With winter waning, many convenience retailers are gearing up for warmer weather. For some, that means revamping existing programs and extending popular pilot programs, while others are offering new flavors via both short- and long-term menu additions.
Here are some of the top new treats for c-store diners.
Frozen flavors for summer
Several convenience retailers and suppliers debuted frozen LTOs or brought favorites from past years out of retirement .
Rich Products Corporation and ice cream maker Good Humor have partnered on a limited-time Orange Creamsicle-flavored milkshake as part of Rich’s F’real line. The flavor will be available at a number of retailers, including Kwik Trip, Sheetz, Circle K, RaceTrac and Royal Farms.
Icee, the well-known frozen beverage brand among convenience retailers, brought back an Easter-themed Peeps flavored LTO.
7-Eleven combined both approaches. While the retailer has had banana flavored Slurpees in the past, the Brr-Nana flavor is a new twist on the fruit. The new flavor is available in limited quantities through the end of the year, a spokesperson said.
Stewart’s Shops also split the difference, with its mint-flavored Shenanigan Shake making a return to stores while a chocolate protein shake refresher became its latest addition. In addition to these shakes, the New York-based retailer also added cold foam to its beverage customization options.
Stewart’s rolls out seasonal ice creams
The New York-based retailer also unveiled its seasonal ice cream LTOs for summer.
The five new flavors include Philly espresso, which starts with Philly vanilla and adds an espresso swirl and espresso flakes; After Dinner mint, a peppermint ice cream with fudge sword and chocolate mint pieces; Dirt Cake, which combined vanilla pudding ice cream, cookie crumb swirl and brownie pieces; peanut butter brownie bonanza, made with chocolate butter fudge ice cream, a peanut butter swirl and baked brownie pieces; and caramel cookie dough, with vanilla ice cream, a salted caramel swirl and cookie dough pieces.
Stewart’s is also bringing back two flavors — strawberry shortcake, which uses vanilla pudding flavored ice cream, strawberry swirl and strawberry shortcake crumble; and sunshine swirl, with vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet swirls.
The flavors will receive a staggered release throughout April.
7-Eleven expands chicken offerings
7-Eleven has added two new chicken items to its stores and updated a third, a company spokesperson said.
The company revealed a chicken sandwich earlier this month that’s available at select 7-Eleven, Stripes and Speedway locations. The sandwich is coated in garlicky breading and served on a toasted bun.
Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits, one of 7-Eleven’s QSR brands, is also adding a chicken wrap, which includes chicken tenders, lettuce and shredded cheese in a flour tortilla along with with Roost Signature, hot mustard, ranch or spicy ranch sauce.
The company also updated its boneless wings to be larger and improved the seasoning in the breading.
In addition to the chicken options, 7-Eleven also partnered with Dr Pepper on a Johnsonville Dr Pepper sausage.
Stinker rolls out the pizza rolls
Stinker Stores added pizza rolls to its menu starting Monday, a company spokesperson confirmed.
The pizza rolls will come in both cheese and pepperoni varieties, with one serving — which includes two pizza rolls and a choice of ranch or marinara dipping sauce, according to a company LinkedIn post — expected to cost $5.99.
Pilot updates fresh food program
Pilot Company has launched two foodservice programs.
The Pilot eats format, which the retailer unveiled in early March, expands on the company’s hot deli menu and features hand-roped pizza and a new southern chicken sandwich. Meanwhile, Pilot eats Express offers traditional grab-and-go items such as pizza, chicken wings, tenders, packaged sandwiches and various sides.
The new program allows Pilot to “set a consistent standard for how our guests identify which locations have the food they are looking for,” said Sean Marrero, the company’s senior vice president of food and beverage.
Casey’s spreads its wings
Casey’s General Stores is adding its chicken wings to all 2,900-plus convenience stores, President and CEO Darren Rebelez said during the retailer’s third-quarter earnings call. The retailer initially tested the menu addition in early 2025 in select stores around Des Moines, Iowa, and has seen a positive reception from customers, leaders said during the company’s fiscal Q3 earnings call .
Casey’s wings debuted in five flavors — garlic parmesan, BBQ, sweet chili, Buffalo and mango habanero.
Love’s introduces pesto chicken lineup
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores added three items featuring pesto chicken to its rotating menu that updates every two months.
Customers can choose from a chicken pesto wrap, which includes pesto chicken salad, shredded parmesan, spring mix and pesto dressing in a tortilla; chicken pesto pasta salad, which tops sauced pasta with pesto chicken salad, grape tomatoes, parmesan and red onions; and a pesto chicken snack tray.
The new menu items were developed at the Culinary Innovation Center at Love’s headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Royal Farms adds dipping sauce
Royal Farms has introduced “RoFo sauce,” a creamy dipping sauce with a “Chesapeake-style kick” to accompany its signature chicken menu, the company announced in early March.
The sauce, named for a common nickname for the East Coast convenience retailer, joined Royal Farm’s menu as part of its recent Tender Fest promotion.
Tuna salad also made its return during that promotion, and is available in a wrap, sandwich, sub, slider, or as a side, according to the announcement.
McLane Fresh offers heat-and-eat line
McLane Company’s retail foodservice program, McLane Fresh, rolled out several new offerings at Convenience Retailing University.
The distributor unveiled a new set of heat-and-eat meals, including chicken parmesan with spaghetti, penne alfredo with chicken, chicken enchiladas with cilantro lime rice and firecracker chicken with vegetable fried rice.
