C-Store Beverage Menu Trends
Technomic’s MenuMonitor c-store database features menus from 40 retailers in the United States. What follows is a snapshot of their dispensed- and packaged-beverage offerings in 2015 as part of their wider foodservice program.
The most common hot beverage was coffee, available at all of the operators for an average price of $1.53.
Hot Beverages at C-Stores
Compared to last year, the menu incidence of cappuccinos rose 2.8%, but the number of operators offering them remained flat.
| Product category | Menu incidence | Beverage distribution | Operators offering | Operator penetration | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee/filter coffee | 47 | 24.7% | 40 | 100.0% | $1.53 |
| Cappuccino | 37 | 19.5% | 34 | 85.0% | $1.56 |
| Hot chocolate/hot cocoa | 28 | 14.7% | 27 | 67.5% | $1.62 |
| Latte | 19 | 10.0% | 11 | 27.5 | $2.32 |
| Other specialty coffee | 19 | 10.0% | 12 | 30.0% | $1.38 |
| Mocha | 16 | 8.4% | 12 | 30.0% | $2.23 |
| Hot tea | 14 | 7.4% | 14 | 35.0% | $1.38 |
| Espresso | 5 | 2.6% | 4 | 10.0% | $1.42 |
| Specialty tea | 5 | 2.6% | 4 | 10.0% | $2.54 |
| Total | 190 | N/A | 40 | N/A | $1.66 |
Filters: Includes period (Q4 2015), regions (United States), segments (convenience stores)
Source: MenuMonitor Q4 2015, Technomic Inc.
$1.53 – Average price of coffee/filtered coffee at c-stores on Technomic’s MenuMonitor in 2015
Dispensed Beverage Purchases by Type*
Calendar year 2015
According to a Technomic survey of customers of 24 c-store chains, nearly 39% of dispensed-beverage purchases came from the fountain.
Source: Technomic Inc. | * Respondents could select more than one option
Dispensed Beverages: C-Store Basket Analysis
An analysis of retail point-of-sale data from three c-store chains by Management Science Associates shows dispensed beverages had among the lowest total basket ring of in-store categories. Baskets including a cold dispensed beverage were $5.40, while hot dispensed averaged less than $5.
Coffee Consumption: At Home vs. Away from Home
According to Mintel’s Beverage Tracker, most specialty coffee beverages are consumed away from home, purchased at a coffee shop or other establishment.
| Type | At Home | Away from Home* |
|---|---|---|
| Any coffee | 74% | 68% |
| Hot coffee | 69% | 44% |
| Iced coffee | 26% | 37% |
| Cappuccino | 19% | 29% |
| Espresso | 15% | 26% |
| Hot latte | 15% | 31% |
| Cold late | 14% | 27% |
| Americano | 13% | 21% |
| Mocha | 13% | 31% |
| Frozen coffee drink | 12% | 35% |
Source: Mintel, Lightspeed GMI | * Restaurant, café, etc.
Dispensed Beverages: What to Watch
Cold Beverages
View the full 2016 Category Management Handbook
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