Sixty-five percent of consumers agree that they’re seeking out deals/promotions on convenience-store prepared foods more often than a year ago due to rising prices.
This information comes from Donna Hood Crecca, senior principal at CSP sister research arm Technomic, Chicago, in her fall 2025 C-Store Foodservice Update.
Meanwhile, the following percentages show the top concerns for c-store foodservice operators.
- 77%: Tariffs causing cost increases on various products and reducing consumer ability to spend in c-stores
- 69%: Rising foodservice item/ingredient costs
- 66%: Rising packaging costs
- 54%: Shrink/theft of foodservice items
- 51%: Increased competition from other types of operators
- 51%: Increased competition from other c-stores
“Operators foresee growth or stability in foodservice sales and traffic, although fewer expect increases,” Crecca said. She noted that 45% of operators expect an increase in foodservice sales in the next six months, a number down 12 percentage points from April. Meanwhile, 52% expect foodservice sales to remain steady, a number up 11 percentage points from April.
“Despite headwinds, c-store operators are primed for unit growth,” she said.
When buying c-store prepared food, 50% of respondents say taste/flavor is the top attribute, she said. This is followed by 40% citing quality, 36% item price and 31% good value.
Crecca said that 44.3% of consumers rate food and beverage quality at c-stores as very good. This is up 5.1 percentage points from 2019.
“C-store operators are elevating quality, even in value-focused offerings,” Crecca said, noting that 52% of c-store foodservice consumers confirmed a growing interest in healthy eating in the past year.
She added that 45% of c-store consumers expect c-stores to offer healthy foodservice items, a rise from 40% in 2022, she said.
“C-store consumer foodservice occasions are increasingly driven by a need for better-for-you options, driven by younger consumers,” she said.
What makes a foodservice item healthy? The top 10 attributes for c-store consumers are:
- Low in sugar
- High in protein
- Low in fat
- Unprocessed
- All-natural
- Low in salt
- Contains key nutrients
- High in fiber
- Low in calories
- Contains key nutrients
Crecca added that 77% of c-store consumers agree that presenting both healthy and indulgent offerings would differentiate a c-store, while 63% of c-store consumers are likely to visit a c-store if they know that the store offers healthy foodservice options.
In addition, 30% seek out healthy food and beverage items every/most times they visit c-stores for foodservice purchases. This is higher among those with a household income above $75,000 and among GLP-1 users.
Finally, Crecca said limited-time offers are a growth opportunity, noting that 53% of consumers prioritize LTO availability when deciding at which quick-service restaurant they should dine—up 2 percentage points from 2023.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.