Convenience stores expanding produce options
Convenience stores expanding produce options
Convenience store owners are reaping the benefits of expanded produce offerings. An increase in fresh food helped to drive strong convenience store sales in the second quarter of 2015 and is expected to continue to grow sales in the upcoming quarter, according to the results of a retailer sentiment survey released by the National Association of Convenience Stores.
Convenience stores are adding more healthy and fresh items, with 77 percent saying they sell fresh fruits and vegetables. Additionally, 57 percent sell packaged salads, and nearly half (47 percent) also sell cut fruit and vegetables.
Convenience stores have expanded selections of these items recently. Over the past six months, 50 percent of all convenience retailers say they have expanded their fresh fruit sales, 30 percent have increased their cut fruit and vegetable offers, and 21 percent are offering more salads.
Beyond fruits and vegetables, convenience stores are selling other better-for-you items. “It doesn’t have to be complicated” to add new items, Tom Robinson with Robinson Oil Co. in Santa Clara, CA, said in a press release. The company’s Rotten Robbie brand is “upgrading, refreshing stores and focusing on some key products like bananas, coffee, fountain beverages and beer.”
