Specialized Foods Saving British C-Stores

Millennials have been flocking to convenience stores that sell organic, vegan and other healthy fare.

September 20, 2017

LONDON – British convenience stores have started stocking more specialized foods in an effort to stay competitive and draw in more millennial customers, Food & Wine reports. Increased competition from changing tastes, online shopping and gentrification hasn’t hurt British off-licenses (so-called because they sell alcohol for consumption off the premises) too much because these corner stores have adapted to millennial customers.

These convenience stores now offer organic and vegan foods, along with other healthy and specialized foods, but still have traditional snacks, alcohol and cigarettes. “Organic customers generally want to support the local shops,” said one such owner, Kenan Yildrim. Yildrim often responds to customer requests by bringing in the new product. He estimates 20% to 30% of his sales come from “organic, healthy or niche brands.”

Demand for organic food in the United Kingdom has skyrocketed recently, feeding demand that convenience stores are more than happy to fill. In the United States, interest in organic fruits and vegetables has grown as well. Millennials lead the pack of those most interested in buying organic foods.

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