CHICAGO – A new Technomic study of Canadian consumers shows that more than 75% of their convenience-store foodservice occasions are either for beverages or snacks. With only a quarter of consumers currently visiting c-stores for meal occasions (breakfast, lunch and dinner), this represents a major growth opportunity for Canadian retailers.

To take advantage of this opening in the market, convenience stores must step up their foodservice programs by upgrading their food’s quality and freshness to rival their biggest competitors, says Technomic. According to the survey, consumers say higher quality and healthy options could encourage them to buy more food at c-stores, while younger consumers — a key demographic — demand an increased level of fresh food items at c-stores.

“Another way to increase traffic is to cobrand with limited-service restaurants,” said Sara Monnette, Technomic senior director of consumer insights & innovation. “Partnering with an established limited-service restaurant offers a familiar and convenient foodservice platform that can lead to better quality perceptions and drive retail purchases.”

Other findings of the Canadian Convenience-Store Foodservice Consumer Trend Report include:

• Gen Zers and consumers earning less than $25,000 are most likely to purchase any type of food or beverage at c-stores.
• Nearly half (49%) of c-store foodservice purchases are unplanned.
• Familiar chain restaurants can sway many consumers to visit one c-store over another for meal (42%) and beverage (35%) purchases.