As summer begins to give way to autumn, many c-stores are returning to tried-and-true fall flavors in their foodservice departments. For some that means pumpkin spice. For others, apples.
Here is a quick look at some new menu additions and limited-time offers from around the convenience store industry in the past month.
Pumpkin Spice returns to QuickChek
QuickChek is among the first large convenience retailers rolling out pumpkin spice offerings for fall this year.
The pumpkin spice coffee is a medium roast with notes of pumpkin and a blend of spices including nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and ginger.
“Some people may argue it is too early for pumpkin-flavored food and drinks, but we wanted to be the first to market for true fans of the official start of fall,” said Blake Segal, senior vice president of QuickChek.
Pumpkin spice coffee is available hot, iced and frozen.
The Murphy USA-owned banner plans to roll out a full pumpkin-inspired menu starting Aug. 25 that will include new pumpkin protein smoothies, pumpkin caramel delight shakes and a pumpkin caramel oat milk latte, along with the return of its pumpkin cookies-and-cream shake.
Fall is also football season, and QuickChek is adding two new subs to the lineup it offers in conjunction with the New York Giants NFL team. The latest sandwiches include thick-cut, homestyle BBQ turkey with pepperjack cheese, jalapeños, red onions, ranch and a barbecue sauce; and thick-cut, homestyle chipotle turkey club topped with bacon, tomatoes, lettuce and chipotle mayo.
Stewart’s brings back fall flavors
Stewart’s Shops is adding an array of ice cream and baked goods for the autumn season.
In the baked goods aisle, the retailer has brought back its apple cider donuts, available individually or in six-packs, along with French toast donut holes.
Apple muffins are back on the menu too.
For fans of frozen treats, Stewart’s is bringing back its Apple Orchard shake and Philly vanilla ice cream. In addition, the retailer is debuting its apple crisp ice cream, which is apple strudel ice cream with apple cinnamon swirls and an oatmeal cinnamon crumble.
While Stewart’s isn’t in its pumpkin spice era yet, the company teased an upcoming lineup that includes pumpkin cinnamon rolls, muffins and donuts, as well as coffee and ice cream.
RaceTrac shares new LTO lineup
RaceTrac has introduced an array of limited-time items, headlined by a brunch burger. The patty is topped with egg, bacon and hash browns.
The retailer’s other short-term menu additions include a BBQ chicken hawaiian pizza topped with chicken, jalapeños, pineapple, barbecue sauce and cheese; mango habanero wings; an apple pie empanada; and a southwest BBQ chicken wrap, which is served cold and includes chicken, corn, black beans barbecue sauce and shredded carrots and cabbage.
“These new limited-time menu items highlighted by the Brunch Burger reflect RaceTrac’s culture of innovation,” said Bonnie Zaring, executive director of food programs and offers at RaceTrac.
Rutter’s Spam collab is back
Rutter’s is bringing back its limited-time Spam-based menu.
This year’s breakfast array includes Spam, egg and cheese on a waffle, croissant or pretzel roll, or in a breakfast bowl or burrito. The lunch and dinner menus offer Spam in mac & cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches and American cheeseburgers.
This is the fourth year for the partnership with the Hormel-owned pork product.
Beverage recipes are trending
Love’s is getting in on the dirty soda trend with its new line of Midweek Mix-ups — a line of beverage mashups where the company sells two pre-selected drinks and a large cup of ice to mix them in for $5. The program is expected to run through the end of September.
Options for the rest of August are Turbo Tang that has a 20-ounce Squirt and a 16-ounce orange cream Ghost; and Caf & Cola, which includes a 20-ounce A&W and 11-ounce La Colombe vanilla canned coffee.
7-Eleven got in on the fun as well. While the retailer hasn’t officially gone full pumpkin spice yet — meaning the flavor is getting a much later start than last year — it did share a recipe for Pumpkin Somethin’ Coffee that includes adding two sweet and creamy creamers and two pumpkin spice creamers to a hot or iced coffee.
McLane debuts HiBird
C-store distributor McLane Company debuted its HiBird premium chicken program in July. The menu has chicken sandwiches, chicken strips, potato wedges and white cheddar mac and cheese, along with a mildly spicy signature sauce.
HiBird includes not just the menu but also training and merchandising support for retailers using the program.
