2023 Eats in Review: Eye-Catching, Health-Helping Offerings

Healthier food offerings and menu differentiation were two of the biggest themes of foodservice in 2023.

As more Americans concentrate on better living, convenience stores are responding in both the food and dispensed-beverage areas.

Meanwhile, c-stores continued their creative ways with catchy offerings, some of which included incorporating name-brand items.

Click through to read the 2023 roundup …

More Americans are striving to live healthier in their diets and through exercise, according to a recent report from New York-based Business DIT, which compiled data from several sources—and convenience stores are responding.

In one report stat, 93% feel compelled to eat healthy at least some of the time, and 63% try to eat healthy most, if not all, of the time. This stat came from Consumer Food and Beverage (Survey By L.E.K 2018).

For example, Gardein’s plant-based vegetarian breakfast patty was one of several better-for-you items on display at the NACS Show in October. It comes frozen and is one of several items in the company’s plant-based lineup, all of which are non-GMO Project Verified, vegan and kosher. There’s no cholesterol and more fiber than beef, chicken or fish, said Gardein, which is owned by Chicago-based Conagra Brands.

Elsewhere, Dash In, owned by La Plata, Maryland-based Wills Group, in March rolled out a fresh menu and format at its Chantilly, Virginia, location, the first of its third-generation c-stores. Dash In is using this location for the format’s trial run, which includes fresher offerings such as main course salads like the Southwest Steak (pictured) and Crispy Chicken Cobb, and Kitchen Bowls such as La Cocina and Veggie Power.

Elgin, Illinois-based United Food Group rolled out two lines of affordable, convenient, protein-packed and nutritious meals. Perfect Servings Meals are plant-based offerings requiring adding only water and heating. They are available in six flavors: Be’f Stroganoff, Creamy Chick’n Alfredo, Spicy Chick’n Jambalaya and three Easy Peasy Mac & Cheesy Meals flavors: Mac & Cheese with Bac’n, Mac & Cheese with Jalapeno and Mac & Cheese with Ch’rizo Jalapeno.

At the National Restaurant Association Show in May, food technology company NotCo, New York, sampled meat alternatives for chicken, burgers and dairy. Its products use 78% less water and generate 84% less carbon dioxide emissions versus the traditional animal production process.

Chillbox, owned by New Haven, Michigan-based Bazco Oil, offers fresh salads prepared with locally grown lettuce from Revolution Farms, Caledonia, Michigan.

Aiming to get the edge on the competition, c-stores are featuring a growing number of items that grab attention in both name and look.

“It doesn’t have to be the entire menu,” said Tony Sparks of Lubbock, Texas-based Curby’s. “It can be one line, but create new items that guests will love.” Sparks said it’s crucial to have a product on one’s menu that differentiates the convenience-store chain from competitors.

For example, York, Pennsylvania-based Rutter’s added blueberry chai and strawberry hibiscus to its line of Refreshers flavors. The convenience retailer also expanded its line of Red Bull smoothies. In addition to the classic Red Bull and sugar-free flavors, Rutter’s now offers strawberry apricot (amber edition), watermelon (red edition) and blueberry (blue edition).

Keeping with the name-brand partnership, Rutter’s brought back Hormel Foods’ Spam to its menu, including the product on two different breakfast sandwiches, in a breakfast bowl, grilled cheese, burger, macaroni and cheese—and a warm Spam and cheese pretzel roll sandwich.

Elsewhere, Altoona, Pennsylvania-based Sheetz unveiled a new doughnut collection (pictured) “guaranteed to delight your taste buds and sweeten your day,” the retailer said. Baked fresh daily, Sheetz’s new collection of doughnuts is now available at all of Sheetz’s 685 convenience-store locations. Flavors include Peanut Butter Cup, Strawberry Shortcake, Vanilla Galaxy, Coconut Chocolate and Apple Fest Fritter.

Another c-store chain in on the flavor parade is Ballston Spa, New York-based Stewart’s Shops, which in the spring debuted five new ice cream flavors on a weekly basis. Strawberry Sunrise Sherbet, the first new flavor, paired lemonade and strawberry sherbet swirls. Other flavors from Stewart’s Shops include Brownie Points, Peanut Butter Pie and Very Berry Shortcake.

Finally, Circle K, owned by Laval, Quebec-based Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., marked the first anniversary of its exclusive Mtn Dew Purple Thunder flavor with a Froster offering. The frozen beverage combines berry and plum and has the same sweet yet tangy taste of the original version, which was released in 2022.

A lesser but growing trend in 2023 saw the emergence of fantasy flavors.

Syrup and sauce manufacturer Torani, San Leandro, California, in November boarded the ship of companies launching fantasy flavors. Its first entry in this genre is its 2024 flavor of the year: Puremade Galaxy Syrup.

Others creating fantasy flavors include Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co.’s Creation series of four limited-time flavors rolling out since 2022, its most recent being Dreamworld (pictured).

Fantasy flavors align “with consumers’ desire for both escapism and all things outer space,” said Torani, which started in 1925. “The genesis of this futuristic, space-inspired flavor was informed by years of market research and data analysis, and crafted with the expertise of Torani’s dedicated team of flavor scientists.”

Elsewhere, Heinz in late 2023 released Pickle Ketchup, a new condiment that combines the tangy and savory flavor of pickles with Heinz ketchup. The product is “designed to deliver on fans’ hunger for unique, elevated and nuanced flavor experiences,” Chicago-based Kraft Heinz said.

Boosting flavor with better sauces and condiments is another trend that gained ground in 2023.

A stat from CSP sister company Technomic revealed that 41% of consumers are more tempted to select an item when served with an “original” sauce available only at that restaurant.

BirdShack Fried Chicken, for example, debuted two new sauces, both of which come in 1-ounce containers: Ranch and Buffalo. BirdShack is owned by Chester’s Chicken, Birmingham, Alabama.

Chester’s, meanwhile, held a contest (pictured) in late 2023 involving two of its sauces: Frank’s RedHot Stingin’ Honey Garlic and a newcomer, Frank’s RedHot Sweet Chili.

Elsewhere, Pepsi Co. and the Culinary Institute of America Consulting brought Pepsi-flavored ketchup to life with its Pepsi Colachup. Pepsi teamed with the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees for exclusive in-stadium sampling during the teams’ home games through July Fourth.

Finally, the touchscreen-operated Remix machine from Kraft Heinz Co., Pittsburgh, which debuted in spring, lets consumers personalize their own flavor creations via more than 200 potential sauce combinations. Consumers select from a range of bases—currently Heinz Ketchup, Ranch, 57 Sauce and BBQ Sauce—then personalize them with one or more “enhancers”—currently Jalapeno, Smoky Chipotle, Buffalo and Mango—at their preferred intensity level (low, medium or high).

Finally, more c-stores are entering the made-to-order game, enticing customers with fresher offerings.

In late 2023, Twice Daily stores for the first time began offering customizable, made-to-order subs and breakfast sandwiches (pictured) as well as other sandwiches and snacks in all stores.

Twice Daily’s Made to Order program is a “convenient and easy-to-use way for guests to personalize their food just the way they like it,” the company said. Customers enter their order at the in-store kiosk and customize sandwiches with preferred meats and cheeses, regular or egg white patties and bagels loaded with their favorite spread or breakfast sandwich toppings. Customers also can mobile order via the company’s rewards app. Tri Star Energy, Nashville, Tennessee, is the parent company of Twice Daily.

Elsewhere, York, Pennsylvania-based Rutter’s Made For You food menu expanded once again, in late summer, with the addition of Build Your Own Loaded Sides. This allows customers to put their own spin on fries, hashbrowns and pierogies by adding a variety of proteins, condiments, toppings and sauces. Customizable toppings include bacon, chicken, chili, cheese, jalapenos, onions, ranch, BBQ sauce, hot sauce and more.

Finally, GetGo Café + Market in early 2023 finished its chainwide equipment upgrade that includes bean-to-cup coffee machines at all self-serve beverage areas. Taking four months, the upgrade marks the latest in GetGo’s strategic enhancements in its food-first approach to serving customers, the company said. The machines feature the convenience-store chain’s new Signature Blend coffee beans and the addition of nitrogen-infused and cold-brew coffees.

GetGo is owned and operated by Pittsburgh-based supermarket retailer Giant Eagle Inc.

Want to learn more about the foodservice category? Check out our event CRU in Nashville Feb. 28-March 1, 2024. Sponsors can gain 15 one-to-one meetings with qualified retailers.