Table of Contents
Scope and Themes
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- What you need to know
- Definition
- Data sources
- Sales data
- Consumer survey data
- Advertising creative
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
Executive Summary
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- The market
- Strong growth in c-store foodservice
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- Figure 1: Total U.S. convenience store foodservice sales, at current prices, 2007-12
- Forecast: favorable growth prospect
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- Figure 2: Fan chart of market value for convenience store foodservice sales, at current prices, 2007-17
- Market factors
- Economic impact
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- Figure 3: Consumer Sentiment Index, January 2007-January 2013
- Age is a key factor in use of c-store foodservice
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- Figure 4: U.S. adult population by age, 2013
- Shrinking share of households with children undermines category growth
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- Figure 5: Number of U.S. households, by presence of children, 2007-12
- Hispanic population growth casts positive market influence
- Health trends demand menu transparency
- Convenience store brands
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- Figure 6: Convenience stores where consumers have shopped at in the last four weeks, August 2011-August 2012
- The consumer
- Consumers rate the effectiveness of marketing strategies
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- Figure 7: Top five very effective marketing strategies, December 2012
- Reasons for buying c-store foodservice
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- Figure 8: Reasons for convenience store foodservice purchases, December 2012
- In demand: higher-quality food offerings
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- Figure 9: Top five desired attributes for convenience store foodservice, December 2012
- Fast casual offers growth potential
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- Figure 10: Top restaurant brand concepts wanted at convenience stores, December 2012
- C-store foodservice succeeds with location, needs improvement in menu options
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- Figure 11: Convenience store foodservice compared to fast food, December 2012
- What we think
Issues in the Market
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- Why should c-store foodservice integrate health into its menu?
- How can convenience store foodservice operators improve atmosphere?
- How can c-store foodservice improve upon its inherent convenience proposition?
Insights and Opportunities
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- Eye on fast casual
- Catering to families
- The kids’ menu
- The snack opportunity
- New access to fresh: vending
Trend Applications
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- Trend: Prove It
- Trend: Collective Intelligence
- Mintel Futures: Access Anything Anywhere
Market Size and Forecast
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- Key points
- C-store foodservice continues to grow strong
- Sales and forecast of convenience store foodservice
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- Figure 12: Total U.S. convenience store foodservice sales, at current prices, 2007-17
- Figure 13: Total U.S. convenience store foodservice sales, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2007-17
- Fan chart forecast
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- Figure 14: Fan chart of market value for convenience store foodservice sales, at current prices, 2007-17
Market Drivers
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- Appealing to still-cautious consumers
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- Figure 15: Consumer Sentiment Index, January 2007-January 2013
- Figure 16: Real personal disposable income, January 2007-December 2012
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- Figure 17: Unemployment and underemployment rates, January 2007-December 2012
- Impact of poor economy on gasoline prices and c-store channel
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- Figure 18: Number of convenience stores, 2002-12
- Restaurant sales slow to recover
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- Figure 19: U.S. restaurant sales, at current prices, 2007-17
- Trends toward healthy eating impact c-store foodservice
- Total population growth will drive long-term sales
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- Figure 20: Population by age, 2008-18
- Families are a factor to market growth
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- Figure 21: Number of households, by presence of own children, 2002-12
- Hispanics important to future market development
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- Figure 22: Population, by Hispanic origin, 2008-18
Competitive Context
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- Key points
- Channel-blurring trends creates competitive landscape
- Retail grocery competition
- Restaurant competition
Convenience Store Brands
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- Key points
- C-store market is highly fragmented
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- Figure 23: Leading convenience store companies, by store count, May 2012
- Convenience store usage
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- Figure 24: Convenience stores where consumers have shopped at in the last four weeks, August 2011-August 2012
- Men prefer 7-Eleven
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- Figure 25: Convenience stores where consumers have shopped at in the last four weeks, by gender, August 2011-August 2012
- Regional brands attract older consumers
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- Figure 26: Convenience stores where consumers have shopped at in the last four weeks, by age, August 2011-August 2012
- 7-Eleven popular among Hispanics
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- Figure 27: Convenience stores where consumers have shopped at in the last four weeks, by race/Hispanic origin, August 2011-August 2012
- “Weekend Cooks” over index in c-store usage
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- Figure 28: Convenience stores where consumers have shopped at in the last four weeks, by food lifestyle segmentation*, August 2011-August 2012
- “The Invincibles” are more likely to shop c-stores
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- Figure 29: Convenience stores where consumers have shopped at in the last four weeks, by health & wellbeing segmentation*, August 2011-August 2012
- Frequency of c-store visits
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- Figure 30: Frequency of visiting convenience stores in the last four weeks, by gender, August 2011-August 2012
- 18-24s show an uptick in 10+ monthly visits to c-stores
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- Figure 31: Frequency of visiting convenience stores in the last four weeks, by age, August 2011-August 2012
Selected Companies
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- 7-Eleven
- Circle K
- QuikTrip (QT)
- Wawa Inc.
- Casey’s General Stores
- Susser Holdings Corp.
- Sheetz
- Concepts to watch
- Answering the demand for drive-thru service
- Answering the demand for healthy items
- Answering the demand for fresh, quality foods
Marketing Strategies: Industry Application
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- Overview
- Defining the c-store foodservice platform
- 7-Eleven: Fresh food focus
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- Figure 32: 7-Eleven promotional offer, March 2013
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- Figure 33: 7-Eleven app, March 2013
- Wawa: Quality focus
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- Figure 34: Wawa promotional offer, March 2013
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- Figure 35: Wawa Hoagie Stats ‘n Facts, March 2013
- Pilot Flying J: Focus on variety
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- Figure 36: Pilot Flying J Restaurant Brands, March 2013
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- Figure 37: Pilot Flying J blog, August 2012
Marketing Strategies: Consumer Perspective
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- Key points
- Majority of c-store foodservice users want tangible offers
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- Figure 38: Effective marketing strategies, December 2012
- Tangible offers are best way to target older c-store foodservice consumers
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- Figure 39: Any Effectiveness marketing strategies, by age, December 2012
- CHAID analysis
- Methodology
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- Figure 40: Convenience store foodservice—CHAID—Tree output, December 2012
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- Figure 41: Effective marketing strategies of convenience stores—CHAID—Table output, December 2012
Convenience Store Foodservice Usage
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- Key points
- Convenience store foodservice usage is strong
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- Figure 42: Convenience store foodservice usage, December 2012
- Men aged 18-34 over index in usage of convenience store foodservice
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- Figure 43: Convenience store foodservice usage, by gender and age, December 2012
- Middle-income groups are more likely users of c-store foodservice
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- Figure 44: Convenience store foodservice usage, by household income, December 2012
- Families are more apt to buy c-store foodservice
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- Figure 45: Convenience store foodservice usage, by presence of children in household, December 2012
Reasons to Buy C-store Foodservice
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- Key points
- It’s all about convenience
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- Figure 46: Reasons for convenience store foodservice purchases, December 2012
- Convenience and foodservice selection attract men aged 18-34
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- Figure 47: Reasons for convenience store foodservice purchases, by gender and age, December 2012
- Families like the selection of fountain beverages
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- Figure 48: Reasons for convenience store foodservice purchases, by presence of children in household, December 2012
Desired Attributes for C-store Foodservice
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- Key points
- Greatest demand for higher-quality food offerings
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- Figure 49: Desired attributes for convenience store foodservice, December 2012
- Younger users want drive-thru/delivery, older users want better in-store dining experience
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- Figure 50: Desired attributes for convenience store foodservice, by gender and age, December 2012
- Attract highly affluent users with unique food options
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- Figure 51: Desired attributes for convenience store foodservice, by household income, December 2012
- Drive-thru is an important attribute for users in Marketing to the Senses demographic
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- Figure 52: Desired attributes for convenience store foodservice, by very effective marketing strategies, December 2012
Restaurant Concepts Desired by C-store Users
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- Key points
- Sandwich and coffeehouse concepts have the strongest potential
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- Figure 53: Desired types of restaurant brand concepts, December 2012
- Women drawn to bakery-café concepts
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- Figure 54: Desired types of restaurant brand concepts, by gender, December 2012
- Coffeehouse concepts appeal to older users
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- Figure 55: Desired types of restaurant brand concepts, by age, December 2012
- Core 18-34 male users want better burger concepts at c-stores
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- Figure 56: Desired types of restaurant brand concepts, by gender and age, December 2012
- Highly affluent interested in better burgers; low-income users want family concepts
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- Figure 57: Desired types of restaurant brand concepts, by household income, December 2012
- Tech-savvy users want more pizza concepts available at c-stores
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- Figure 58: Desired types of restaurant brand concepts, by very effective marketing strategies, December 2012
Interest in Types of Food and Drinks
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- Key points
- Cold beverages and hot foods top list of desired food and drinks
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- Figure 59: Types of food and drinks desired at c-store foodservice, December 2012
- Women looking for snack sizing and healthy choices
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- Figure 60: Types of food and drinks desired at c-store foodservice, by gender, December 2012
- Young women give priority to health food, while young men have interest in breakfast
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- Figure 61: Types of food and drinks desired at c-store foodservice, by gender and age, December 2012
- Marketing to the Senses group over indexes in wanting unique menu items
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- Figure 62: Types of food and drinks desired at c-store foodservice, by very effective marketing strategies, December 2012
C-store Foodservice Compared to Fast Food
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- Key points
- C-store foodservice largely perceived as same as fast food
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- Figure 63: Convenience store foodservice compared to fast food, December 2012
- C-store foodservice succeeds with convenient locations
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- Figure 64: Better than fast food restaurants, by gender and age, December 2012
- Areas for improvement: Variety of menu options
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- Figure 65: Worse than fast food restaurants, by gender and age, December 2012
Impact of Hispanic Origin
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- Overview
- Hispanics over index in c-store foodservice usage
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- Figure 66: Convenience store foodservice usage, by Hispanic origin, December 2012
- Hispanics like food options at c-stores
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- Figure 67: Reasons for convenience store foodservice purchases, by Hispanic origin, December 2012
- Hispanics desire familiar restaurant brand concepts
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- Figure 68: Desired attributes for convenience store foodservice, by Hispanic origin, December 2012
- Coffeehouse/donut shops most popular among Hispanics
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- Figure 69: Desired types of restaurant brand concepts, by Hispanic origin, December 2012
- Hispanics are interested in nutritional information
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- Figure 70: Types of food and drinks desired at c-store foodservice, by Hispanic origin, December 2012
Appendix: Consumer Tables
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- Figure 71: Convenience stores where consumers have shopped at in the last four weeks, by household income, August 2011-August 2012
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- Figure 72: Frequency of visiting convenience stores in the last four weeks, by food lifestyle segmentation, August 2011-August 2012
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- Figure 73: Frequency of visiting convenience stores in the last four weeks, by health & well-being segmentation, August 2011-August 2012
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- Figure 74: Any Effectiveness marketing strategies, by household income, December 2012
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- Figure 75: Types of food and drinks desired at c-store foodservice, December 2012
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- Figure 76: Types of food and drinks desired at c-store foodservice, by household income, December 2012
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Appendix: Simmons Segmentation Definitions
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- Food lifestyle segmentation system
- Health and well-being segments
Appendix: Trade Associations
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