Convenience Stores Evolve to Become True Food Destinations

Variety of offerings, private label brands and loyalty programs fuel in-store sales growth

DENVER (January 29, 2025)—Convenience stores are intensifying their focus on foodservice offerings to drive foot traffic, in-store sales growth and frequency of repeat visits. Strong consumer interest in prepared foods, commissary and beverage options has led convenience stores, often referred to as c-stores, to compete much more aggressively with quick service restaurants and fast-food chains. 

The focus on offering a wider variety of prepared and ready-to-eat food items is clearly paying off, as c-stores registered record sales in 2023. Those gains are largely attributable to in-store sales, which grew 8% year-over-year in both 2022 and 2023 according to Circana, well ahead of overall inflation numbers for both food at and away from home. While sales appeared to soften in 2024, a Convenience Store News survey found two-thirds of c-store retailers predict total sales per store will grow in 2025.

According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the line between grocery stores, quick-service restaurants and c-stores will continue to blur, intensifying competition across the foodservice and retail grocery spectrum. C-store chains are increasingly viewing QSR and traditional fast-food chains as their chief competition and tailoring their food offerings to match if not exceed competitors’ menu options. 

“Convenience stores have evolved from their gas-fueled beginnings to become true food and beverage destinations,” said Billy Roberts, food & beverage economist with CoBank. “Food service is the future for c-stores, and we expect they’ll continue to emulate their competitors with a greater variety of freshly prepared items, along with more attention to signature menu items and private label products.”  

The emergence of c-stores as formidable destinations for prepared foods hasn’t gone unnoticed by major food manufacturers. Several leading food brands have taken the merger and acquisition route to enter the c-store channel. J.M. Smucker cites c-store distribution as an important reason behind its early 2024 acquisition of Hostess Brands. 

Similarly, Hormel Foods dramatically expanded its c-store penetration with its 2021 purchase of Planters and Corn Nuts brands. Hormel has subsequently leveraged those newfound distribution relationships to bring more of its products to c-stores, including pizza toppings and bacon.

C-store kitchens are seeking quick and easily prepared products. Hormel is among the suppliers that has found c-stores to be something of a testing ground for new flavors and product concepts. For example, the key distinction of Hormel’s Bacon 1 isn’t necessarily flavor but ease for the operator. The fully cooked product heats quickly, enabling c-store operators to easily add bacon to a host of their menu options. 

Customer loyalty programs are also playing a significant role in the success c-stores have had with food sales and repeat visits. Several c-stores have developed loyal followings on a near-nationwide scale. The 2024 Loyalty Trend Report from Paytronix finds at least 80% of c-stores’ loyalty program members in the top half of loyalty transaction visits per store every month. 

“This enthusiasm for loyalty programs will be a tool that c-stores look to sharpen as they attempt to claim more traffic from restaurants, which have seen weak results of late,” said Roberts. 

Read the report, C-stores Evolve from Gas-N-Grub to True Food Destinations.

About CoBank

CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 77,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.

CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.

Arthritis Research Canada (ARC) launching month-long campaign for Arthritis Awareness Month

 

Creating dialogue on the importance of prevention, treatment and diagnosis, and quality of life.

VANCOUVER, Aug. 30, 2017 /CNW/ - September is Arthritis Awareness Month in Canada. It is a month dedicated to the 5.2 million Canadians living with the disease, the researchers working to find a way to save lives, and to everyone who makes arthritis research possible.

"Arthritis Awareness Month provides a platform to educate and inform Canadians about Canada's most costly and chronic disease," states Dr. John Esdaile, Scientific Director at Arthritis Research Canada. "As a result, for the month of September, we are committed to bringing awareness and creating a conversation around arthritis and the impact of research, focusing on the themes of prevention, treatment and diagnosis, and quality of life."

Campaign highlights include:

  • #30daysofARC: Arthritis Research Canada is spreading the word through social media. Starting September 1st, follow @Arthritis_ARC on Twitter for daily facts, videos, and patient stories. What's more, Arthritis Research Canada's Facebook page and website (www.arthritisresearch.ca) will offer weekly expert advice on a variety of topics. Follow #30daysofARC to join the conversation.
  • Video resources: Arthritis Research Canada consistently produces a variety of clear, short videos that highlight key research findings. The newest video features Dr. Jacek Kopec, PhD, as he explains how we can slow down the increase of Osteoarthritis in Canada.

In addition to spreading the word through social media and publicizing important studies, Arthritis Research Canada continues to highlight the importance of arthritis research. With over 100 forms of arthritis, arthritis represents one in every 10 doctor visits and one in every 16 hospitalizations. And with one in six Canadians disabled by arthritis, it is the number one reason for workplace disability. Despite these statistics, arthritis receives only 3% of available research dollars in Canada.

"Arthritis Awareness Month is also a time to celebrate and thank all those donors who give so generously to make arthritis research possible," says Shauneen Kellner, Executive Director.

You can make a major impact by supporting arthritis research. During Arthritis Awareness Month, please consider one of the many ways you can donate to arthritis research—visit http://www.arthritisresearch.ca/support-us/ways-to-support for more information.

About ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CANADA:

Arthritis Research Canada is the largest clinical arthritis research centre in North America. Our mission is to transform the lives of people living with arthritis through research and engagement. Led by world-renowned rheumatologist, Dr. John Esdaile, ARC's scientific team of 70 are creating a future where people living with arthritis are empowered to triumph over pain and disability. Each of the three centres in BC, Alberta and Quebec are leading research in arthritis prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and quality of life issues.

SOURCE Arthritis Research Canada

TOMS launches its fourth One for One® product, the TOMS Bag Collection, to address maternal health, in Canadian market on March 6

With every bag purchased, TOMS will help provide a safe birth for a mother and baby in need 

Toronto, ON – TOMS, the company known for starting a global movement through its One for One® business model, has launched its fourth and newest product, the TOMS Bag Collection, addressing the issue of maternal health worldwide. With every TOMS bag purchased, TOMS will help provide a safe birth for a mother and baby in need. The announcement was made today by TOMS Founder Blake Mycoskie.

After years in the field, I recognized a need for advancements in maternal health,” said Mycoskie, “so we developed a program with our Giving Partners to identify two key ways TOMS can aid in safer birthing conditions. Being able to give in this way – one that helps save the lives of mothers and newborns – is incredibly special. The issue of maternal health is very close to my heart, as I just became a father this past December. I truly believe people around the world will be amazed at what these bags can do.”

The TOMS Bag Collection features three distinct bag lines including Artisan, Travel-inspired, and Campus and Tech, in canvas, leather and global prints ranging from $30-$328 CDN. TOMS bags will be available for fashionable, philanthropic Canadians at TOMS.ca and select retailers across the country starting on Friday, March 6.

The Artisan line is hand-crafted, hand-beaded and hand-sewn using special construction techniques that have been passed down from generations. The Travel Inspired line draws on TOMS’ employee’s experiences as world travellers, and are extremely lightweight, utilitarian, multi-functional in design and are built to wear-in beautifully with everyday and travel use. The Campus and Tech line is colourful and multi-textured and is designed to carry computers, iPads, tablets and more in style, with many of the offerings being unisex. Key silhouettes for this collection include the tote, baby bags, bucket and the hobo crossbody.

Funds from TOMS bag purchases will help provide safe births in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Haiti and India. This work will be done by a network of TOMS Giving Partners involved in maternal and child health programs, who will help provide training for skilled birth attendants, along with a safe birth kit that includes vital materials like soap, gloves, gauze, a cord clamp, surgical blade and a clean surface to help a woman safely give birth.

TOMS Tablet Sleeve in Jetset Black ($140). TOMS Canvas Drawstring in Reef Chili Chevron ($86)

TOMS Traveler Duffel in Saffrom Ikat ($164). TOMS Coastal Canvas Tote in Chili Ikat ($108)

TOMS Linen Woven Backpack ($108). TOMS Leather Canvas Backpack in Caravan Cognac ($274)

TOMS’ Giving Partners in this area include respected organizations such as United Nations Population Fund, BRAC and ayzh. In addition, TOMS has selected Every Mother Counts as its maternal health advocacy partner.

Infection is a leading cause of death among mothers and newborns worldwide, and by providing clean birth conditions and skilled birth attendants, nearly half a million lives can be saved each year. (Source: UNFPA and Every Newborn Action Plan, 2014). Each year, 40 million women around the world give birth without the help of a skilled birth attendant (Source: Millennium Development Goals Report, 2014), but with the training of skilled birth attendants and proper materials to help provide a safer delivery, women are up to 80 per cent less likely to develop an infection and nearly half of newborn deaths can be prevented (Source: UNFPA, 2015).

Of the potential impact the TOMS Bag Collection can have around the world, Mycoskie added, “While in the field, I’ve met mothers and entire families who have been affected by the physical and emotional repercussions of giving birth alone, or in unsafe environments. We feel it’s our responsibility to change this through the TOMS business model, and we’re so proud to be able to present the first One for One product that can actually help save lives.”

Image courtesy of TOMS

Twitter@TOMS, #TOMSCanada
FacebookTOMS, #TOMSCanada
Instagram@TOMS, #TOMSCanada
YouTubeTOMS

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):
UNFPA (www.unfpa.org) is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. Since 1969, UNFPA has been working in over 150 countries that are home to 80 per cent of the world’s population.

BRAC:
BRAC (www.brac.net) is a development organization founded in Bangladesh in 1972 and a global leader in creating opportunities at scale as a means to end poverty. With more than 102,000 employees, it is the world's largest non-governmental organization, touching the lives of an estimated 135 million people in 12 countries.

ayzh:
A for-profit social venture, ayzh (www.ayzh.com) provides health and livelihood solutions to impoverished women worldwide. This includes developing low-cost, appropriate technology designed to meet the unique needs of women in resource-poor settings.

Every Mother Counts:
Every Mother Counts (www.everymothercounts.org) is TOMS’ maternal health advocacy partner. Founded by global maternal health advocate Christy Turlington Burns, Every Mother Counts is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother. Every Mother Counts informs, engages, and mobilizes new audiences to take actions and raise funds that support maternal health programs around the world. Every Mother Counts supports programs in Haiti, Uganda, Malawi, Indonesia, India, Tanzania and the United States that address three critical barriers to maternal health care: lack of education, transportation and supplies.

About TOMS:
In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One®. Since then, TOMS has given over 35 million pairs of new shoes around the world.

Realizing that One for One® could serve other global needs, TOMS launched TOMS Eyewear in 2011 to help restore sight to persons in need with every purchase of sunglasses and optical frames. Since then, TOMS has helped restore sight for over 300,000 people worldwide.

In 2014, TOMS Roasting Co. launched with the mission to provide clean water to developing communities with the purchase of premium coffee. Since its debut, TOMS Roasting Co. has provided over 67,000 weeks of safe water to communities in need in seven countries.

http://bluetoro.ca/tag/train-it-right/

Thanks for the article guys!

TORONTO TRIUMPH: ALICIA BELL NEW WORKOUT PHOTOS

alicia bell toronto

As the above photo shows, Toronto Triumph’s centre and defensive linewoman Alicia Bell is undoubtedly an attractive woman.

And in many ways, that is part of the problem facing the Canadian Lingerie Football League in their attempts to be taken seriously.  All the critics see is a group of pretty girls dressed up in lingerie, running around a football field.

However, I think it’s time for people to start revising their opinion of the LFL.  Check out these pictures that photographer Paul Trepanier took of Alicia:

alicia bell toronto
alicia bell toronto

Seriously, are you really telling me you want to mess with her?  No matter how great Ms. Bell looks, I still appreciate the fact that I would get destroyed if I ever attempted to confront her on a football field (not that I wouldn’t mind trying!)

Click here to link to Alicia’s website and see the rest of Paul Trepanier’s photographs.  You won’t be disappointed.

And if you decide you still can’t get enough of her, you’ll be glad to hear Alicia is one of the more active members of Twitter.  You can follow her @TrainItRight.

Photo credits: Paul Trepanier - http://trainitright.com