C-store breakfasts are huge—and only getting bigger. More than half (55%) of consumers buy c-store breakfast items at least once a month, more than at any other daypart, according to Technomic’s October 2016 C-Store Market Intelligence Report.
![breakfast on the go](https://cdn.winsightmedia.com/platform/files/public/cspdn/main/articles/eating-breakfast-car-on-the-go.jpg)
Consumers are on the lookout for hearty, portable breakfast items to grab with coffee or an energy drink to start their days. Bundled breakfast deals or loyalty-based promotions can be a good way to drive business of value-minded customers.
Here’s a look at some of the fastest-growing opportunities in the c-store breakfast market:
Breakfast Sandwiches
Breakfast handhelds are big throughout all food-industry segments, including c-stores. Menu mentions of breakfast sandwiches at c-stores are up 8.9% over the last two years, according to Technomic’s MenuMonitor data. And 51% of consumers say they would buy c-store breakfast sandwiches, at least occasionally, according to Technomic’s C-Store Market Intelligence Report.
Whether on a biscuit, English muffin, toast or other bread, these protein-packed sandwiches are popular with on-the-go consumers. Trending proteins include bacon, sausage, ham, turkey sausage and chicken. Tyson recently rolled out a new and improved Jimmy Dean® chicken biscuit sandwich, upsizing and upgrading it to compete with similar fare offered in QSR restaurants.
Warm Breads
Consumers seeking a comforting start to the day are on the hunt for hot or warm bread items at c-stores. In fact, 45% of consumer say they would buy such items, at least occasionally, according to Technomic’s recent C-Store Market Intelligence Report.
Breakfast Pizza
Consumers adore pizza, no matter the hour. And breakfast pizza callouts on c-store menus jumped 7.7% year-over-year, according to Technomic’s MenuMonitor data. Earlier this year, 7-Eleven rolled out a biscuit-crust breakfast pizza topped with peppered-cream gravy, bacon, breakfast sausage, ham, scrambled eggs, and cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. It’s available in ready-to-eat slices or as a whole pie.
Ethnic Breakfast Items
Given consumer demand for globally inspired fare overall, there’s room for innovation in the ethnic-breakfast space at c-stores. Demand for Mexican-infused breakfast dishes, largely morning burritos, is high. Menu callouts of Mexican breakfast dishes climbed 19% year-over-year, according to Technomic’s MenuMonitor data. The burritos are typically filled with the same proteins as breakfast sandwiches, offering another on-trend way for consumers to get an easy-to-eat, on-the-go breakfast fix. QuickChek’s Cheesesteak Breakfast Burrito, for example, combines the craveable flavors of shaved steak, fried onions and provolone with scrambled eggs in a tortilla wrapper.
This post is sponsored by Tyson Convenience