5 Things is a new weekly feature from CSP Daily News highlighting some of the recent convenience-store news that might otherwise slip through the cracks.
Straw Man Argument
President Donald Trump on Feb. 10 signed an executive order to end the use of paper straws. What he calls an “irrational campaign against plastic straws” has resulted in cities, states and businesses banning the use of plastic straws, often replacing them with paper straws. The order says paper straws are not functional, use chemicals that may carry risks to human health and are more expensive to produce than plastic straws. It directs the federal government to stop buying paper straws and ensure they are no longer available in federal buildings. The order also requires the development of a national strategy to end the use of paper straws within 45 days “to alleviate the forced use of paper straws nationwide.”
The Gopuff Bowl
Gopuff has released its2025 Brand Bowl Report detailing which Super Bowl commercials had an immediate effect on product sales on Gopuff, what customers ordered during the game and more:
Nerds saw a 223% increase in units sold in the hour after its commercial aired.
Customers ordered 55% more alcohol on Feb. 9 than the average Sunday.
Orders peaked just before the start of the game, then rose again during the third quarter.
Orders for home essentials were up 23% on Sunday, with toilet paper coming in at No. 1.
On Monday morning after the game, electrolyte drinks and still water products were the top two most ordered categories.
The top trending products for the Big Game compared to an average Sunday included: Tostitos Scoops Original Tortilla Chips (up 305%), ice bags (up 94%), Seagram's Escapes Jamaican Me Happy Single Can (up 182%), White Claw Seltzer Variety #1 (up 105%) and Miller Lite (up 101%).
Numerator: Let Me Count the Ways Consumers Love Valentine’s Day
Numerator, which tracks purchase data and surveys buyers to understand shifts in consumer behavior, in its 2025 Holiday Insights report outlined how shoppers plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day:
64% of consumers plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day (up 4 points vs. last year), with gen Z and millennials more likely to celebrate the holiday.
Valentine’s Day is the most popular holiday for going out to eat (42% of celebrators plan to do so); 25% of celebrators plan to cook or bake at home; and14%plan to order food for takeout or delivery.
Millennials are nearly twice as likely as other generations to say they will travel for Valentine’s Day (10% vs. 6%).
96% of celebrators say they will purchase something for Valentine’s Day, with the top items being gifts (55%), candy (50%) and food (48%).
18% of Valentine's Day celebrators plan to purchase alcohol, with the top items being wine (43%), spirits (39%), beer (36%) and champagne (35%).
Compared to all celebrators, Boomers+ are more likely to choose wine (53% vs 43%), while gen Z is more likely to opt for hard seltzers or canned cocktails (33% vs. 19%).
55% of celebrators plan to spend more than $50 on the holiday.
Raise Your Hand If You Wash Yours
A growing number of Americans say they frequently see others leave public restrooms without washing their hands, according to Bradley Co.’s latest Healthy Handwashing Survey. Three-fourths (77%) now make this observation at least occasionally, compared with 68% last year. Americans tend to be more diligent about washing their hands when out in public (37%) than when at home (20%), although most (43%) say they are equally diligent no matter the location. And 81% of Americans say they always wash their hands after using a public restroom and another 11% say they usually do. Men are somewhat more likely to skip washing their hands than women, and 45% of Americans admit to just rinsing their hands with water. More men bypass the bubbles compared with women (53% vs. 38%). “For those who skip handwashing in a public restroom, the most common reasons are a lack of soap or paper towels, sinks that are dirty or out of service, overcrowding and bad smells,” said Jon Dommisse, vice president of business development and strategy for Bradley. “It’s no wonder that the most desired improvement in public bathrooms is keeping them more consistently clean and stocked with supplies.” For facilities, a poorly maintained restroom not only interferes with handwashing follow through, it can also create negative perceptions; 84% of the population say that an unclean or unpleasant restroom at a business or other establishment has a negative effect on their overall impression of that business or establishment.
How the 51st State Skips Winter Weather Delivery Delays
Canadian delivery platform Skip has found a way to add more convenience to its offering—at least where cold weather can slow things down. It has introduced the Skip Winter Delivery Fleet, a fleet of custom orange snowplows tasked with clearing the snowy streets of customers awaiting their grocery, food and beverage orders. Toronto-based Skip is unveiling its new fleet with the launch of a new creative ad campaign across social media, out of home (OOH) and digital channels showcasing the experience. The service is also offering weekly winter promotional discounts on restaurant and retail brands.
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