The Trend Report: C-Store Evolution - From Snacks to Supermarkets and Beyond
C-Store Evolution: From Snacks to Supermarkets and Beyond
It may be the most prototypically American retail sector, who explosive growth paralleled the growth of suburbia, our love of the open road, and the resulting need for fuel and food - the convenience store (c-store).
You may be surprised to learn, however, that c-stores began in the 1920s as an urban phenomenon, evolving from manufacturers serving employees and then continuing to evolve in the decades since. It became the go-to retailer for the quick snack, fuel and gaming for a populace that is increasingly on the go. It also has been among the most flexible sectors, adapting to customers’ needs and locations, including adopting new foods, fuels and even entertainment as they dictate. As a result, it remains a favored sector for investors, even as other retail categories experience their ups and downs.
The 21st century has compelled even more reinvention, as more regional entries compete with the nationals, more food categories — even dining — are altering site choices and space needs, and consolidation affects the industry’s very structure. The future will not look like Grandpa’s quick pit stop.
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