The battle for the quick meal is heating up, and convenience stores (c-stores) are going head-to-head with Quick-Service Restaurants (QSRs).
At the recent 2025 NACS Show, the message from the industry leadership was clear: Evolve your food, or risk your future. With prepared food sales soaring, c-stores are now seeing themselves as culinary competitors, not just gas stops.
Why Food is the Future of Convenience
The shift is driven by undeniable sales data and smart strategy:
- Massive Growth: Foodservice sales (prepared food, beverages) now account for 28.7% of in-store sales, up sharply from just 11.9% two decades ago.
- Prime Real Estate: NACS President-elect Frank Gleeson noted that c-stores have the “best real estate in the world”—they are the closest to the customer and can capture sales across multiple day parts. You fill your car once a week, but you fuel your body three or four times a day.
- Driving Foot Traffic: While fuel and packaged goods are staples, food is the biggest draw, driving customers into the store who then purchase other items.
The Menu is Getting an Upgrade
C-store operators are investing heavily in quality to produce truly “restaurant-quality food.” This is not your grandfather’s hot dog roller:
- Global Fare: The NACS Show featured sophisticated offerings like fresh-fried spanikopita with couscous and Salvadoran pupusas with dipping sauces.
- Custom Beverages: The drink game has leveled up dramatically, with customizable stations for iced coffee, refreshers, and hot chocolate, featuring flavored syrups, creams, and toppings.
The New Competitive Target
A critical point from former NACS CEO Henry Armour: C-stores must stop benchmarking against the store down the street.
“If you’re really going to do it, your competitive set is QSRs, quick-service restaurants.”
To win, c-stores must focus on QSR strengths: speed-to-market, flexible menu execution, and consistent quality. By prioritizing fresh, made-to-order, and customized food, convenience stores are capturing market share and building deep customer loyalty that fast-food chains now have to fight to win back.
