Trends emerge at convenience store expo

The NACS Show’s expo hall featured a wide range of food and beverage items, including snacks, candy, energy drinks, and more. After sampling various products and walking the expo floor, some key observations emerged across four in-store categories.

Foodservice and Portable Foods

C-stores are expanding their foodservice offerings, but many items, such as noodle bowls and whole pizzas, are not easily consumed on the go. This presents an opportunity for companies to develop portable foods that can be quickly eaten or taken as a “dashboard meal.”

Several companies showcased sweet and spicy options that cater to various dayparts.

Pizza and Fried Chicken

Pizza and fried chicken are incredibly popular in c-stores, with companies like Hunt Bros. Pizza, Chester’s Chicken, and Krispy Krunchy Chicken drawing large crowds. Competition is fierce, with innovation being a key factor in the market.

William Culpepper, Chester’s vice president of marketing, stated that the company’s new “express” format allows small stores to offer fried chicken without requiring a commercial fryer. Operators simply need to heat up pre-prepared chicken in an oven.

Chester’s hopes this format will help expand its presence in more stores run by existing customers, mainly small and medium-sized operators. “Now we’re able to serve those operators in all of their footprints,” he said in an interview.

Spicy flavors have become increasingly popular, with companies like Jolly Ranchers and Trolli introducing spicy gummies. Skittles has also released gummies, while the Hot Tamales brand showcased new flavors like tropical heat and cinnamon apple.

Gen Z consumers are driving demand for unique textures and experiences in candy, according to Mike Gilroy, vice president of industry engagement and sponsorship with Mars Snacking. This has led to the development of products like Skittles Gummy Crystals, which have a crunchy exterior and a chewy inside.

It’s unclear how much further this trend can expand, but it shows no signs of slowing down.

Pickle-flavored products were another notable trend, with companies like Cheetos and Vlasic featuring pickle-flavored snacks. Van Holten’s showcased its Pickle in a Pouch.

The meat snack category has become increasingly crowded, with established brands and new entrants competing for attention. Companies like Sidari Brands and Bridgford are offering co-branded products, while major players like Jack Links are focusing on branding and messaging.

A promotional sign for Jack Links’ Carnivore Bites seemed to capture the essence of the trend: “So. Much. Meat!” With the protein craze showing no signs of slowing down, companies will continue to innovate and differentiate their products in this category.

Protein was the most prevalent functional benefit on display at the show, but other benefits like relaxation, hydration, and focus were also featured.

The success of zero-sugar sodas and energy drinks has trained consumers to expect enticing flavors without compromising health.

The beverage category was home to the widest and most intriguing variety of functional benefits, with drinks offering relaxation, hydration, sparkling energy, and focus all on display.

Functional Benefits in Beverages

The dirty soda trend and zero sugar varieties have kept big names chugging along, pushing traditional full-sugar sodas brands to up their flavor game. At the NACS Show, numerous eye-catching offshoots from popular brands were noticed, including 7 Up’s Shirley Temple flavor and Pepsi’s strawberry shortcake variety.

Coca-Cola’s Mr. Pibb brand, which relaunched last year, had new flavors like “Thrillin’ Vanilla” and “Punchin’ Peach” along with a berry-forward LTO. PepsiCo’s Mug root beer brand sported a “Vanilla Howler” flavor that the company said was inspired by the dirty soda trend.

These included unique flavors from 7 Up and Pepsi.