Roughly half of consumers say they purchased regular hot coffee (46%) and regular soft drinks (53%) from food-service at least once in the last month. C-stores do well on snacks, but often leave money on the table when these customers are looking for more complete meals. Convenience stores can compete with fast food outlets and maximize per visit purchases by offering more varied food and bundle them as meals.
Morning coffee drinkers often come into c-stores. Why not show them appealing breakfast and morning snacks that could be combined as a meal. Most of the top menu items are convenient and portable. Items that sell well in the morning are:
- Breakfast Sandwiches
- Salty Snacks
- Donuts
- Bagels
- Breakfast Wrap/Burrito
- Egg, bacon and sausage items
- Muffins & Cinnamon Rolls
When developing new menu items keep in mind your customers preferences and your location. If you are in a warm season offer cool, seafood or chicken salad wraps. If its cool outside change the menu to offer some warm, hearty burritos.
A value menu that allows customers to mix and match several entrees, sides, dessert and beverage can draw in the rushed lunch and even dinner customers. Dollar menus are also good draws.
Advertising these offerings with customized hand-painted signage to draw the snack, lunch and dinner customer to your c-store can be effective.
- focus on stealing business from both quick-serve and fast-casual restaurants
- emphasize on quality, health, freshness, and made-to-order foods
- cater to Hispanic consumers, especially with snacks and desserts
- introduce specialty/high-quality coffees to cater to younger, higher income, female customers