As more and more convenience stores embrace more upscale food and beverage offerings, beverage trends in the convenience store market have become increasingly important. With an ever broadening range of available food and beverage products, convenience stores have the opportunity to establish themselves as an important player in the food and beverage market space.
To that end, understanding the beverage trends in the convenience store market can help distributors looking to expand into the convenience store market. Having a more advanced understanding of the beverage trends in this market allows distributors to match products and services with the right consumers, and can lead to more productive and profitable engagements.
This article will explore the different beverage trends in the convenience store market, as well as the ways in which food and beverage distributors can capitalize on these trends when looking to reach new customers.
What are Beverage Trends in the Convenience Store Market?
Beverage trends in the convenience store market refer to the type of drinks that customers purchase when they visit convenience stores. Generally speaking, popular drinks sold in convenience stores include sodas, juices, energy drinks, bottled water, teas, and coffees.
However, convenience stores are now starting to expand their offerings and include everything from craft beers and craft spirits to wine and frozen drinks. These new offerings are frequently referred to as “better for you” beverages, as they often contain more natural ingredients and less sugar than traditional offerings.
In addition to expanding their offerings to include natural beverages, convenience stores are also exploring ways to make their traditional beverages more attractive to customers. This includes everything from altering the flavor profiles of the beverage to experimenting with new formats (such as cans, pouches, and kegs).
The Role of Technology in Beverage Trends
The use of technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), can also help convenience stores stay ahead of the curve when it comes to beverage trends. AI and ML have been utilized by many convenience stores to analyze customer behaviors, purchase trends, and preferences. With this data, convenience stores are able to adjust their product offerings to better meet customer needs.
For example, AI can be used to create dynamic pricing models that adjust prices when customer demand increases or decreases. AI can also be used to recommend upsells and cross-sells to customers, as well as to create customer profiles that help convenience stores personalize their marketing efforts.
The use of technology in the convenience store market has also allowed new players to emerge in the space, such as the growing popularity of “smart coolers” that allow customers to order and pay for beverages using a touch screen.
Concluding perspectives
Overall, beverage trends in the convenience store market can be incredibly powerful for food and beverage distributors looking to break into the space. By understanding what kinds of beverages customers are looking to purchase and the role of technology in the convenience store market, distributors can better position their products and services for success.
In the end, having a strong understanding of beverage trends in the convenience store market can give food and beverage distributors the information they need to securely and profitably enter the space.
