CHICAGO – Consumers are taking advantage of the expanding foodservice options for meals and snacks at convenience stores, many times at the expense of quick-service restaurants, according to a new study by Technomic titled “Consumer C-Store Brand Metrics Shopper Insights Report.” Regarding their most recent convenience store foodservice purchase, 27 percent of polled consumers said if they had not bought their meal from the convenience store in question, they would have purchased it from a fast-food restaurant. This percentage is almost the same as consumers who indicated they would have ordered from another convenience store.
“Convenience stores are increasingly falling into the same consideration set as fast-food restaurants,” said Tim Powell, Technomic director. “This really speaks to the enhanced foodservice offerings in convenience stores, as well as evolving consumer behaviors. In our recent survey of more than 3,700 consumers who visit convenience stores, 82 percent said they purchase prepared foods from them at least once a month, while 52 percent do so at least once per week.”
Other key study findings include:
- Twenty-seven percent of polled consumers said they purchased an afternoon snack during their most recent visit; 19 percent bought lunch. Twenty-three percent said they only purchased a beverage.
- Thirty-one percent of c-store foodservice consumers said seeing an item (impulse buying) , which triggered a craving, was the primary motivation for purchasing it.
