Category Trends

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Slim Jim meat sticks at at Washington, DC. grocery store.
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    Christopher Doering/C-Store Dive
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    Deep Dive

    How meat sticks became America’s favorite new snack

    With sales reaching $3.3 billion last year, food brands such as Chomps, Jack’s Link and Slim Jim are benefitting from consumers’ obsession with protein and convenience.

    By Christopher Doering • Sept. 16, 2025
  • Hershey, chocolate
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Sheetz says Hershey price hike coming

    The Reese’s, Kisses and Kit-Kat maker announced a 26% price increase on some candies due to supply issues.

    By • Sept. 15, 2025
  • A photo of the sign over the entrance to a store. The sign reads "7-Eleven" in green, red and yellow colors.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven Inc.
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    7-Eleven agrees to $1.2M fine over banned vape sales

    Washington, D.C., law prohibits e-cigarette sales within a quarter mile of middle and high schools, but 16 stores near schools kept selling the devices.

    By • Sept. 11, 2025
  • Circle K
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    Retrieved from Circle K press release.
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: Couche-Tard and the art of value

    Circle K’s parent company shared several ways it’s appealing to cash-strapped customers across North America.

    By • Sept. 5, 2025
  • Cans in Celsius Holdings' portfolio.
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    Courtesy of Celsius Holdings
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    PepsiCo ups stake in Celsius to 11% with $585M deal

    Celsius also will acquire the beverage giant’s Rockstar Energy drink brand and add Alani Nu to PepsiCo’s distribution system in the U.S. and Canada.

    By Christopher Doering • Sept. 3, 2025
  • A photo of the exterior of a travel center. A sign above the door says Wawa.
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    Courtesy of Wawa
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    Wawa opens first travel center, promises 2 more

    The 8,000-square-foot store adds another new format to the East Coast retailer’s growing store lineup.

    By • Aug. 28, 2025
  • A photo of the exterior of a convenience store. A Sign over the door says Sheetz.
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    Courtesy of Sheetz
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: Retailers open eye-catching new stores

    Sheetz hit a milestone, Wawa debuted a travel center and Buc-ee’s partnered with Texas A&M University for a unique merch deal.

    By • Aug. 28, 2025
  • Spindrift, hard seltzer
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    Courtesy of Spindrift
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    Spindrift discontinues alcohol offering amid decline in hard seltzers

    The beverage maker will end production of its Spiked line after four years, noting it took “substantial resources and time.”

    By Christopher Doering • Aug. 28, 2025