Category Trends


  • shopper grabbing a drink from a grocery store cooler
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    VIVAZEN® via OpenAI

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    Sponsored by VIVAZEN®

    C-store maxxing: How convenience stores became the ultimate one-stop shop

    As wellness becomes part of daily routines, c-stores are rising to the occasion.

    Sept. 14, 2026
  • lil' drug
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    Retrieved from Lil' Drug Store Products.
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    Lil’ Drug Store Products acquires Navajo’s health, beauty and wellness portfolio

    The c-store general merchandise supplier is expanding into grocery and drug stores while broadening its health and beauty assortment.

    By Sept. 11, 2026
  • A photo of the interior of a large store. There is a crowd of people shopping. A sign hanging from the ceiling on the left side of the photo says "Sweets. Fudge. Nuts. Desserts."
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    Jessica Loder/C-Store Dive
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: C-store retailers are feeling optimistic

    While macroeconomic disruptions have made shoppers more cautious, retailers are largely positive about the future, according to a survey from retail technology company Toast.

    By Sept. 11, 2026
  • on-tap beverages, Wally's
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    Permission granted by Quality Draft Solutions
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    Wally’s, Jump Start add on-tap beverages

    The retailers are tapping into demand for greater beverage variety and customization, with eight-faucet systems tailored to each store’s menu.

    By Sept. 9, 2026
  • Circle K
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    Getty Images
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    Couche-Tard’s merchandise growth keeps on rolling into fiscal 2027

    Circle K’s parent company saw U.S. same-store merchandise revenue increase by 1.7% during Q1, driven by momentum in food, energy drinks and other nicotine products.

    By Sept. 3, 2026
  • An image of a Juul2 vaping device.
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    Permission granted by Juul Labs
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    Juul granted marketing approval for second device

    In addition to the Juul2, the FDA also gave the green light to menthol and tobacco-flavored pods for use with the product. 

    By Aug. 31, 2026
  • A closeup of five people's arms holding beer glasses.
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    Stock via Getty Images
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    US alcohol consumption remains at all time low

    A new report from Gallup showed drinking rates are stabilizing after a multiyear decline, but still remain at the lowest level since 1939.

    By Laurel Deppen • Aug. 28, 2026
  • Love's
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    Permission granted by Love's
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    Love’s to roll out premium private label baked goods line

    The assortment, which will debut nationwide on Aug. 30, will feature muffins, cakes and danishes.

    By Aug. 24, 2026
  • A sign alerting customers about SNAP food stamps benefits is displayed in Spanish
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    Scott Heins via Getty Images
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    Where SNAP participation has fallen the most

    All but one state saw a year-over-year drop in the number of people enrolled in the food assistance program in April.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Aug. 21, 2026
  • gopuff
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    Retrieved from Gopuff.
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    Gopuff expands private label, debuts first-ever seasonal product lineup

    The additions mainly include baked goods such as cakes, cookies, danishes, edible and bakeable cookie dough, toaster pastries and fudge.

    By Aug. 21, 2026
  • Murphy USA
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    Retrieved from Murphy USA.
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    4 c-store execs weigh in on cautious consumers

    Leaders from Arko, CrossAmerica Partners, Global Partners and Murphy USA shared the impact tentative spending and high gas prices had in Q2.

    By Aug. 17, 2026
  • A photo of two yellow bags of snacks against a yellow and orange swirled background. The bags say Hippeas protein crunch, 8 grams protein, crunchy baked pea protein snack. One says Cheddar Vibrations and the other says Pizza Party.
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    Permission granted by Hippeas
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    5 new snacks capitalizing on hot c-stores trends

    Unique offerings from both newer and popular snackmakers are rising up to meet changing customer tastes.

    By Christine Blank • Aug. 12, 2026
  • A sign hangs on the side of a buildings. The sign includes a square, multicolored logo and the word Altria.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    FDA grants marketing approval to 4 On! nicotine pouches

    The agency greenlit the products as part of a pilot program aimed at shortening approval times. 

    By Aug. 5, 2026
  • Tyson suggests high beef prices face long recovery

    The meat giant said the Trump administration's efforts to boost supply are unlikely to make a significant impact in the near-term.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • Aug. 5, 2026
  • A photo of the exterior of a building, with a sign on the wall. The sign says "Altria." A person walks by the sign.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Altria Group expands On! Plus distribution

    The nicotine pouch brand, which received marketing approval from the FDA for multiple varieties in late 2025, expanded to 120,000 stores nationwide.

    By Aug. 4, 2026
  • A closeup of four people's hands holding drinks in a toast.
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    Stock via Getty Images
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    Gen Z isn’t drinking less after all

    An IWSR report found that younger drinkers imbibe at roughly the same rate as the rest of the population, upending a narrative that Gen Z is a “generation of moderation.”

    By Laurel Deppen • July 21, 2026
  • A person receives a message that they've earned loyalty points on their phone.
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    Getty Images
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    Consumers say rewards matter, but many aren’t actually using them

    In the crowded loyalty landscape, a successful program goes beyond growing enrollment to actually influencing customers’ shopping behavior.

    By Bryan Wassel • July 20, 2026
  • A brightly colored dink in a clear plastic cup sits on a white surface against a white and gray marble background, surrounded by fruit.
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    Courtesy of Josh Campbell/Dash In
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: Building a better beverage bar

    Convenience retailers are drink destinations for a significant portion of shoppers, according to a recent Intouch Insight report.

    By July 17, 2026
  • ZYN nicotine cases and pouches are seen on a table on January 29, 2024 in New York City.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    FDA allows Zyn to market nicotine pouches as lower-risk alternative to cigarettes

    The administration’s latest orders allow Zyn to claim that using the products instead of cigarettes decreases the risk of several smoking-related diseases.

    By July 1, 2026
  • sheetz, refresher
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    Permission granted by Sheetz
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    Sheetz, Dash In lead the charge as refreshers reshape c-store beverage sales

    The drinks sit at the intersection of fruit flavor, wellness and afternoon treat occasions, making them highly adaptable across c-store menus.

    By Christine Blank • June 29, 2026
  • A photo of the exterior of a store. Signs on the side of the building says "Love's," "Hardees" and "Charbroiled burgers."
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    Courtesy of Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
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    How to open a restaurant in a c-store

    Built-in traffic and low build-out costs make c-stores an attractive growth opportunity, but brand fit and executional discipline are essential, experts say.

    By Michael Brady • June 29, 2026
  • Onvo
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    Retrieved from Onvo.
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    Onvo debuts private label snacks

    The retailer’s new array of proprietary potato chips was designed to complement its existing foodservice offering.

    By June 25, 2026
  • A photo of several containers of nicotine pouches. The top container says "Zyn smooth. Warning: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical."
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    3 charts outlining the growing smokeless nicotine market

    With Zyn and On! Plus earning marketing approval from the FDA, the category is becoming increasingly important in c-stores.

    By June 22, 2026
  • Two six packs of Bud Light and Michelob Ultra are next to each other on a store shelf.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Anheuser-Busch invests $20M in Michelob Ultra production in bet on beer rebound

    The Bud Light owner will upgrade brewery and packaging equipment at facilities across Missouri after executives expressed optimism that the worst is over for the industry.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • June 18, 2026
  • A sign alerting customers about SNAP food stamps benefits is displayed in Spanish
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    Scott Heins via Getty Images
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    SNAP waivers could lead to $830M sales loss for soda, candy, energy drinks

    By the end of 2026, state-specific restrictions are expected to impact one-third of participants in the government food assistance program, Numerator found.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • June 2, 2026