The National Confectioners Association (NCA) is predicting that 2013 will be a strong year for chocolate in convenience stores. Sales were up 3.3% for the last 52 weeks ended March 24, according to SymphonyIRI. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. In 2012, c-store was the only channel to gain in dollars (2.4%) and units (1.2%) in [...]
With beef prices continuing to rise, poultry remains the protein of choice for many Americans. And, with the flexibility of chicken, this means ample opportunity for daypart-spanning sales. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Since introducing the Charley Bigg’s Chicken and Sauce program into two Friendship Food Stores six years ago and four more two years [...]
Cold and frozen dispensed beverages are undergoing some major changes these days that continue to make the category one of the hottest in the convenience store industry. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Spring has sprung and with it comes a renewed focus on cold, frosty and refreshing beverages. For Pat Kelly, purchasing director for Hanover, [...]
Consumers are looking for fast service, fresh ingredients and value pricing when choosing a foodservice solution and convenience stores are answering the call with innovative programs that meet the latest food trends. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. The number of consumers purchasing grab-and-go sandwiches and other foods is continuing to rise. Retailers have to be [...]
Leveraging combo meals to include snacks and beverages can help boost lunch and dinner sales. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. According to a survey by Chicago-based research company Technomic Inc., 60% of consumers place a high level of importance on receiving a good value for their money when deciding which foodservice location to visit for [...]
Fresh pastries and desserts are driving all-day snacking, helping to keep bakery sales active well past the morning daypart. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Keeping the doughnut and muffin displays filled and fresh in the morning is pretty much a no-brainer. But, in many convenience stores, these bakery displays look picked over and just plain [...]
Consumers are trading up to higher margin, premium coffees and teas. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. While coffee remains the workhorse of the morning daypart, a growing number of consumers are looking for their cups to come with a pedigree. The New York-based National Coffee Association (NCA) reported that almost half (46%) of all cups [...]
It takes very little real estate to offer a world of flavors. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. A year and a half ago, Scott Zaremba removed all the roller grills from his Zarco 66 stores. “We weren’t doing a very good job of merchandising them, so they became almost an expense item for us,” the [...]
Innovative flavors and new packaging target female and young snackers. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Manufacturers are finding other ways to woo women into choosing their products over chips and cookies when mid-day hunger pangs strike. One way is by emphasizing the snacks’ “better-for-you” attributes. Oh Boy! Oberto retooled its recipes to make them all-natural, [...]
A handful of big brands own the market, but they’re not resting on their laurels as new players enter the arena with new flavors and formats. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. The company whose name is synonymous with energy drinks worldwide is still showing that it is bullish on the American market. For the first [...]
Give customers some fresh ways to start their day and they’ll keep coming back for more, according to savvy c-store operators who are driving a.m. loyalty. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Two years ago, Nashville-based Tri Star Energy took at good, hard look at its Daily’s convenience store operation and decided the 80-unit chain needed [...]
Retailers don’t have to wave goodbye to their roller grills to put a fresh face on lunch and dinner foodservice menus. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. One size definitely does not fit all when it comes to lunch and dinner foodservice. Not everyone has the capital to invest in a proprietary commissary or the in-store [...]
Whether it’s implementing emerging technology or promoting a host of new foodservice items, 2013 promises to be an exciting year for convenience stores. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Thirteen isn’t usually regarded as a fortuitous number, but it takes more than luck to grow a business. Industry experts offered Convenience Store Decisions insights into some [...]
Suddenly everybody’s a coffee expert, even the neighborhood pharmacy. So what are c-stores doing to maintain customer loyalty as the competition over brewed beverages heats up? By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Et tu, Walgreens? With the opening earlier this year of a new Upmarket Café in Walgreens’ new Chicago flagship store, shoppers can have a [...]
With foodservice taking on a greater role in the industry, retailers find themselves with a tough decision: invest in a commissary, partner with a third party or build an in-house brand of their own. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Bob Goodwin pulls no punches when he says he wants to make sure everyone in Tedeschi [...]