Nearly 80 percent of convenience stores sell beer, accounting for nearly one-third of all beer purchased in the United States, about 93 percent of which is sold cold. In fact, the U.S. convenience store industry sells more than 2 billion gallons of beer a year – roughly one-third of all the beer purchased in the Unites States.
Candy is a high-impulse item in convenience stores. In fact, many shoppers (49 percent) report that their candy purchases were unplanned, according to global research firm Envirosell.
More than three out of four adult Americans say that they drink coffee either daily or regularly, according to the National Coffee Association, and convenience stores are one of the preferred destinations for coffee drinkers. Consumers stop to buy coffee more than they fill up their cars, providing convenience stores with a great opportunity to build loyalty and repeat sales.
According to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), lottery sales in FY 2005 were $52.6 billion in the U.S. and $8.4 billion in Canada (Canadian dollars). In the United States, this was an 6.9 percent increase over 2004.
Behind the cooler doors in convenience stores are some of the hottest products in the industry. Whether they are sports drinks, bottled water, soothing herbal teas, Chai teas, iced cappuccinos or nutrient-enhanced New Age beverages, single-serve drinks are more popular than ever -- and convenience stores are known for their single-serve sales.
Convenience stores are a popular destination for a number of snack items. Unless otherwise indicated, all statistics are from NACS' 2006 State of the Industry report.
The integration of technology into convenience stores continues at a fast pace. Over the past decade, the convenience store industry has gone from being a technology laggard to a technology leader in using new technologies to deliver convenience.