Convenience stores have come a long way from what they used to be, and have modernized their offerings by including a range of beverages, from soda to energy drinks. Convenience stores have become a key player in the beverage industry in recent years. But with this evolution, there have been a number of pros and cons associated with the beverage trends at convenience stores. In this article, we’ll explore some of the advantages and drawbacks of convenience store beverage trends to help franchise owners assess their potential for growth.
Pros
One of the major pros of convenience store beverage trends is that they provide customers with more variety and convenience. Customers can find a range of drinks, such as juices, energy drinks, teas, and sodas, which would otherwise not be available in their grocery stores or convenience stores. Additionally, convenience store drinks are often cheaper than similar offerings in the supermarkets, and customers can buy them individually, instead of buying an entire case or package.
Another pro is that convenience store drinks can be used as a way to attract new customers to the store. Studies show that customers view convenience stores as a “destination,” rather than a place to grab something quick before heading home. So, introducing a wide variety of drinks to the convenience store can help increase foot traffic, as customers may be more likely to visit the store if they know that they can find the drinks they are looking for there. This could lead to increased sales for the convenience store, as customers may be inclined to purchase additional items once they have arrived at the store.
Lastly, convenience store drinks can also help franchise owners expand their operations into other markets. By understanding local beverage trends, franchise owners can tailor the drinks they offer to a particular region, such as offering craft beer or seltzer for a specific market, or introducing a local specialty drink. This can be particularly beneficial, if the franchise owner is looking to open new locations in different cities or countries.
Cons
The main disadvantage of convenience store beverage trends is that it can be expensive to keep up with the latest trends, and that the store may not be able to provide the same quality that can be found in larger grocery stores or specialty stores. As such, convenience store owners may need to adjust their prices to correspond to those of the larger stores, or purchase the more popular drinks from local data.com/en/solutions/food-beverage-distributors/’ target=’_blank’>distributors. Additionally, they may also need to update their equipment and product selection more frequently in order to stay up to date with the latest trends.
Additionally, convenience store owners need to be careful when selecting the drinks they stock. Since the selection of a convenience store is limited, franchise owners should only stock the most popular and profitable beverages. Furthermore, the drinks should be of a certain quality, in order to ensure customer loyalty. If the drinks turn out to be unpopular or of poor quality, customers may be less likely to return to the convenience store.
Finally, despite being convenient and offering more variety, convenience stores may not be able to provide drinks that appeal to all customers. For instance, some stores may be unable to stock certain hard-to-find specialty beverages, such as craft beers or certain teas. Additionally, convenience stores may not offer the same range of sizes that customers are used to buying from larger stores. As a result, customers may choose to go elsewhere for their drink purchases.
Concluding perspectives
Convenience store beverage trends have become increasingly popular over the past few years. They offer customers more variety, convenience, and affordability. However, businesses should consider the advantages and disadvantages carefully before introducing a wider selection of drinks, as this could be expensive. Additionally, franchise owners should strive to provide the highest quality drinks in order to ensure customer loyalty. By understanding local beverage trends, and stocking the most popular beverages, franchise owners can help expand their operations into new markets.