Hot Beverages, Automotive Push Truckstop Sales Higher

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Hot dispensed beverage and automotive product sales are pushing sales north at truckstops nationwide, according to The 2011 Third Quarter McLane-NATSO Index.

Total merchandise purchases by truckstops across the country served by McLane Corp. rose 10 percent during the third quarter of 2011 compared to the same quarter last year. In dollars and cents, the index found that average purchases per truckstop jumped to $17,300 from $15,700 per week compared with the same three-month period in 2010, according to a release from the NATSO Foundation.

Specifically, sales of coffee, tea and other hot dispensed beverages jumped up 28 percent compared with a year earlier. The increase was driven largely by rapidly escalating coffee bean prices, which increased 44 percent between the third quarter of 2010 and 2011, according to NATSO.

The index registered a similar increase in hot dispensed beverages in the second quarter, as CSNews Online previously reported. For the three-month period ending June 30, the category rose 54 percent driven, also, largely by escalating coffee bean prices.

Additionally, automotive product sales rose 58 percent for the period ended Sept. 30 compared with the 2010 third quarter partly due to increased demand and a growth in shelf space dedicated to the products.

"NATSO member truckstops and travel plazas are committed to meeting the needs of the motoring public and the professional truck driving community," said NATSO President and CEO Lisa Mullings. "This index allows NATSO members to identify product trends and maximize their ability to meet changing customer demands."

The index illustrates market trends within the truckstop and travel plaza industry by comparing the average weekly wholesale sales of McLane to truckstop convenience stores. McLane tracks its weekly wholesale sales for more than 900 truckstop locations.

"McLane is dedicated to helping truckstops and travel plazas meet the ever-changing needs of the customers they serve. It's a privilege to be a part of a valuable tool like the McLane-NATSO Quarterly Index," said Steve Brady, McLane vice president Sales, military and convenience stores.

Total merchandise purchases include all c-store merchandise sold at truckstops, excluding cigarettes. They are divided into nine categories: candy, snacks, non-alcoholic packaged beverages, automotive products, commissary, food service, other dairy and deli products, and hot and cold dispensed beverages.