2024 NACS Trade Show: What to Watch For

From freeze-dried candy to flavor innovation in foodservice, age-gated vapor products and more, there will be much for convenience retailers to see at this year’s NACS Show. Here are some of the trends and products CSP editors expect to see on the show floor.

If there’s one candy item guaranteed to be on the NACS Show floor this year, it’s freeze-dried candy. While some companies already had these out last year (like Mars Foodservices’ Freeze Dried Skittles), there are sure to be many more this year from big and small manufacturers alike.

Freeze-dried candy has seen a rise on TikTok and other social media platforms and has been popular with younger generations.

Private-label candy and snack options are also a trend to watch out for as retailers look for ways to offer value to customers who feel the pinch of inflation. Of the percentage of convenience-store shoppers who said they were willing to broadly purchase private labels, candy (50.9% of shoppers) ranked third behind beverages (62.1%) and salty/savory/sweet snacks (52.1%), according to Chicago-based Circana.

For many consumers, snacks are replacing meals. Look for heartier snacks on the trade-show floor that may be replacements for breakfast or lunch for those customers on the go. Single-serve, easy-to-eat snacks work well for those looking to eat in the car.

The world of c-store foodservice continues to revolve around innovations both in flavor and mashups—in food and in dispensed beverages. Conversation continues to involve adding healthier offerings. This need to balance the virtuous and more indulgent is illustrated in a 7-Eleven Fourth of July promotion that included its first rollout of chicken nuggets and 7-Select Zero Sugar beverages such as Kiwi Strawberry. 

Innovations also involve new takes on old favorites, such as Casey’s General Stores this summer debuting a new barbecued pulled pork menu, including BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza and King’s Hawaiian Pulled Pork Sliders. Pizza most certainly never gets old, and other variations on the pie include a Pepperoni Pizza Burrito at Yesway and Allsup’s. 

Talk of technology also has become embedded in many a foodservice discussion, and at SunStop this summer, the c-store chain implemented a brand-new concept for the company: a made-to-order kiosk program. The kiosk talks to the KDS monitor system in the back and prints receipts for employees to make orders. 

Finally, cleanliness also has gained steam, with retailers and consultants stressing the need for a sparkling presentation throughout stores, particularly in bathrooms. At CSP’s C-Store Foodservice Forum in June, Neil Doherty of Sysco said if a c-store’s bathrooms are not clean, “in my mind, the kitchen is sure as hell not clean. If the front of house is not clean, then I’ve already cut you off; [a purchase] is not happening.”

In packaged beverages, eye-catching, off-beat and celebrity-backed offerings continue to enter the market to capture attention.

In June, for example, wrestling legend Hulk Hogan entered the beverage-industry ring with the launch of Real American Beer, a premium American-made light lager. In May, Casey’s said it would carry Throne Sport Coffee, a functional, ready-to-drink iced coffee whose lead investor is Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. 

Packaged beverages also are making a big splash in market research firm Circana’s 2023 New Product Pacesetters, released in June. In the c-store space, beverages took the top spot, highlighting the channel’s prominence in new product discovery and trial, the report said. In fact, all of the c-store pacesetters were beverages except one, Oreo Frozen Desserts, which was No. 9 on the c-store pacesetters list.

C-store exclusives also are gaining steam. In May, 7-Eleven said it would be the exclusive carrier of Watermelon Lime, a new flavor from hydration beverage company Electrolit.

Finally, manufacturers continue to innovate, such as High Noon from E & J Gallo Winery in May launching its first premium vodka iced tea. This beverage is made with real vodka and real iced tea with no added sugar. These noncarbonated hard teas come in four flavors: Original (black tea with a hint of lemon and light sweetness), Peach, Lemon and Raspberry.

The tobacco category has witnessed an increase in legislative and regulatory activity around vapor products in the past year, including enforcement activity of illicit vapor products. This, along with the White House’s delay of its planned menthol cigarette ban will be topics of discussion at the 2024 NACS Show.

On the NACS Show floor, expect to see the first nontobacco flavored e-cigarette products to be authorized by the FDA from Njoy, the e-vapor company acquired by Richmond, Virginia-based Altria. The products, distributed by Altria Group Distribution Co., include Ace Pod Menthol 2.4%, Njoy Ace Pod Menthol 5%, Njoy Daily Menthol 4.5% and Njoy Daily Extra Menthol 6%. Altria may also show its On Plus oral nicotine pouch products. Helix Innovations LLC, an Altria company, submitted its supplemental premarket tobacco product application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July for three distinct On Plus varieties: tobacco, mint and wintergreen, which attendees can expect to see as well. 

Other products may include Iqos heated tobacco products made by Philip Morris Products S.A. The subsidiary of Philip Morris International in May filed for scientific review modified risk tobacco product renewal applications, including the Iqos 2.4 System Holder and Charger Iqos 3.0 System Holder and Charger. 

Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. also has new innovation in the works. Its Vuse Alto Power Unit and six Vuse Alto tobacco-flavored pods in July were issued marketing granted orders by the FDA. Attendees could also get a look at the company’s Vuse Pro age-gated device, as well as its nicotine-free vapor product Sensa. At the NACS Show expect to find a rollover from last year’s showcasing of updated modern oral nicotine pouch packaging as tobacco category managers continue to evaluate and expand this segment.

Federal funding for charging stations and new emissions standards for vehicles have ramped up conversation surrounding electric vehicles (EVs) this year. While the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule of lowering fleetwide average emissions does not mandate any new technology, auto manufacturers are expected to comply by significantly ramping up the manufacture of EVs. EV sales saw more than 50% year-over-year growth in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Keep an eye out on the show floor for EV charging station companies and note what amenities they have that make charging safer and more comfortable. 

Also in alternative fuels, the EPA approved a request from the governors of several Midwestern states to allow year-round access to higher ethanol gasoline blends such as E15—gasoline with 15% ethanol—beginning in April 2025. Look for fuel equipment suppliers that offer more alternative fuels, such as E15, diesel and propane, all on one pump.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the buzzword this year, with many technology companies evolving or starting up with a focus on behind-the scenes help with store operations and customer service. Retailers are utilizing AI to take food orders over the phone, gather data based on customer feedback, automate the drive-thru, map customers’ routes through the store, detect low inventory and more. The NACS  Show will bring together many of these companies.

Loyalty is another big idea to watch this year. Look for loyalty providers that help retailers understand how consumers prefer messaging, whether it’s via email, text or push notifications. Loyalty providers will likely also showcase strategies in collecting customer data, creating customer profiles and sending personalized promotions. 

C-stores are also rolling out gamification techniques, so expect technology suppliers to showcase ideas on how to make earning rewards more fun for consumers.