6 C-Store Foods Represented as Best New Product Winners for 2023

Among the Best New Products of 2023 are gummy bears, cereal and plant-based meat, according to the 2023 study from BrandSpark and Newsweek. In the 15th annual awards, more than 10,750 Americans participated to choose 62 products from categories such as food, beverage, beauty, health, personal care and household products. Many are sold in convenience stores.

“The BNPA seal, with its signature check mark, drives strong ROI for the winners by helping products stand out from the competition and by alerting consumers to products that have been validated by other consumers,” said Kim Diamond, vice president of the Best New Product Awards. “Every year, we see brands boost sales by leveraging their win across multiple channels. All winning Best New Product Awards winners will be featured in Newsweek digital and print and in an online shoppable gallery on ShopperArmy.com—an engaged nationwide community of shoppers who try and review products.”

When it comes to food and beverage trends, 58% of participants agreed that when time is tight, convenience is more important than eating healthy, which is up from 50% last year.

Eight in 10 Americans agree that taste is the most important factor in their food purchase decisions, ahead of price and health considerations, and 88% agree that the best indulgent foods are worth it.

“Despite inflationary pressure on American shoppers, Americans' interest in innovation remained strong with two in three willing to pay more for an improved new product,” said Philip Scrutton, vice president of shopper insights at BrandSpark. “Brands must convince shoppers that their product is worth it, as one in two report choosing some lower-priced alternatives in response to inflation.”

On the other side of the coin, only one in five Americans regularly sacrifice taste for health benefits.

Many of this year's winning food products combine convenience with a healthier choice, according to BrandSpark.

Click here for the full list.

Click through to see some of the best-ranked convenience-store products for 2023 …

Haribo, Rosemont, Illinois, is celebrating the 100th birthday of its original Goldbears gummi brand with two new flavors, Goldbears Pineapple and Goldbears Blue Raspberry and for a limited-time, it is offering original Goldbears mixed-flavored gummi Party Hats. In November, Haribo launched its new Berry Clouds, triple-layered gummies.

General Mills, Minneapolis, debuted Minis this year, iterations of Trix, Reese’s and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereals. Each variety has the same flavors as the originals but are in the form of small, round bites. Minis are available in full-sized boxes for an suggested retail price (SRP) of $3.99.

Ruffles, a Frito-Lay brand, Plano, Texas, launched two new Ridge Twist potato snack flavors: Double Cheddar and Smoky BBQ. The brand partnered with A’ja Wilson, the Chip Deal’s first female athlete.

Ruffles Ridge Twists Double Cheddar includes a buttery flavor, while Ruffles Ridge Twists Smoky BBQ taps into Wilson’s South Carolinian roots and features the classic barbecue flavor.

Ferrero, Chicago, rolled out Rocher Premium Chocolate Bars in four flavors, including Original Milk Hazelnut, 55% Dark Hazelnut, White Hazelnut and Hazelnut & Almond. Each bar is 3.1 ounces and has a combination of crunchy hazelnut pieces, chocolate and creamy fillings, according to the company.

With a spoon-shaped design, Battle Creek, Michigan-based Kellogg’s Town House Dipping Thins support mess-free dipping so that you can snack any time of any day, according to Kellogg’s. These thin, crispy, dippable crackers feature two flavors: Sea Salt and Black Pepper.

Plant-based and caramelized, Beyond Steak, El Segundo, California, is chopped into bite-sized tips and crisps as it sears. With 21 grams of protein per serving, Beyond Steak is low in saturated fat with zero milligrams of cholesterol per serving. Similar to all Beyond Meat products, Beyond Steak is better for the planet, made with simple, plant-based ingredients and contains zero GMOs or added antibiotics and hormones, according to the company.