt Printer

by Epson America Inc.

The Epson OmniLink TM-m50II-H receipt printer is designed to cater to the rapidly evolving needs of the ccstore industry. Marking a significant advancement in c-store operations, the printer addresses numerous challenges with advanced connectivity features, serving as a power source and network hub for tablets; compatibility with multiple platforms; and a dual-exit, compact design for seamless integration into diverse point-of-sale (POS) environments.

Featuring ultra-fast print speeds; advanced connectivity; and a compact, modern design, the OmniLink TM-m50II-H thermal receipt printer brings an unprecedented combination of performance, versatility and style to the modern c-store. The versatile device supports seamless integration with self-service systems and third-party delivery apps. In addition to functioning as a printer, the TM-m50II-H serves as a power source and network hub for tablet devices, managing multiple peripherals and eliminating the need for a separate USB hub. This streamlines POS operations, simplifies management and decreases clutter.

The Lula Store Platform

by Lula Convenience

The Lula Store Platform is the first all-in-one delivery solution built for convenience stores. Hundreds of companies are using Lula Convenience technology to deliver their store’s items on Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates and other marketplaces directly to customers.

Retailers that want to offer delivery face countless challenges regarding inventory management, staffing and high sales commission fees on low-margin products. The Lula Store platform addresses these challenges directly, providing a simple yet powerful solution for stores to expand their reach and grow their revenue with local delivery. The platform offers integrations with major point-of-sale technologies to enable real-time inventory updates and significantly reduce the time and money retailers need to invest in managing their business. It’s one of many reasons the Lula Store Platform is the most powerful delivery technology for convenience stores.

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cstoredecisions.com

Special Report | Hot New Products Awards

TECHNOLOGY CATEGORY CONTINUED Dart Smart Quorso

by Contract Datascan LLC

by Quorso US Inc

Quorso is the modern way to run dataguided retail operations. Artificial intelligence turns terabytes of retail data (point-of-sale, shrink, inventory, customer satisfaction score, omnichannel, labor, etc.) into personalized priorities for each field and store leader. Smart workflows guide effective action, and business impact is measured to embed learnings across the organization.

Many of the world’s leading retailers are using Quorso to improve the productivity of their store operations. One hundred billion dollars of activity is managed through Quorso across 25,000-plus stores and 90-plus use cases. It was voted a “Technology Game-Changer” at the World Retail Awards and a “Best Quick Impact Technology” at the 2023 National Retail Federation Vendors In Partnership Awards.

Most c-store owners or managers have a pretty good handle on their inventory. Which SKUs shrink fastest? Where do out-of-stock items occur most frequently? Is there any relationship between inventory accuracy and time of day or day of the week when counts are conducted? These and many more data points are available through Datascan’s Power BI-driven, customizable and easy-to-use data analytics tool — Dart Smart.

Experience that fuels the Future Thank you to our clients for consistently collaborating with us to bring innovative software solutions to the industry.

SYSTEMS

ALWAYS MOVING FORWARD ADD ENERGY Co.

Your driver Jim B will be delivering fuel today to 12 East 2nd St. Anywhere, NC

SOFTWARE FOR THE PETROLEUM & CONVENIENCE STORE INDUSTRIES

Learn more at addsys.com 800-922-0972

2023 CStore_Decisions New Products FullPage Ad_20231018_OL.pdf

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Technology | Forecourt Marketing

Enhancing

Forecourt Marketing Innovations Retailers are implementing new ways to increase foot traffic in stores and draw more customers in from the forecourt.

Zhane Isom • Associate Editor

When most consumers visit a c-store

to fuel up, they pump their gas and go, especially if they’re able to pay for gas at the pump. However, to pull those consumers from the pump into the store and increase foot traffic, retailers are finding new and improved tactics to market to those consumers.

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Retailers are beginning to improve or implement marketing innovations, including mobile apps, digital signage, self-checkout promotions and more, to bring consumers into the store to see what more the stores have to offer.

MARKETING AT THE PUMP

Over the years, as technology improved, retailers have been able to enhance their forecourt and add more technology and digital concepts to the pumps.

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Technology | Forecourt Marketing

McIntosh Energy’s MacFood Mart, which operates four locations throughout Fort Wayne, Ind., has improved its digital signage by utilizing LED signs underneath its digital fuel pricing boards.

“These signs continually update and tailor our promotional messages based on the time of day and day of the week,” said Jessica Carroll, marketing and public relations manager for McIntosh Energy. “Even when our stores are closed, we maintain visibility with signage that emphasizes our round-the-clock fuel availability, keeping our brand top of mind.”

MacFood Mart has also added print marketing at the pumps to show any new promotions the store is having.

“These direct messages on the pumps effectively reach customers while they’re fueling up,” said Carroll. “Furthermore, QR codes on each fuel pump provide a seamless link to our MacFood Mart Rewards program, allowing users to instantly enroll in this loyalty program.”

DIGITAL MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS

While some retailers have improved marketing at the pump, others are heavily focusing on digi102

CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2023

tal marketing, including updating apps, improving loyalty programs and even using social media platforms to bring customers into the store.

Cliff’s Local Market, which has 19 c-stores throughout the central New York region, keeps all of its social media platforms updated with the latest promotions and offers.

“We maintain an active presence on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram,” said Emma Vodanovic, marketing manager for Cliff’s. “Regular posts showcase our store’s staff, promotional limited-time offers (LTOs) and other engaging content that resonates with our followers.”

MacFood Mart, on the other hand, receives a lot of foot traffic from its loyalty program. Enrolled members can receive exclusive benefits like “Free Coffee Fridays,” which has increased foot traffic on Fridays, according to Carroll.

“Additionally, we implement promo codes in our mobile app, allowing customers to apply discounts to their accounts,” said Carroll. “Our exterior signage and pump displays effectively convey these offers, resulting in high redemption rates.”

Cliff’s has even started an email marketing campaign to bring more customers into the store from the forecourt.

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Technology | Forecourt Marketing

“Our subscribers receive monthly coupons and email blasts of new promotions and LTOs, ensuring they are the first to know about existing offers,” said Vodanovic. “This direct communication method keeps our customers engaged and eager to visit our stores.”

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Even though technology is advancing and social media and mobile apps are being used heavily, retailers have noted that getting involved with the community is one of the best ways to improve foot traffic in stores.

Every year, Cliff’s partners with local nonprofit organizations for fundraising campaigns in the store.

MacFood Mart has added print marketing at the pumps to show any new promotions the store is having.

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November 2023

FAST FACTS:

• Along with digital marketing, retailers noted that community involvement is another great way to improve foot traffic in stores.

• Retailers have improved digital signage at the pumps to show promotions and deals that are offered inside the store.

“These campaigns allow us to accept donations from customers to support local and statewide establishments. By contributing to these campaigns, we demonstrate our commitment to giving back and supporting others in our community,” said Vodanovic. “This not only enhances our corporate social responsibility but also attracts customers who appreciate our communityminded approach.”

Prasek’s Family Smokehouse, which operates two locations in El Campo, Texas, and Sealy, Texas, does a lot of its marketing through community engagement.

“Right now, we’re working hard to create a real bond with our community around our Sealy, Texas, location. We have been focused on local outreach and embedding ourselves in the community around the store,” said Lannah Stoner, marketing manager for Prasek’s. “We are also running a digital campaign that is centered around building brand awareness in the surrounding areas.”

All in all, retailers are constantly coming up with new ways and improving tactics they already have to bring more customers into the store, whether it’s advertising at the pump or getting involved in their communities.

“To enhance our Winter marketing strategy, we are developing brochures for our breakfast and lunch menus. These brochures will be available at the fuel pumps, conveniently placed in literature holders,” stated Carroll. “This ensures that customers have easy access to our food options as they refuel during colder months, increasing the likelihood of them returning inside to explore our offerings.” CSD

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Operations | Restroom Awards

Focusing on the facilities

Onvo and Kwik Trip bring cleanliness and a refreshing restroom experience to their customers with touchless features and rigorous cleaning schedules.

Emily Boes • Senior Editor

WINNER: Onvo

Onvo’s restrooms provide customers with features such as extra-private stalls and LED lighting, with shower facilities in many, allowing customers restorative restroom breaks.

Proper restroom upkeep is a critical component of running a successful convenience store, and retailers looking to draw repeat customers should carefully consider their restroom cleaning schedules and overall restroom environment.

C-store customers appreciate a clean, open space in restroom facilities, and capitalizing on an excellent restroom experience can help foster a sense of loyalty with customers.

Travel center and convenience store operator Onvo has created a modern ambiance in its restrooms, with shower facilities, LED lighting and extra-private stalls. CStore Decisions is recognizing Onvo with a Restroom Award for these characteristics and more.

BRIGHT AND MODERN

free entrances that lead into each respective restroom,” said Harman Aulakh, marketing manager, Onvo. “We’ve gone with a modern color palette that makes use of various shades of grey tiles with a patterned yellow backsplash on the vanity to bring an element of the Onvo brand into the restroom experience.”

The mirrors in the restrooms have built-in LED lighting, and the stalls allow a greater sense of privacy for Onvo customers with floor-to-ceiling walls and doors. For the stores that feature showers, customers are provided with upgraded features, including waterfall showerheads.

Customers can also find touchless features at Onvo, including the entrance to the restroom and appliances such as automatic sinks, automatic toilets and no-touch hand dryers.

Onvo has 39 locations across Pennsylvania and New York. At most facilities, it has separate men’s and women’s restrooms, and since a large number of its sites are travel plazas, it has shower facilities in many of its stores.

Onvo was very deliberate with its restroom design, making sure to bring a touch of branding into its color scheme.

“Onvo restrooms are modern and bright, with touch-

“For truck drivers and long-distance travelers, finding a clean and pleasant restroom can be such a refreshing experience after a day on the road. Since we mostly operate travel plazas, we need to provide our guests with some respite from the road, and that all starts with a

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November 2023

CLEANLINESS SPEAKS

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Onvo has created a modern ambiance in its restrooms, with shower facilities, LED lighting and extra-private stalls.

great restroom experience,” said Aulakh.

Aulakh noted that Onvo built cleanliness into the design of its restrooms. The ceramic tiles on the walls allow the space to be cleaner and easier to maintain.

Onvo employees check on the restrooms hourly and spot clean them, and the restrooms receive a scheduled deep clean every night.

“Naturally, if a restroom needs a little extra attention between deep cleanings, we make sure our team addresses those situations as they arise,” Aulakh further elaborated.

Onvo ensures the restrooms are cleaned well by thoroughly training its employees on how to do so.

“We have repeated trainings on our restroom cleaning program, and the cleanliness of restrooms is always something that is reviewed during site visits,” Aulakh noted.

On top of regular training periods and reviews, Onvo communicates with its store teams during its busiest seasons on the importance of restroom cleanliness.

Additionally, Onvo offers alternatives when a restroom is “down” for cleaning. Customers are directed to the shower facilities if needed so they never have to be without a restroom option.

“If you exceed a guest’s expectations when it comes to the cleanliness of your restrooms or showers, it’s something they’ll always remember about your location,” said Aulakh.

And restrooms aren’t the only areas of a c-store customers expect to be well maintained. However, the state of a restroom can influence a customer’s frame of mind when browsing the rest of the site.

Aulakh correlated the cleanliness of a restroom to a customer’s expectation of the sanitation level of the store in its entirety.

“The cleanliness of a restroom speaks volumes to the cleanliness of the rest of our store. For our guests, many of them will be visiting the restroom before making any purchases, and if they find a dirty restroom, that can impact their perception of the cleanliness of food that’s prepared on-site,” he said.

cstoredecisions.com November 2023 • CSTORE DECISIONS

107

Operations | Restroom Awards

WINNER: Kwik Trip

Kwik Trip offers its customers well-maintained restrooms through proficient training and regular cleaning, wanting their guests to be able to always expect a clean area when they enter a Kwik Trip store.

The convenience store customer, whether they are entering their local shop or stopping by a highwayarea store catering to busy travelers, will always notice and remember the state of the restroom when they enter it.

This is why it’s crucial for c-store operators to have plans in place for maintaining their restrooms regularly.

Kwik Trip, which has 852 stores located in six states, understands this and has become a leader in restroom operations in the c-store space. For its attention to cleanliness and staff training in restroom upkeep, CStore Decisions recognizes Kwik Trip with one of its Restroom Awards.

PLEASING TO THE EYE

Kwik Trip realizes the value that a clean restroom has on a customer’s perception of a store.

“We pride ourselves on having clean restrooms in our stores,” said Ben Leibl, public relations specialist at Kwik Trip. “When our guests are traveling and they have to use the restroom, no one wants to go to the bathroom when it is dirty and messy. We strive to provide a spot where our guests can always expect clean restrooms, no matter where they are in the Midwest.”

Kwik Trip has separate women’s and men’s restrooms, with family restrooms in its stores that have the space to accommodate them. A dedicated team determines how to make the most efficient use of each store’s space, which includes choosing aesthetically pleasing colors and designs for the restrooms to provide customers and employees with an attractive area.

“I would say there are typically two to three bathroom designs that we choose from based on the

Many of Kwik Trip’s locations have touchless features such as faucets in the sinks and paper towel dispensers.

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CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2023

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Operations | Restroom Awards

Although the number of stalls per restroom at Kwik Trip will vary based on size, the men’s restroom will have on average two to four stalls, while the women’s restroom can have three to five stalls.

square footage of the store and what is called for by code,” said Leibl.

Although the number of stalls per restroom will vary based on size, the men’s restroom will have on average two to four stalls, while the women’s restroom can have three to five stalls.

The walls and flooring of the restrooms are made of tile, which makes them the easiest to clean, according to Leibl. “The bathrooms all have the same colors. We go for a modern look that is pleasing to the eye,” he noted.

Many of the c-store chain’s stores have touchless features such as faucets in the sinks and paper towel dispensers.

“We have these in place for our guests so they don’t have to touch items after they have just washed their hands,” continued Leibl.

Kwik Trip restrooms also have a switch that, if customers flip, will alert employees when the restrooms are dirty. Employees will then immediately go to the restroom and solve the problem.

CLEANING PROTOCOL

Kwik Trip employees learn the value of restroom cleanliness on their first day. They are trained on how to properly clean the restrooms and are shown where they can find each item or tool they need to complete the job.

The cleaning products Kwik Trip uses in each of its convenience stores are approved by the chain’s safety team, and a floor scrubber is used in the restrooms, as well.

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CSTORE DECISIONS •

November 2023

“Each of our stores has an iPad, and every 30 minutes, there is a timer that goes off that alerts our coworkers it is time for the restroom check,” said Leibl.

During this check, the restrooms are spot cleaned. And three times per day, Kwik Trip restrooms receive a more in-depth cleaning.

The restrooms also undergo a deep clean twice per year or as needed.

“Kwik Trip values clean restrooms because it is a promise that we make to our guests that when they come into a Kwik Trip, they can expect a clean restroom to use,” said Leibl.

An expectation of a clean restroom is especially important in this era of rising foodservice in convenience stores.

“To us, there is a direct correlation between how clean our restrooms are and foodservice in the c-store industry,” Leibl noted. “If we have dirty restrooms in our stores, the guest could think, ‘If their restrooms aren’t clean, what else isn’t clean inside the store?’”

“By having clean restrooms, we want our guests to know that we value cleanliness in our stores whether it’s in the restroom or in one of our kitchens,” he continued. CSD

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95

ADD Systems

98

Advantage Solutions

23

Altria Group Distribution Co.

27

Anheuser Busch

19

www.adcoindustries.com 800-922-0972 / www.addsys.com advantagesolutions.net www.altria.com

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BIC USA Inc.

58, 83

www.newrequest.djeep.com

BlueTriton Brands, Inc.

844.841.1847 / SaratogaWater.com

The Coca-Cola Company

7 21, 113

www.coca-colacompany.com

InComm Payments

15

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99

John Middleton Co.

2

PIM Brands, Inc.

69

Kellanova

35

Premier Manufacturing, Inc.

101

Keurig / Dr.Pepper

67

Recuerda Brew

55

Kretek - Djarum

87

sales.us@recuerdacafe.com www.recuerdacafe.com

Red Gold, LLC

3

Krispy Krunchy Chicken

119

www.redgoldfoodservice.com/sample-requests

Reynolds

11

La Brea

77

Ruiz Foods

71

Subway

39

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75

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Dover Fueling Solutions

45

E&J Gallo Winery

43

Excel Dryer

109

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Mars Wrigley

17

www.mars.com

Mi-Pod Wholesale

97 (Regional Split)

www.mipodwholesale.com

F'Real

79

Fiorucci Foods

93

GSP Retail

53

800.483.3218 / sales@freal.com www.fioruccifoods.com www.gspretail.com

Modern Store Equipment

8 77.532.8433 / info@modernstoreonline.com modernstoreonline.com/cstore

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Haleon

Holmes Murphy

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Hostess

5, 111 103 29, 89

www.hostesscakes.com

Hussmann

33

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www.pimbrands.com www.gopremier.com/contact

rjrt.com

www.ruizfoodservice.com www.subway.com

Swedish Match

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Swisher International

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9 63 105 57, 120

MOJO Balanced Energy Pouches

65

Tyson Foodservice

Mondelēz International www.mondelezinternational.com

31

Viva Zen

North American Bancard

116

Warren Rodgers

59

NRS Petro

62

Wells Fargo

91

Wenzel's Farm, LLC

47

Xcaliber International

61

www.GrabMojo.com

866.481.4604 / www.nynab.com

Email: ed.d.baker@haleon.com

81

www.perfettivanmelle.com

888.260.0112 / www.nrspetro.com

73

www.tysonfoodservice.com

www.vivazen.com

51, 85

800-972-7472 / 401-846-4747 info@warrenrogers.com / warrenrogers.com www.wellsfargo.com

NYSLife Old Wisconsin Food Products, Inc.

49

800.336.6328 / sales@wenzelsfarm.com

Paytronix

41

888.4.XCALIBER / https://xcaliberinternational.com

Pepsi

13

800.621.0868 / www.oldwisconsin.com

617.649.3300, ext. 5 / www.paytronix.com www.pepsi.com

37

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation of CStore Decisions Publication Title: CStore Decisions Publication Number: 1054-7797 Date of filing: September 25, 2023 Frequency of issue: Monthly Number of Issues Published Annually: 12 Annual Subscription Price: $80 per year Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Contact Person: Bruce Sprague Telephone: (888) 543-2447 Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Publisher: Greg Sanders WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Editor: Erin Del Conte WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Managing Editor: Emmy Boes WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600, Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Owner: WTWH Media, LLC WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Scott McCafferty, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Mike Emich, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Marshall Matheson, 1111 Superior Ave. Suite 2600, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None Tax Status: Not applicable Publication Title: CStore Decisions Issue Date for Circulation Data: September, 2023 Net press run: Average, 36,269 last issue, 31,320 Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions: Average, 32,990; last issue, 29,852 Total Paid and/or Requested Distribution: Average, 32,990; last issue, 29,852

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Nonrequested distribution by mail outside county: Average, 2,665; last issue, 418 Nonrequested distribution outside the mail: Average 214; last issue, 320 Total Nonrequested Distribution: Average 2,879; last issue, 738 Total Distribution: Average, 35,869; last issue, 30,590 Copies not Distributed: Average, 400; last issue, 730 Total: Average, 36,269; last issue, 31,320 Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: Average, 92%; last issue, 97.6% ELECTRONIC COPY CIRCULATION Requested and Paid Electronic Copies: Average, 5,382; last issue, 11,084 Total Requested and Paid Print Copies (15c) + Requested/Paid Electronic copies (16a): Average, 38,372 last issue, 40,936

Total Requested Copy distribution (15f) + Requested/Paid Electronic copies (16a): Average, 41,251; last issue, 41,674 Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Both print & electronic copies) (16b divided by 16c x100): Average, 93%; last issue, 98.2% X I certify that 50% of all my distributed copies (electronic and print) are legitimate requests or paid copies I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fi nes and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

Pat Curran, Digital Media Manager

November 2023 • CSTORE DECISIONS

117

IndustryPerspective

Monitoring POS and Back-Office Evolution Retail Consulting Partners’ latest report outlines how retailers are considering point-of-sale and back-office innovation.

Perry Kramer

Erin Del Conte • Editor-in-Chief

The c-store retail industry is seeing continued evolution around point-of-sale (POS) and back-office technology. Retail management consulting firm Retail Consulting Partners (RCP) recently released its 2023 POS & Consumer Engagement report that outlines trends and priorities for retailers around POS and back office. CStore Decisions sat down with Perry Kramer, managing partner for RCP, to learn more.

CStore Decisions (CSD): According to RCP’s 2023 POS & Customer Engagement report, the top POS priorities for 2023 were to add or enhance an operating management system/ real-time product visibility (54%) and omnichannel capabilities/integration (54%). What do these two priorities entail and why should they be on convenience stores’ radar?

Perry Kramer (PK): Retailers in the cstore space are recognizing significant financial wins when they improve the timeliness and accuracy of their inventory. This used to be just thought of as not having empty spaces on the shelf (which is still important). However, the continual expansion and importance of fresh and prepared foods in the c-store segment has significantly increased the return on investment of having real-time systems to manage the inventory, process loyalty points, and process online and kiosk digital orders all in a seamless and integrated set of systems.

CSD: Software replacement was 118

CSTORE DECISIONS •

the top POS priority for retailers in 2022 (60%), per RCP’s 2022 POS report, with 56% of retailers saying their POS software was more than five years old. In 2023 this remains a high priority (46%). What should retailers know when it comes to considering software upgrades or replacements? What happens if they don’t upgrade?

PK: The POS system is at the heart of the field systems in place in the c-store. Having a POS system that can quickly process payments, is intuitive and easy to train to, and is built with modern microservicebased architecture that can easily be extended is a critical component of controlling central and store costs, having data accuracy and improved loyalty capture.

Without a modern POS system, c-stores will be overspending on labor and underachieving on these key performance indicators. This has become even more important as it continues to be increasingly difficult to find talent. Additionally, the importance/success of customer capture/loyalty programs in the cstore space is enabled by a modern POS system. This includes it being built on a modern technology platform that can easily be extended to include self-service and self-checkout options.

CSD: Mobile POS implementation/ enhancements was a top priority in 2022 but didn’t make the top five in 2023. Why do you think that is?

November 2023

PK: It appears that the concept of thinking about POS as mobile or fixed in retailers’ minds is continuing to erode. Most retailers now think of mobile operations as table stakes when evaluating a new POS. The mobility may have different features depending on the retail segment and c-store model. However, they are all expecting some mobile operations to be part of any new POS. That said, I think the need and want are still there, it is just that retailers have reached the tipping point where mobile functions are expected to be part of a modern POS system. The functions can vary in ability from a full-functioning POS operation to an alerting function that lets you know when a self-checkout or kiosk unit is out of paper or is offline.

CSD: What trends are you watching when it comes to the back office at convenience stores?

PK: The biggest trend is in the technology platform becoming more extensible to support self-service and self-checkouts. To make these functions operationally sound, new “back office” reconciliation systems and processes must be put in place to optimize savings. For example, there should be minimal to no daily reconciliation of self-service units at the store level. This can be done once or twice a week. Additionally, with the improvements in hardware speed and efficiency the “back office” hardware is either moved to the cloud or operates on one of the front-line registers.

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• Largest variety of flavors and formats in the • category to meet unique consumer needs.

• +40% YOY growth for the past 3 years.* • Robust Profit-Boosting Program.

DISTRIBUTED AND SOLD BY

Rogue nicotine products.

Great taste. No compromises.

UNDERAGE SALE PROHIBITED • *MSAi Retail Database as of 6/18/23.

Retail data 52 weeks ending 6/18/23 • 800.874.9720 — CUSTOMERSERVICE@SWISHER.COM