Retail Foodservice Roundup: Cumberland Farms IPO, Walmart prices, gas station matcha and more

Cumberland Farms leans into chicken amid IPO push 

C-store retailer Cumberland Farms is mulling a go-public offer and, with it, a significant expansion of its hot foods program.  

The Westborough, Massachusetts-based convenience store operator launched a partnership with the Krispy Krunch Chicken fast-food chain last fall in just five stores. In a new filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Cumberland Farms said it intends to grow its fried chicken investment to 300 locations by 2028 and 500 c-stores by 2030.  

“The Krispy Krunchy Chicken fried chicken concept has demonstrated compelling unit economics and strong customer response where it has been deployed,” the retailer said in its SEC filing.  

The filing revealed some other notable details about Cumberland Farms’ foodservice offerings: 

Foodservice accounted for just 14% of inside sales at Cumberland Farms U.S. stores in 2025, lagging the industry average of 29%, according to NACS data. 

Beverages make up the majority of the chain’s sales, contributing about 5% to total inside sales last year, with coffee being the biggest seller. 

The retailer sells more than 120,000 cups of coffee daily under its Farmhouse Blend brand. 

Cumberland Farms operates a number of regional banners but said in its federal filing that it intends to rebrand 600 to 700 convenience stores under the Cumberland Farms name over the next five years.  

Walmart is lowering its grocery prices

Here’s another headwind the FAFH industry needs to contend with: 

Walmart, the country’s largest grocery retailer, is making it more attractive to cook a meal at home.  

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant this week said it is rolling back prices on thousands of grocery items in its stores and at its Sam’s Club warehouse retail chain.  

A pound of 73% ground beef, for example, will be reduced from $6.74 to $5.94. Twenty-four packs of Diet Coke are $9.97, down from $14.97, while Diet Pepsi is a buck cheaper at $13.97. A 2.25-pound bag of cherries now sells for $5.63, a big savings off the previous $11.18 price tag.  

President Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, said the price cuts came at the request of the White House, “to celebrate our great Country’s 250th birthday.” 

Walmart has declined to comment on the topic beyond its press release. 

Is ‘luxury gas station’ an oxymoron?

Alex Canter doesn’t think so. Canter, who hails from the L.A. family that founded the iconic Canter’s Deli, was the co-founder and CEO of virtual restaurant company Nextbite.  

His next project is Maggie’s Refuel, which bills itself as the first nice gas station. Maggie’s recently announced the site of its first location, planned for next year, in a former Union 76 gas station in (where else?) Beverly Hills, California.  

Canter, in an interview with CSP Daily News, said the c-store will be a “hospitality-driven experience,” one that sells soft-serve ice cream, lattes on draft, matcha, pastries and a curated selection of international snacks. He also noted that Maggie’s will forge partnerships with local restaurants. 

A Pastrami Reuben while gassing up, perhaps? 

Pilot gets ready for summer road trips 

Travel center operator Pilot, which has more than 900 locations in 43 states and five Canadian provinces, wants to be ready for road trippers this summer.  

The Knoxville, Tennessee-based company launched hand-breaded buttermilk chicken tenders with a new Signature Sauce designed with travelers in mind. The retailer calls the pairing a “craveable, high-protein option that will satisfy moments of highway hunger.” (The sauce, for the record, is reportedly bold and smoky, with a bit of heat.) 

The chain continues to expand its Pilot eats platforms, with a full, hot deli menu in nearly 400 stores and a grab-and-go Pilot eats Express offering growing to 250 locations.