3 Big Numbers is a weekly column that looks at a few key details from around the c-store industry.
Convenience stores have long been a place for drivers to stop for a quick beverage, whether they’re craving a bottle of Gatorade or Pepsi, a hot coffee or a slushie. And as the industry progresses through 2025, that’s unlikely to slow down — especially in nonalcoholic beverages, which have risen 10.7% on c-store menus in the past year as of the third quarter of 2024, according to Technomic Ignite Menu data.
In today’s “3 Big Numbers,” we’re breaking down how various beverage types and flavors are growing in the c-store space, and how the retailers offering them are separating themselves from the competition.
2
The number of new sparkling iced tea flavors 7-Eleven released in its private label line to start the year.
After revealing its plans last year to go all-in on foodservice in 2025, 7-Eleven is off to a rollicking start two months into the year, having launched several food and beverage items. One of those is a line of 7Select private label sparkling iced teas in flavors like raspberry and peach, according to a LinkedIn post by the company’s senior brand and product development manager for beverages.
7-Eleven has offered bottled teas for some time, but this appears to be the retailer's first introduction of a canned sparkling version.
While sparkling tea is only expected to increase roughly 6.3% annually through 2030 globally, tea in general is one of the largest categories under the soft drink umbrella. This means 7-Eleven's latest launch could open the door to new opportunities.
10.5%
The year-over-year growth in fruit-flavored beverages in convenience stores — one of the fastest growing flavor profiles in the drinks category.
Fruit-flavored beverages are on the rise. Indeed, its nearly 11% surge on c-store menus is second only to espresso flavors, according to Technomic Ignite Menu data.
One fruit-forward flavor that’s surging is dragon fruit. Several convenience retailers have launched beverages with this tropical flavor over the past couple of years. This includes Wawa, which launched a Galaxy Recharger featuring a blend of dragon fruit, blue raspberry and lemonade; and QuickChek, which now offers Iced Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher with Boba.
In its annual report, popular beverage development company Flavorman called dragon fruit one of the tropical fruit flavors that will “steal the spotlight” in 2025.
$1.49
The price of any size coffee for GPM Investments’ loyalty members.
Affordability is one of the hallmarks of the coffee program at GPM Investment’s 1,300-plus convenience stores. Customers who join the company’s Fas Rewards loyalty program can purchase any size cup of joe for $1.49, as well as earn a free cup of hot or iced coffee per 10 gallons of gas purchased.
With inflation rising again, coffee discounts and promotions will continue to be an area where convenience retailers “can compete with the big guys,” Arie Kotler, president and CEO of GPM’s parent company, Arko Corp., emphasized, referring to QSR chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’.
“Many of our stores are in rural, small towns… areas that you’re talking about medium-to-low income,” Kotler said. “And this is what those customers are looking for — they’re looking for something that they can afford.”
