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Country Style’s Original Blend contains an outstanding blend of Arabica beans grown in carefully selected coffee farms in Colombia, Guatemala and Ethiopia. We grind our coffee fresh for every pot we brew. It’s the way we’ve always done it and that will never change. It makes a world of difference for not only the taste and aroma of the coffee, but even the energy and excitement in the store. The respect we put into our coffee is what helps create the delicious flavor we get out.
Country Style Coffee
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Category Analysis
Five-Year Trends: Cigarettes
Cigarettes
Percent change in total sales
Margin percentage
Share of in-store sales
-1.5%
14.12%
27.38%
2019
2017
2018
2016
Product Showcase
Premium
% change
AVERAGE SALES PER STORE
INDUSTRY TOTAL (IN MILLIONS)
Branded discount
Subgeneric/ private label
Fourth Tier
Imports
TOTAL
$349,283
$60,309
$14,903
$1,031
$20
$425,546
0.0%
-7.4%
11.7%
-11.8%
-1.6%
-0.8%
-0.7%
-8.0%
11.0%
-12.4%
-2.2%
$52,872
$9,129
$2,256
$156
$3
$64,416
2015
-2.9%
14.63%
28.50%
1.1%
14.92%
29.92%
1.4%
15.20%
30.11%
3.9%
13.36%
30.84%
Smokeless
Electronic cigarettes
Cigars
Papers
Pipe/cigarette tobacco
$52,158
$40,570
$25,553
$1,493
$155
$120,329
7.3%
52..2%
-0.4%
-1.9%
-2.5%
16.8%
6.6%
51.5%
-1.1%
-3.1%
16.1%
$7,995
$6,141
$3,868
$226
$84
$18,214
Other Tobacco
30.75%
77.74%
23.5%
29.15%
6.84%
11.4%
27.65%
5.62%
9.0%
28.06%
5.16%
5.4%
24.34%
4.91%
Five-Year Trends:
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Cigarette sales dropped for the second straight year in 2019, but the rate of decline slowed from the previous year, with average sales per store falling 0.8 percent to $425,546. Total industry sales declined 1.5 percent.
OTP fared considerably better than cigarettes. While its rate of growth slowed from the previous year, 2019 saw average OTP sales per store rise 16.8 percent to $120,329.
Sales of cigars, papers and pipe/cigarette tobacco fell, but e-cigarettes had another banner year. Health controversies and regulatory issues didn’t stop the segment from growing 52.2 percent in average sales per store to reach $40,570 — only trailing the smokeless segment. Smokeless tobacco remains the top moneymaker and saw average sales per store increase 7.3 percent, up from the 2.8 percent growth it experienced in 2018.
OPERATIONS
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The Wildhorse® product family features premium quality cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and cigarette tubes. Count on this classic brand for a bold, rich taste and smooth smoking experience one would expect from a higher-priced premium cigarette. Wildhorse provides fine flavor and aroma at an attractive price.
Learn more
Premier Manufacturing
Premium, innovative, and sustainable, the BIDI® Stick is a device engineered for game-changing performance. The BIDI® Stick is a pre-charged disposable vape pen created to provide a premium vaping experience to adult users. Made from top-of-the-line components, each BIDI® Stick has a high-quality aluminum body and an integrated microchip sensitivity-control system that allows for consistent throat hits. It is powered by a 280 mAh cellphone-grade battery with a UL-8139 certification, which attests to its integrity and recyclability. It is also available in 11 flavors of pure e-liquid with Class A nicotine, catering to every taste profile.
BIDI® Vapor
Cold Vault
OVERVIEW: COLD VAULT
Packaged beverages saw solid growth in 2019, rising 5 percent in average sales per store to $200,889. However, the category’s solid overall performance hid significant differences in individual segment performance, which could be further exacerbated by the effects of the pandemic.
Looking at the past five years, packaged beverages had its second highest percent change in total sales at 4.3 percent in 2019. This was up from 3.2 percent in 2018. Margin percentage (at 42.02 percent) and share of in-store sales (at 12.92 percent) saw slight increases.
Convenience stores that sell beer and malt beverages saw 1.7 percent growth in average sales per store in the category last year, reaching $142,959. This is up slightly from the 1.4 percent increase that occurred in 2018. Experts predict that 2020 may result in a boost for the category, as alcoholic beverages have been among the best-performing products during the pandemic.
The percentage of c-stores in the U.S. that sell beer and malt beverages held steady at 75.1 percent. Among just these stores, average sales per store were $190,358 and the percent of in-store sales fell less than one-half of a percentage point to 12.2 percent.
4.3%
42.02%
12.92%
3.2%
41.58%
12.71%
0.2%
41.45%
12.50%
4.2%
41.40%
12.74%
32.80%
12.69%
Five-Year Trends: Packaged Beverages
Enery/alternative drinks
Carbonated soft drinks
Bottled water
Sports drinks
Juice/juice drinks
Enhanced water
All other packaged beverages
Iced tea (ready-to-drink)
$62,215
$53,200
$21,193
$19,746
$13,113
$200,889
11.2%
1.2%
-1.0%
7.7%
-0.6%
5.0%
10.6%
0.6%
7.1%
-1.3%
$9,404
$10,061
-2.8%
$1,523
$9,348
13.3%
12.6%
$1,415
$12,103
3.5%
$1,832
$8,053
$3,208
$2,989
$1,985
$30,409
Packaged Beverages
Flavored malt beverage
Budget
Super premium
Popular
Microbrews/craft
Malt liquor
Non-alcoholic
$61,418
$28,579
$12,532
$11,046
$10,425
$149,959
9.1%
4.4%
17.6%
1.7%
8.5%
3.8%
-1.7%
16.9%
1.0%
$9,297
$4,326
$1,897
$1,672
$1,578
$9,533
-5.5%
-6.1%
$1,443
$7,021
$1,063
$2,332
-5.0%
-5.6%
$353
$75
-0.1%
-0.9%
$21,640
Beer/Malt Beverages
19.02%
9.20%
0.8%
19.08%
9.34%
0.5%
19.01%
9.41%
19.10%
9.56%
3.1%
18.71%
9.51%
Five-Year Trends: BEER/MALT BEVERAGE
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Foodservice
Five-Year Trends: FOODSERVICE
5.2%
43.68%
16.91%
Prepared food (prepared on-site or off-site)
Hot dispensed beverages
Cold dispensed beverages
Frozen dispensed beverages
$183,129
$50,3413
$20,378
$9,051
$262,971
5.9%
5.1%
4.6%
12.5%
5.8%
11.8%
$27,721
$7,631
$3,085
$1,370
$39,807
2.4%
43.71%
16.50%
3.6%
43.85%
16.38%
43.70%
16.14%
43.72%
15.71%
OVERVIEW: FOODSERVICE
The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to derail a positive trend for the foodservice category at c-stores, which saw every segment grow in 2019. Now a core component of many retailers’ strategic plans, average foodservice sales per store grew 5.8 percent to $262,971 last year, with the rate of growth nearly doubling from 2018.
Prepared food continues to increase in popularity among shoppers, which could give food-focused convenience retailers an advantage when returning to normal operations in a post-COVID world. The segment grew 5.9 percent to reach $183,129 in average sales per store, and generated the most actual dollar sales by a comfortable margin.
Unlike 2018, which saw some individual segment declines, every foodservice segment grew last year. The foodservice category’s 5.2 percent growth in total industry sales last year was more than double the 2.4 percent growth it experienced in 2018, and marks the highest recent total sales growth since the 6.6 percent increase that occurred in 2016.
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General Merchandise
Batteries and seasonal products were the two outstanding subcategories that drove sales in the general merchandise category over the first half of this year. While seasonals were up 13.1 percent in dollars and 2.9% in units, batteries gained 12.7 percent in dollars and 7.3 percent in units.
Total general merchandise dollar sales declined 4.4 percent and units fell 8.1 percent. Hardware/housewares, school/office supplies, telecom hardware, and wearables/apparel all experienced sales declines compared to the first half of 2019, according to the 2020 Midyear Report.
Batteries
1st half 2020
1st half 2019
DOLLAR SALES
UNIT VOLUME
Hardware/Housewares
School Office Supplies
Seasonal
Smoking Accessories
Source: CSNews Research; Nielsen C-store Track, June 2020
-11.1%
12.7%
-23.3%
-18.6%
13.1%
Telecom Hardware
Video Audio Tapes
Wearables/Apparel
-3.5%
-15.1%
4.0%
2.9%
-8.5%
-20.4%
-17.4%
12.8%
-10.2%
-22.6%
-45%
-8.7%
-15.8%
-18.7%
-7.6%
-17.3%
153.4%
5.5%
-9.9%
-28.1%
-16.2%
8.9%
-12.7%
-31.5%
-67%
-4.4%
-11.5%
-8.1%
-14.4%
Health & Beauty
C-SORE STORE LOCATION:
Trends: HEALTH & BEAUTY CARE
Category DATA
Health & beauty care
0.67%
0.68%
1.3%
$10,384
Other Health
Five-Year Trends: OTHER HEALTH
OVERVIEW: HEALTH & BEAUTY
The Health and Beauty care (HBC) category has always been a smaller but critical category for the convenience sector. In early 2020, when the COVID-19 quarantine hit retailers hard, c-store operators benefited by being classified as “essential,” allowing them to stay in operation. Customers who favored shopping small format stores chose to purchase HBC products found at their local convenience store. While in-store sales are down due to lower foot traffic, according to Acosta, thirty-two percent of shoppers reported consuming more vitamins and supplements during quarantine in an effort to stay healthy.
FOR POSITION ONLY
explore Candy & Snacks
Stock new 1 Dose Liquid DayQuil and NyQuil starting Q1 2021! Make space in your immediate consumption section for the new single dose DayQuil/NyQuil bottles. Designed for the convenience shopper who prefers liquid on the go, this hot new product is the only single dose liquid in cold & flu. Eliminates consumer concerns of product expiration with an expected margin range 35% to 50%.
Procter & Gamble
AS PERCENT OF IN-STORE SALES
$1,572
Candy & Snacks
Five-Year Trends
Candy
49.02%
3.17%
Bagged/repackaged peg candy
Chocolate bars/packst
Gum
Novelties/seasonal
Candy rolls, mints, drops
$19,462
$12,281
$7,425
$5,800
$2,391
$49,296
6.4%
6.7%
1.5%
0.3%
4.7%
5.7%
6.0%
0.9%
-0.3%
$2,946
$1,859
$1,124
$878
$362
$7,462
0.1%
48.62%
3.13%
1.6%
48.26%
2.8%
47.00%
3.19%
Potato chips
Tortilla/corn chips
Nuts/seeds
Puffed cheese
Mixed
$11,098
$8,364
$5,344
$4,552
$2,306
$44,638
3.0%
7.8%
4.1%
2.3%
3.4%
$1,680
$1,266
$809
$689
$349
$6,757
Salty Snacks
38.05%
2.87%
38.30%
2.85%
4.5%
37.86%
2.81%
36.60%
2.74%
31.47%
2.73%
OVERVIEW: CANDY & SNACKS
Following a year of minimal growth in 2018, candy sales enjoyed a significant bump in 2019. Average sales per store rose 4.7 percent to $49,296, up from 0.7 percent growth in 2018. Candy’s sweet year was also reflected in total industry sales growth of 4 percent, the category’s largest increase in the last five years. Margin percentage saw a slight uptick to 49.02 percent, while candy’s share of in-store sales remained virtually flat at 3.17 percent. Salty snacks also saw positive growth in 2019, with average sales per store increasing 4.2 percent to $44,638, up from the 3.6 percent growth that occurred in 2018. Salty snacks’ 3.6 percent growth in total industry sales was above the 2.9 percent growth seen in 2018, but marked the second lowest increase in the last five years. Margin percentage (at 38.05 percent) and share of in-store sales (2.87 percent) were flat year over year. Alternative snacks turned in slightly lower growth, comparatively, with average sales per store increasing 3.5 percent to $17,198, up from 2.5 percent in 2018. Alternative snacks’ 2.8 percent rise in total industry sales for 2019 marked a continuation of increasing sales growth in recent years, but still fell far below the 8.4 percent growth seen in 2015, the high point of the last five years.
43.41%
1.11%
1.8%
43.43%
1.10%
44.09%
8.4%
35.91%
1.09%
Meat snacks
Health/energy bars
Granola/yogurt bars
Other alternative snacks
$10,730
$4,532
$1,315
$621
$17,198
6.5%
-6.0%
$1,624
$686
$199
$94
$2,603
Alternative Snacks
Following a year of minimal growth in 2018, candy sales enjoyed a significant bump in 2019. Average sales per store rose 4.7 percent to $49,296, up from 0.7 percent growth in 2018.
Candy’s sweet year was also reflected in total industry sales growth of 4 percent, the category’s largest increase in the last five years. Margin percentage saw a slight uptick to 49.02 percent, while candy’s share of in-store sales remained virtually flat at 3.17 percent.
Salty snacks also saw positive growth in 2019, with average sales per store increasing 4.2 percent to $44,638, up from the 3.6 percent growth that occurred in 2018. Salty snacks’ 3.6 percent growth in total industry sales was above the 2.9 percent growth seen in 2018, but marked the second lowest increase in the last five years. Margin percentage (at 38.05 percent) and share of in-store sales (2.87 percent) were flat year over year.
Alternative snacks turned in slightly lower growth, comparatively, with average sales per store increasing 3.5 percent to $17,198, up from 2.5 percent in 2018. Alternative snacks’ 2.8 percent rise in total industry sales for 2019 marked a continuation of increasing sales growth in recent years, but still fell far below the 8.4 percent growth seen in 2015, the high point of the last five years.
Non-chocolate bars/packs
$1,937
$293
Crackers
Pretzels
Popcorn (ready-to-eat)
Other salty snacks
$1,889
-2.0%
-2.6%
$286
$1,718
7.2%
$260
$1,757
$266
$7,610
6.2%
$1,152
Big John's is the gold standard in pickled snacks setting the bar for taste, flavor, innovation, value for consumers and support for our distribution and retail partners who are eager to grow sales in this category. Whether you are looking to replace an underperforming brand, stock shelves with protein and Keto options to capitalize on these trends, or just want the best for your customers; Big John's is and should be your first choice. Let us show you why Big John's has been the trusted brand of smart retailers in pickled snacks for over 45 years.
Red Smith Foods, Inc
New Reese’s Big Cup with Pretzels takes one of your favorite salty snacks and stuffs it inside your favorite snack, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. This new addition to the Reese’s line-up is a perfect pick-me-up for an afternoon snack and will satisfy your sweet (and salty) tooth! Reese’s Big Cup with Pretzels are available now in standard size (1.3 oz., SRP $1.49) and king size (2.6 oz., SRP $2.09).
The Hershey Company
Forecourt
THREE-YEAR TRENDS
RETAIL GASOLINE PRICES (PER GALLON)
Motor Fuel Sales & Margins
$2.69
-3.9%
Dollar Sales (in billions)
Gallons Sold (in billions)
Goss Margin (cents/gallon)
Average Sales Price/Gallon*
$413.5
153.7
26.6
$2.60
$432.0
154.1
25.5
$2.80
$390.4
154.3
23.7
$2.53
Gallons Sold (in billlions)
$343.7
154.7
$389.9
151.3
Five-Year Trends: MOTOR FUELS
OVERVIEW: FORECOURT
The $413.5 billion of fuel sold last year was below the $432 billion sold in 2018, but more than the $343.7-billion to $390.4-billion range sold between 2015 and 2017. In volume, motor fuel gallons sold last year were down slightly to 153.7 billion gallons, from 154.1 billion in 2018. However, gross margin increased by more than 1 cent per gallon to an average of 26.6 cents. The average price per gallon for all grades and formulations fell to $2.69, from $2.80 in 2018 — a 3.9 percent decline.
* Weighted average, all grades and diesel
$2.25
$2.57
10.7%
12.4%
-12.5%
-25.3%
79.9%
79.6%
79.1%
STORES SELLING MOTOR FUELS
Percent of total stores that sell motor fuel
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ECS
Operations & Technology
DIRECT STORE OPERATING EXPENSES
TRANSACTIONS
(dollars per store)
In-store transactions/week
Motor fuel transactions/week
Average in-store transaction
Wages
Payroll Taxes
Workers Compensation
Health Insurance
Other Benefits
$354,271
$17,151
$14,500
$32,306
$5,717
$688,206
$649,201
6.9%
2.5%
$16,847
$13,564
$30,651
$5,578
3,260
2,294
$31.82
-1.4%
8.6%
OVERVIEW: OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Employee wages, which increased by 7.2 percent, reached a record-high $354,271 per store. After wages, credit card interchange fees were the next largest direct-store operating expense. Credit card fees increased by 6.8 percent last year to $88,566 per store. Health insurance costs are the third-largest expense, climbing 5.4 percent to $32,306 per store. Workers’ compensation soared by 6.9 percent to $14,500 per store. Turnover increased to 136 percent for store employees (up from 132 percent in 2018), while store manager turnover rose to 35 percent, up from 26 percent the previous year. In-store transactions per week were up half a percent to 3,260 in 2019, while motor fuel transactions fell 1.4 percent to 2,294 per week. The average motor fuel transaction was $31.82, up 8.6 percent, while average gallons per transaction increased to 10.2, from 9.7 gallons in 2018. The average c-store comprises 2,425 square feet of selling space out of a total store average of 3,225 square feet. Both figures were up only slightly from 2018. Technology budgets continue to increase year over year. Last year, nearly a quarter of c-store chain retailers said their tech budget increased by 10 percent or more. A little over half of last year’s tech spending, 58 percent, was spent on replacing or updating outdated equipment. More than half of retailers expect to spend even more on technology in the coming year.
$330,584
Labor Subtotal
Credit Card Fees
All other direct-store operating expenses
$423,944
$88,566
$175,696
6.8%
$397,223
$82,927
$169,101
$9.02
2.1%
10.2
9.5%
Average motor fuel transaction
Average gallons/transaction
C-STORE SQUARE FOOTAGE
Sales area
Non-sales area
Total store size
Total property size
2,425
800
27,900
2,400
3,225
3,200
27,800
EMPLOYEE TURNOVER
Store associates
Store managers
136%
35%
132%
26%
back to home
Employee wages, which increased by 7.2 percent, reached a record-high $354,271 per store. After wages, credit card interchange fees were the next largest direct-store operating expense. Credit card fees increased by 6.8 percent last year to $88,566 per store. Health insurance costs are the third-largest expense, climbing 5.4 percent to $32,306 per store. Workers’ compensation soared by 6.9 percent to $14,500 per store.
In-store transactions per week were up half a percent to 3,260 in 2019, while motor fuel transactions fell 1.4 percent to 2,294 per week. The average motor fuel transaction was $31.82, up 8.6 percent, while average gallons per transaction increased to 10.2, from 9.7 gallons in 2018.
The average c-store comprises 2,425 square feet of selling space out of a total store average of 3,225 square feet. Both figures were up only slightly from 2018.
Technology budgets continue to increase year over year. Last year, nearly a quarter of c-store chain retailers said their tech budget increased by 10 percent or more. A little over half of last year’s tech spending, 58 percent, was spent on replacing or updating outdated equipment. More than half of retailers expect to spend even more on technology in the coming year.
Turnover increased to 136 percent for store employees (up from 132 percent in 2018), while store manager turnover rose to 35 percent, up from 26 percent the previous year.
TECHNOLOGY SPENDING
WHAT TECH BUDGET WAS USED FOR
TECH SPENDING PLANS FOR 2020
Current and planned
Increase of 10% or more
Increase of 5-9% or more
Increase of 0-5% or more
No change
24%
14%
28%
34%
Replacing equipment
Adding new equipment
Willl spend the same
Willl spend less
Will spend more
57.6%
42.4%
14.1%
29.0%
56.9%
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