DES MOINES, Iowa — Convenience retailers are moving beyond the traditional fuel-and-snacks model, expanding fresh food, private-label, and everyday essentials as they compete for a larger share of consumers’ grocery spending.
The opportunity is not necessarily to replace the weekly supermarket trip. Instead, c-stores are positioning themselves to capture more of the in-between trips, whether shoppers need dinner, milk, beverages, or a few forgotten essentials.
“The convenience stores offer the ultimate quick trip,” said Julie Craig, vice president of shopper insights at Kantar, in discussing the trend last year…