C-stores Still Bullish on Foodservice

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Convenience store retailers have high expectations around foodservice this year, according to the soon-to-released Convenience Store News 2014 Foodservice Study.

More than three-quarters (81 percent) of the c-store operators that participated in this year's study predict an increase in their foodservice sales. And the same is true for profit, with 63.5 percent of all respondents anticipating that their foodservice profits will grow in 2014 compared to 2013.

CSNews fielded its annual Foodservice Study in June to collect in-depth data on the category. The Foodservice Study asks c-store retailers -- both chains and single stores -- to report their sales and profits from the previous year, as well as expectations for the current year.

Some other findings from this year's study include:

• Three-quarters of c-stores opt for proprietary programs vs. branded.
• Foodservice promotions, via coupons, social media, loyalty programs and more, increased industrywide by a third over the past year. The majority of retailers are tying foodservice category promotions into their loyalty programs.
• Nearly two-thirds of responding operators said they offer customer seating in-store alongside their foodservice selection, and approximately one-quarter provide outdoor seating.
• Take-home, heat-and-eat dinner solutions are offered by 30.5 percent of retailers.
• The lunch daypart is still bringing in the largest share of foodservice sales for c-stores (30.3 percent), but the breakfast daypart is not far behind (26.4 percent).

A full 2014 Foodservice Study report will be published in the August issue of Convenience Store News.