Category Trends

  • Juul
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Juul granted FDA marketing approval

    After initially being denied in 2022, the vaping products have been waiting in limbo while the government reconsidered the case.

    By • July 21, 2025
  • Big Beautiful Bill
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    Samuel Corum via Getty Images
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    Trump’s megabill boosts M&A outlook after slump

    The new law could provide greater tax certainty for dealmaking in an otherwise risky economic and policy environment, analysts say.

    By Alexei Alexis • July 15, 2025
  • Exterior of Circle K convenience store
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    Courtesy of Standard Cognition
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    5 big c-store industry questions for the rest of 2025

    From big acquisitions and proposals to longer-term trends that touch all parts of the industry, here are the storylines to watch.

    By , • July 14, 2025
  • A photo of a neon sign outside at night. The sign says 7-Eleven.
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven facing shrinking foot traffic

    Store visits have been declining for several quarters, but Seven & i is banking on more QSRs on-site to help turn things around.

    By • July 14, 2025
  • Couche-Tard
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    Retrieved from Newco Construction.
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    Circle K debuts sweeping alcohol discount program

    The initiative, which the company says is the largest in U.S. convenience retail, offers shoppers digital cashback rebates on beer, wine and spirits almost immediately after purchase.

    By • July 14, 2025
  • A photo of ice cream from Stewart's Shops in two cups on a table with some fall leaves.
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    Permission granted by Stewart's Shops
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    How c-stores can profit from proprietary sweet treat offerings

    Owning their own baked goods or ice cream program gives retailers a world of innovation to play with, but comes with significant challenges, experts say.

    By Christine Blank • July 9, 2025
  • A photo of a person pouring a beverage from a large dispenser in a store into a white and yellow disposable cup. the person has a lid for the cup in the other hand.
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    Permission granted by Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
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    Why c-store customer experience is more important than ever

    From friendly workers to helpful technology to a loyalty program that’s worth their time, shoppers increasingly value the personal touch, according to new data from Intouch Insight

    By • July 1, 2025
  • A photo of a person holding the fuelling nozzle of a gas pump.
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    Miguel Villagran via Getty Images
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    Column

    The Road Ahead: The future of convenience still runs on gas

    Reports of liquid fuel’s death have been greatly exaggerated. While c-stores still need to innovate, they shouldn’t be afraid of their roots, write Frank Beard and Brandon Lawrence.

    By Frank Beard and Brandon Lawrence • June 30, 2025
  • Circle K
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    Retrieved from Couche-Tard.
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    Couche-Tard CEO says Seven & i talks could finalize in the near future

    Alex Miller said on Thursday that the companies have outlined “what we believe is a clear path to U.S. regulatory approval,” and a final timeline may be approaching.

    By • June 26, 2025
  • Costco Wholesale Club
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    Jacob Blanck. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: Costco’s fueling ambitions

    As the big box retailer prepares its first standalone gas station, we’re taking a look at how the company’s fueling business has fared recently.

    By • June 20, 2025
  • Three mobile phone screenshots. The first shows a welcome screen that says "Sabvings are just around the corner! Bee's Knees benefits. Sign in. Register. See how it works." The second shows a map with store locations highlighter. The final shows several rectangles. One says Get a fere item every Wednesday June 11-October 1."
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    Courtesy of Global Partners
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    Global Partners launches unified loyalty program

    The retailer also relaunched its mobile app alongside Bee’s Knees Benefits, which will be accepted at all of the company’s banners.

    By • June 16, 2025
  • Sunoco
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    Retrieved from Sunoco.
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: The many faces of c-store growth

    Casey’s, Sunoco and Minuteman are all looking to expand their horizons — and store counts — in the next year.

    By • June 13, 2025
  • A photo of beer labels on a production line. The labels say "Stewart's Shops Mountain Brew lager. Proudly brewed in the Adirondaks by Paradox Brewery."
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    Courtesy of Paradox Brewery
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    Private label beer is having a moment. Should c-stores order a round?

    Retailers like Costco, Stewart’s Shops and Walmart are investing in exclusive beer brands as capacity has opened up at brewers across the U.S.

    By • June 9, 2025
  • An image of an orange bag with Grubhub and pizza boxes.
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    Permission granted by Grubhub
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    Grubhub adds alcohol delivery from 7-Eleven

    The platform has also launched multi-store ordering, which allows customers to order from two eligible merchants in a single order, including select c-stores.

    By Julie Littman • June 9, 2025
  • Casey's
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    Retrieved from Casey's.
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    Column

    3 Big Numbers: Casey’s keeps trucking in Texas

    They say everything’s bigger in the Lone Star State. That includes this Iowa-based convenience retailer’s ambitions.

    By • June 6, 2025
  • A photo of the interior of a convenience store, designed with a blue and green color scheme. Signs say PM, Coffee & soda, and Papa Sal's.
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    Retrieved from pwrmarket.com.

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    Power Market expands Oregon footprint

    H&S Energy's first location in the Portland area also introduces its Papa Sal’s Deli foodservice program to the state.

    By • June 4, 2025
  • EG America
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    Permission granted by EG America
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    EG America levels up its grab-and-go snacking game

    The retailer’s new Sensible Snacks program aims to take advantage of the variety of national brands offered at its convenience stores.

    By • June 3, 2025
  • Shelves of snack multipacks at a grocery store
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    Cole Rosengren/C-Store Dive
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    C-stores losing snacking dollars to grocers

    While dollar and drug stores also ceded ground to grocery stores, convenience retailers gave up the most ground in treat sales, according to NielsenIQ.

    By • May 28, 2025
  • A photo of a parking lot with a number of EV chargers set up alongside the parking spaces.
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    Courtesy of BP Pulse
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    BP Pulse is bringing EV chargers to Waffle House

    Chosen sites in the Southeast and the Sunbelt will get six electric vehicle charging bays, with the first locations coming online next year.

    By • May 22, 2025
  • A photo of a can of energy drink on a rock near the ocean with tropical plants on both sides. The can says Zero Sugar Monster Energy Ultra Blue Hawaiian.
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    Courtesy of Monster Energy
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    3 packaged beverage trends for the back half of 2025

    Energy drinks seek the right balance of flavors while consumer sentiment may not prevent beer price increases, according to a Goldman Sachs survey.

    By • May 22, 2025
  • sprite tea
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    Courtesy of The Coca-Cola Company
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    Coca-Cola launches Sprite + Tea appealing to TikTok-steeped Gen Z

    The lemon-lime soda’s R&D team developed its latest limited-time flavor by mimicking a social media creation.

    By Chris Casey • May 20, 2025
  • A rendering of the exterior of a convenience store with a dark roof and tan siding. Green and white signs on the store say "Millwood Market" and "Marketplace." .
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    Retrieved from millwoodmarket.com.

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    Small New York c-store chain plans Virginia debut

    Millwood Market is opening its third overall location in Manassas, nearly 300 miles from its first two sites.

    By • May 15, 2025
  • anheuser busch budweiser
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    Courtesy of Anheuser-Busch
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    Anheuser-Busch invests $300M in US manufacturing amid beer optimism

    The company is funding technology and workforce development at its plants as it sees some recovery in alcohol consumption among older Gen Zers and younger millennials.

    By Chris Casey • May 14, 2025
  • A photo of several containers of nicotine pouches. The top container says "Zyn smooth. Warning: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical."
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Smokeless tobacco is key to reinvigorating backbars

    While cigarettes continue their long, slow decline, nicotine pouches are a bright spot for c-stores and heated tobacco is on the horizon, experts say.

    By Christine Blank • May 14, 2025
  • A person holds a silver-wrapped Choco Taco ice cream novelty
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    "Choco Taco." by tbiley is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Opinion

    The snacks we grew up with are at risk of disappearing from shelves – if they haven’t already

    Beloved products trusted for generations are now facing a crisis as rising costs, shifting purchasing patterns and regulatory scrutiny pressure legacy brands, writes Keren Novak of Curion.

    By Keren Novack • May 7, 2025