Category Trends

  • A photo of crinkle fries in a box that says Sonic and two burgers next to each other in front of a blue backdrop.
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    Permission granted by Sonic Drive-In
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    Value, comfort will define 2026 menu trends

    Operators looking to take advantage of buzzy food items, like protein add-ons or smash burgers, will have to balance operational complexity with demand, says the National Restaurant Association.

    By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 1, 2025
  • Kwik Trip
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    Retrieved from Kwik Trip website.
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    Kwik Trip debuts in North Dakota

    A Kwik Star in Fargo is the first of at least five locations planned for the state through the end of 2026.

    By • Nov. 24, 2025
  • A photo of the interior of Sadie's diner.
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    Permission granted by Paragon Solutions
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    4 c-stores turning up the heat on breakfast

    From Kwik Trip’s in-house bakeries to Wawa’s LTOs, convenience stores nationwide are capitalizing on the buoyant breakfast market.

    By Michael Brady • Nov. 24, 2025
  • A rendering of a travel stop with gas pumps and a building with several doors in front. Signs on the building say Wendy's, Dunkin' and Circle K while text on the image says Circle K travel center coming soon.
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    Courtesy of Peachtree Group
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    Circle K to anchor series of mini travel centers

    The Briad Group, a franchisee in New York, plans to open sites that combine a c-store with various QSR concepts.

    By • Nov. 19, 2025
  • A photo of a breakfast combo meal including a cup, three breakfast sandwiches and a container of hash browns on a wrapping paper that says "Rutter's" on a white background.
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    Permission granted by Rutter's
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    How 3 retailers are upgrading meal bundles

    Love’s, EG America and Rutter’s have all developed complex strategies for tying their in-house food with other products. Here are a few of their tips.

    By Christine Blank • Nov. 17, 2025
  • Tilray's hemp-derived THC drink Fizzy Jane
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    Courtesy of Tilray Brands
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    US cracks down on hemp-derived THC drinks, upending buzzy beverage market

    Lawmakers to close a legal loophole allowing companies to sell the products in a potentially critical blow to the budding industry.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • Nov. 13, 2025
  • Kum & Go
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    Brett Dworski/C-Store Dive
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: What’s going on in Iowa?

    Two banners are entering the Hawkeye state for the first time as the Kum & Go brand makes way for new owner Maverik.

    By • Nov. 7, 2025
  • A photo of food items on an automated production line.
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    Permission granted by Kwik Trip
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    Making food in house: The business case for c-store commissaries

    Retailers like EG America, Weigel’s and Kwik Trip have built their own facilities to control the quality and consistency of their foodservice programs — and the payoffs are compelling.

    By Amanda Baltazar • Oct. 29, 2025
  • Molson Coors, Coca-Cola, Simply
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    Courtesy of Molson Coors
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    Why ‘crossover’ alcoholic beverages could be a hit for c-stores

    Products like Monster Beast and Topo Chico Spiked are capitalizing on brand affinity but come with unique merchandising challenges.

    By • Oct. 27, 2025
  • A photo of a convenience store in the background with fuel pumps in the foreground. A sign on the building says "Wawa."
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    Jessica Loder/C-Store Dive
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    Wawa increases coffee program customization

    Customers can use ordering touchscreens in stores to control how much milk, sweeteners and flavors they add to their beverages.

    By • Oct. 23, 2025
  • Circle K
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    Retrieved from Couche-Tard.
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    Couche-Tard bringing new THC beverage to Circle K in Carolinas and Florida

    The rollout features Viola’s new cannabis craft soda, Iverson, produced in partnership with wellness company Horticulture. 

    By • Oct. 22, 2025
  • A photo of the exterior of a store. A sign over the door says Rutter's.
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    Permission granted by Rutter's
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    Rutter’s debuts in Virginia

    This is the first of two new states that are part of the retailer’s ambitious growth plan.

    By • Oct. 22, 2025
  • A photo of a set of stairs with signs on the front of each step. The signs read "Level Up! NACS Show 2025."
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    Jessica Loder/C-Store Dive
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    What we learned from the NACS Show 2025

    From bold flavors to improving operations to encroaching competition, retailers discussed the pressures and trends shaping the industry.

    By , • Oct. 20, 2025
  • Many pennies.
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    Getty Images
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    Penny shortage poses compliance woes for retailers, industry groups warn

    SNAP-authorized stores risk violating federal law when they round to the nearest nickel for cash-paying consumers, industry groups including NACS and NATSO told the USDA.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Oct. 20, 2025
  • Mar product categories
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    Permission granted by Mars Wrigley
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    Sponsored by Mars Wrigley

    3 big trends from Mars Wrigley: Insights shaping the confectionery and snacking categories in 2026

    Mars is reimagining its iconic brands with new innovations featured at the 2025 NACS Show.

    Oct. 20, 2025
  • A crowd of attendees at The NACS Show 2025
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    Jeff Wells/C-Store Dive
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    6 takeaways from Day 2 of the 2025 NACS Show

    Workshops on crime, foodservice and inventory management dominated the early morning, but it was a free-for-all once the massive expo floor opened for the first time.

    By , , • Oct. 16, 2025
  • A photo of a Kwik Trip c-store.
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    Permission granted by Kwik Trip
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    Column

    The Road Ahead: Why super regionals will shape the next decade of convenience

    When a competitor like Wawa or QuikTrip comes into a market, competitors will either be forced to innovate or get left behind.

    By Frank Beard • Oct. 14, 2025
  • A photo of several of Casey's store-brand products.
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    Permission granted by Casey's
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    Casey’s names VP of proprietary brands as category undergoes facelift

    Eric Long will assume leadership of the segment in which Casey’s has spent the past year implementing a tiered system.

    By • Oct. 9, 2025
  • Coca-Cola cans on a pallet.
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    George Frey via Getty Images
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    Coca-Cola to roll out single-serve minis in c-stores

    The 7.5-ounce cans will be available in Coke, Sprite and Fanta varieties, offering consumers a more affordable price point.

    By Laurel Deppen • Oct. 9, 2025
  • 7-Eleven
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    Brett Dworski/C-Store Dive
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    Winners and losers in c-store alcoholic beverages

    Beer remains big, but other subcategories are getting battered by a years-long slump in booze sales, experts say.

    By Christine Blank • Oct. 9, 2025
  • Rite Aid pharmacy store
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    The image by Rick Obst is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Rite Aid closes all stores

    When the drugstore retailer filed for bankruptcy in May, its second Chapter 11 in eight months, it was running about 1,275 locations.

    By Daphne Howland • Oct. 7, 2025
  • A product shot of two cans and two bottles of Dirty Mountain Dew.
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    Courtesy of Mountain Dew
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    PepsiCo splashes into dirty soda with new Mountain Dew flavor

    Dirty Mountain Dew Cream Soda, set for a nationwide rollout next year, is one of the first efforts to bring the trend from restaurants to retail stores.

    By Laurel Deppen • Oct. 2, 2025
  • NACS
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    Brett Dworski/C-Store Dive
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    Top c-store conferences for 2026

    From supplier shows to tech expos to the NACS Show, here are the top convenience industry events to keep in mind as retailers look ahead to 2026.

    By C-Store Dive Staff • Oct. 1, 2025
  • A photo of a fuel sign that says "diesel/def truck stop, travel plaza, restaurants, #2 diesel cash $4.29.9.
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    Retrieved from LinkedIn on September 26, 2025
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    Kayrouz Petroleum launching new c-store banner

    The Massachusetts-based retailer’s company-owned sites will take on the KP Market name by the end of 2026.

    By • Sept. 29, 2025
  • Grouping of pumpkins.
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    Getty Images
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: Just how important is pumpkin spice?

    While some consumers roll their eyes at the near-fanatical love others have for the fall staple, there’s no avoiding the fact that the autumnal flavor is big business for c-stores.

    By • Sept. 19, 2025