Retail Foodservice Roundup: What consumers want from c-store food, RaceTrac’s big food bet and more

New data on c-store food consumers

Convenience isn’t necessarily the biggest driver for some convenience-store customers.  

That’s according to new research from Canopy, a provider of AI surveillance for in-store tech like self-checkout kiosks and point-of-sale systems.  

Forty-four percent of customers said when they want hot food from a c-store, they prioritize food quality and consistency. Value came in second at 36%, with convenient location way down the list at 19%.  

The report also shed some light on who c-store diners are. Hint: They skew quite young. More than 70% of 18- to 24-year-olds surveyed said they order hot food from a convenience store weekly. Two-thirds of those aged 25-34 said the same, followed by 63% of those aged 35-44, 49% of those who are 45-54, 27% of those ages 55-64 and just 21% of customers older than 65. (Those younger customers, perhaps unsurprisingly, are also the most likely to seek out tech like mobile apps and kiosks.) 

When it comes to specific c-store foodservice programs, Canopy found that 7-Eleven’s hot food bar is the most visited, followed by Circle K and Wawa. 

RaceTrac makes a $20 million, food-driven upgrade

Atlanta-based c-store chain RaceTrac is investing $20 million to makeover 30 stores across Dallas-Fort Worth, with a focus on turning the gas stations into food destinations.  

It will be the first time the chain brings its in-store pizza bars to North Texas, it said, and it will also add refurbished coffee stations, expanded food offerings and upgraded store interiors. Enhancements will also include updated frozen yogurt bars with additional toppings. 

One to three stores will be getting the makeover treatment each week through December, the retailer noted.  

Last October, RaceTrac completed its purchase of sandwich chain Potbelly for $566 million.  

New H-E-B overflows with foodservice options

Those remodeled RaceTrac locations will face some stiff foodservice competition from grocer H-E-B, which has been steadily growing its presence in North Texas.  

Case in point: H-E-B just opened its first store in Murphy, Texas, a sprawling, 116,000-square-foot supermarket with a True Texas BBQ restaurant and many other prepared foods destinations.  

In addition to the restaurant, the store boasts an in-house tortilla bakery, Asian grill, sushi bar, H-E-B Meal Simple heat-and-go meals and more.  

CEO musical chairs

We recently reported that c-store giant 7-Eleven just named Mauricio Leyva as its new CEO, following a seven-month search. Leyva was formerly group president at Keurig Dr Pepper.  

He replaces former 7-Eleven CEO Joe DePinto, who announced his retirement from the chain last December after 20 years.  

Now DePinto, too, has a new gig: He was just named to Target’s board, as the struggling Minneapolis-based retail chain seeks to regain its footing after some difficult years. DePinto will serve on the infrastructure and finance, and audit and risk committees for Target.