OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. -- Grocery isn’t a top seller in convenience stores, but it has the potential to generate more in sales due to the category’s basket-boosting tendencies.
The majority of c-store transactions contain only one item (54%); 25% contain two, 11% three and 9% four or more items, according to data from Pittsburgh-based research firm Management Science Associates (MSA).
The grocery category, however, has a large market basket, meaning customers often buy multiple items within one transaction and from across the store.
- 29% of all market baskets containing frozen foods have five or more items.
- 16% contain four items.
- 22% contain three items.
- 21% contain two items.
Likewise:
- 23% of baskets containing an edible grocery item (such as bread and bananas) have five or more items.
- 15% have four items.
- 20% have three items.
- 23% have two items.
And because more items are bought with grocery items, these categories have a larger basket ring, or check average.
MSA found a transaction that includes frozen foods typically brings in $5.35 in frozen-food sales and $8.47 on items from other categories for a basket ring of $13.82, which is significantly higher than the average c-store transaction of $6.75.
The same goes for packaged bread, which generates an average of $2.66 in sales but coincides with $7.84 in other category sales for a basket ring of $10.50. Both edible grocery and other dairy and deli have basket rings of $10.83, according to MSA data.
MSA senior vice president Don Burke offers three suggestions for boosting grocery’s basket ring: cross-promotion of items that sell well, such as milk and bread; product location within the store; and signage.
At 51%, milk makes up the largest amount of grocery sales at c-stores, according to MSA’s analysis of three convenience-store chains. Sandwich bread and bananas, which rank second and third, respectively, make up only 6% and 3% of grocery sales in c-stores.
Another thing to keep in mind: Grocery sales at c-stores tend to increase on the weekends.
“On the weekends, it becomes more of a small grocery-type trip,” Burke said. “It’s typically families or people who only need a few items as compared to doing a full grocery shopping trip.”
MSA data shows grocery items make up 85 cents of basket composition Monday through Thursday, but that increases to $1 on Saturday and Sunday. To boost weekend sales, Burke said, “There ought to be a rolling display of bread put out front on the weekends.”
Click here to read the full report at Convenience Store Products.
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