Cumberland Farms to Give Free Coffee to Holiday Travelers

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Cumberland Farms Inc. is kicking off the 2016 holiday season by offering customers a free coffee all day long on Thanksgiving.

The offer includes any blend of coffee (hot or iced), in any size. Customers can also choose hot chocolate, cappuccino or tea.

The free beverages will be available at any of Cumberland Farms' nearly 600 convenience stores throughout the Northeast and Florida.

"We are so thankful here at Cumberland Farms for all of our loyal customers," said CEO Ari Haseotes. "Whether you're a fan of Farmhouse Blend or a hot chocolate lover, we hope to ease customers' Thanksgiving Day travels this year with a free beverage — on us — to express our gratitude."

Framingham-based Cumberland Farms also released the results of a recent survey about consumers' Thanksgiving travel plans. The survey found that travelers prefer to plan ahead before getting on the road, with 62 percent of respondents saying they fill up their gas tanks the night before traveling to avoid waiting in line.

Other findings of the survey include:

• 27 percent say they only drink coffee or cold drinks for fuel and see no need for road trip snacks. Those who do snack prefer pretzels or chips.
• Regarding pit stops, 42 percent of travelers will let their companions take bathroom breaks — but only if it's right off the highway. Twenty-two percent will make them hold it.
• When asked who they would least like to spend 10 hours in the car with, 35 percent said their in-laws, followed closely by their kids.
• 42 percent of respondents say they do not seek alternate routes with apps such as Waze or Google Maps because of traffic, choosing instead to buckle up and stay the course.