Dive Brief:
- Southern convenience retailer Refuel Operating Company is rolling out a brand-new grab-and-go food program, Store Development Manager Ashley Todd said in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday.
- Items available through the new program — which Refuel is calling EATS — include breakfast croissants; bologna, egg and cheese sandwiches; spicy chicken sandwiches; cheeseburgers; kolaches; and mac and cheese bites.
- The program adds another layer to Refuel’s foodservice offerings, which already include a hot food bar featuring fried chicken and pizza, as well as breakfast plates and roller grill dogs.
Dive Insight:
It’s unclear how quickly Refuel plans to roll out EATS across its entire network, which includes over 220 c-stores across South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas and Arkansas. Todd noted in her LinkedIn post that the EATS program has already debuted at Refuel c-stores in Summerville, Myrtle Beach and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
“Big thanks to our food team, operations team and construction team for bringing this new food program to life!” Todd said.
The EATS program also features a new shelving system designed by Flexeserve that Refuel is testing to “maintain freshness and quality throughout the day,” Todd said. According to Flexeserve’s website, these holding units surround hot food products evenly with hot air, ensuring they maintain their quality and a consistent temperature.
Flexeserve has also worked with Circle K and Amazon Go, according to its website.
Refuel launching its EATS program comes just a few months after the Charleston, South Carolina-based retailer named new director of foodservice Lauren Del Duca, who was formerly senior category manager for that department.
Fresh food, whether offered via grab-and-go shelves or made to order in a kitchen, continues to surge in convenience stores as the industry continues to seek ways to narrow the competition gap with QSRs.
