Innovations in convenience, energy, beverages and foodservice will further increase gas station customer foot traffic in 2019, beyond the pump
BOSTON — GasBuddy, the only smartphone app connecting drivers with their Perfect Pit Stop, today unveiled five major trends it has identified from the recent National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) annual conference in Las Vegas that will make gas stations a one-stop-shop in 2019.
"Convenience retailers have experienced in-store sales growth for the past fifteen years, and the industry continues to keep pace with the needs of today's consumers," said Frank Beard, GasBuddy's analyst/evangelist for convenience store and retail trends. "This year the aisles of the NACS Show had products demonstrating how the industry is truly staying ahead of the curve.”
Trend #1: Favorite Fast Food Brands Showing Up on Shelves
Fast food brands like Cinnabon and White Castle have moved into the refrigerated aisle of c-stores over the past few years, and that trend shows no signs of bucking. Taco Bell’s new sauce-flavored chips debuted in convenience stores this year, with additional flavors to be introduced in 2019. Taco Bell has also expanded into the c-store with Taco Supreme sunflower seeds.
Other popular quick-service restaurant brands that are debuting products in c-stores include Peet’s Coffee and Dunkin’ Donuts.
Trend #2: Breakfast, Truly the Most Important Meal of the Day
With 45 percent of c-store consumers report purchasing breakfast at a convenience store at least once per month, breakfast offerings are going to expand well into 2019. From new flavored hard boiled eggs to spicy sausage and egg breakfast sandwiches and even dairy-free yoghurt, consumers should expect to see more fresh, healthy and savory breakfast options than ever before.
Trend #3: H2O...ooooh!
Bottled water sales have been pulling ahead of soft drinks since 2016, and this year’s vast product lineup at the NACS Show reveals that convenience stores will be providing even more offerings to stay hydrated.
With caffeinated sparkling water, flavored water infused with vitamins and a plethora of emerging brands in the bottled water space, consumers won’t need to worry about sacrificing sugary taste when purchasing a healthier alternative.
Trend #4: Unique Ways to Get Caffeinated
Convenience stores will stay ahead of the competition with caffeinated-alternatives next year. Whether it’s nitro cold-brew coffee, iced tea, kombucha, juice shots, candies or chewables, the NACS Show floor was filled with new ‘morning coffee’ equivalents.
Notable products include bite-size chocolate energy supplements and energy ‘pouches’. Cold brew was also prevalent at the NACS Show, with brands offering everything from nitro cold brew to spiked cold brew.
“Due to large investments in equipment and quality, it's been said that convenience stores are becoming the new coffee shops. But they also have the ability to reach customers who prefer other types of caffeinated products," says Beard.
Trend #5: A Whole New Level of Convenience
Convenience stores are making it even more convenient for consumers to find what they’re looking for. CPGs are introducing new 2-in-1 flavor combos of popular snacks so consumers won’t waste time making decisions at c-stores next year, with major brands including Hershey, Kellogg’s and Mars-Wrigley.
Packaging innovations will also see big advancements in 2019, with new items including biodegradable coffee cups that eliminate the need for plastic lids and smoothie bowls that include a collapsible spoon and a shelf-stable cup.
About GasBuddy
GasBuddy is a company that connects drivers with their Perfect Pit Stop. As the leading source for crowdsourced, real-time fuel prices at more than 150,000 gas station convenience stores in the U.S., Canada and Australia, millions of drivers use the GasBuddy app and website every day to find gas station convenience stores based on fuel prices, location and ratings/reviews. GasBuddy’s first-of-its-kind fuel savings program, Pay with GasBuddy, has saved Americans more than $3.6 million at the pumps since its launch in 2017. The company’s business solutions suite, GasBuddy Business Pages, provides Fuel Marketers and Retailers their best opportunity to maintain their station information, manage their brand, and promote to their target consumer audience.