Pretty impressive: That’s how Susan Viamari, vice president of thought leadership for IRI, Chicago, describes the convenience-store industry’s performance over the past year. The channel accounted for about one-third of overall dollar-sales growth in consumer packaged goods (CPG) during this time frame. And its store sales grew at about twice the rate of all retail: 2.8% year-over-year growth vs. 1.4% growth for all channels.
This is happening at a time when all channels are struggling to gain momentum on unit sales, Viamari says. And price deflation in some key categories—such as milk, eggs, nuts and meat—is providing headwinds for dollar-sales growth.
But there are signs that 2017 is heading into tougher territory.
Do c-store retailers have cause to be cautious or optimistic? Read on for the opportunities and challenges in the four biggest c-store CPG categories for the remainder of 2017.
Table of Contents
Top Movers: Give Them a Deal
Beverages: Bottled Water and Booze Bubble Up
Candy: Gummy Grows and Seasonals Surge
Snacks: Has the Snack Craze Crested?
Tobacco: Cigars and E-Cigs Buoy Sales
Full 2017 Category Management Handbook
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