ROSEMONT, Ill. — Consumers of hot dispensed beverages in convenience stores are a demanding bunch, said Robert Byrne, senior manager for Technomic, at CSP’s Hot Dispensed Beverage Forum in Rosemont, Ill. The extra legwork to keep them happy just might be worth it. “They are loyal,” Byrne said. “They are walking away from c-stores feeling better with a stronger intent to return and recommend.”
Investing in the satisfaction of the hot-dispensed consumer can pay off, with the category generating $6.7 billion in equivalent retail sales in 2017 and comprising 53% of total c-store beverage sales, according to Technomic’s 2018 C-Store Foodservice Outlook Multi-Client Study.
However, retailers might want to avoid serving these customers one-size-fits-all solutions. Consumers’ preferences vary by region and the local coffee powerhouses setting the bar.
Check out what hot-dispensed consumers are craving in each part of the country, based on Technomic Ignite consumer data ...