---
title: "C-Store Innovation: 3 Magic Words to Boost Your Business"
description: The c-store industry is growing fast. These three words can guide your business strategy to increase foodservice and beverage sales.
---
[Beverage](https://blog.hamiltonbeachcommercial.com/beverage)
# [C-Store Innovation: 3 Magic Words to Boost Your Business](https://blog.hamiltonbeachcommercial.com/beverage/c-store-innovation-3-magic-words-to-boost-your-business)
Written by [Hamilton Beach Commercial](https://blog.hamiltonbeachcommercial.com/beverage/author/hamilton-beach-commercial) | April 8, 2024 at 3:45 PM
What’s the one thing everyone wishes they had more of? **Time.**
What’s one business that promises to give you more time? **Convenience stores.**
As a result, we’re seeing incredible growth in the c-store industry. The global market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%, reaching $3.12 trillion by 2028, according to Grand View Research. To ensure your company captures a healthy piece of this pie, we have three words to guide your strategy.
## 1. Flavor
[Buc-ee’s](https://buc-ees.com/), a fuel stop + c-store chain in the American South and Midwest, is big, bright, and in your face. It even holds the world record for largest convenience store: Its Sevierville location measures 74,707 square feet (6,940 square meters). And it’s absolutely beloved by travelers.
“They turned a gas station into a place people go on purpose,” University of Houston economist Dietrich Vollrath said in [explaining the Buc-ee’s phenomenon to *Marketplace*](https://www.marketplace.org/2023/12/21/an-economist-and-a-business-reporter-walk-into-a-buc-ees/). Buc-ee’s dominance as a travel stop has made it phenomenally successful. “There’s a million people on the road all the time. If you can capture a little piece of that, it makes sense,” Vollrath said.
How did Buc-ee’s become a destination? Some say it’s the really clean restrooms. Some say it’s the cutesy beaver mascot. We think it’s the food: chopped barbecue sandwiches, private-label chips and beef jerky, kolache pastries, and the “Beaver Nuggets” puffed-corn snacks.
Other c-store chains would be wise to carve out their own foodservice niche. “Prepared food, which includes sandwiches, meals and other food prepared onsite, jumped 12.2% in sales to $51,500 per store per month, making it the No. 1 category for all in-store sales in 2023” in the U.S., [notes NACS](https://www.convenience.org/Media/conveniencecorner/Are-You-Prepared-for-Some-Great-Food).
## 2. Convenience
It’s right there in the name: **convenience** is the reason customers come to c-stores. Savvy operators are seeking new ways to make ordering food, beverages, and other items even more convenient than it already is.
- [Curby’s](https://curbys.com/) (a fast-growing Texas chain) reduces wait times by having employees with tablets taking orders in the drive-thru line. Eventually, they want the runner to wear a body camera so that the customer can remotely guide the shopping.
- bp America is implementing “pay by plate,” which means customers will be able to have their license plate recognized in order to automatically pay for the gas they pump.
## 3. Customization
A major trend is emerging among younger, Gen-Z customers: [a thirst for specialty beverages](https://blog.hamiltonbeachcommercial.com/beverage/gen-z-beverage-trends-explained). Whether it’s due to “little treat” culture (the idea of brightening every day with a small purchase) or a side effect of Gen Z’s decreased interest in alcohol, beverage consumption in the U.S. has been steadily climbing.
The wise c-store operator will ask: How can I get a piece of the specialty-beverage action? First, take a piece of advice we once heard from Joe Chiovera, Executive Culinary & Innovation Consultant for Premium Brands Holdings Corporation: **“Foundation before differentiation.”** He recommends c-stores identify and cut the bottom 20 percent of SKUs on their menus. Then, focus on innovating and customizing your best-selling offerings.
For Curby’s, that means a customizable iced tea bar with more than 35 sweetened and unsweetened options, including coconut, blackberry, hibiscus and apple pie. Other offerings include rainbow-hued, made-to-order energy drinks; Red Bull refreshers, “dirty” sodas (fountain drinks with added flavors), frozen coffee drinks; and milkshakes.
In addition to iced tea, slushies and smoothies are high-growth beverage categories, [according to *CStore Decisions*](https://cstoredecisions.com/2023/04/17/customization-to-drive-dispensed-beverage-sales/). Thinking about adding customized blended drinks to your beverage menu? Hamilton Beach Commercial makes it effortless with beverage equipment solutions that minimize labor.
The [SmartServe™ Blend in Cup](https://hamiltonbeachcommercial.com/beverage-automation/smartserve-blend-in-cup-bic2000/) eliminates the need for blender jars by blending directly in disposable cups. Rapid blending, automatic programming and self-rinsing capability mean speedy service.
The [MixStation™ Heavy-Duty Drink Mixer](https://hamiltonbeachcommercial.com/drink-mixers/mixstation-heavy-duty-drink-mixer-hmd1000/) features pre-programmed cycles and variable speed dial that allow operators maximum control while providing consistent results every time.
The [Summit® Edge High-Performance Blender](https://hamiltonbeachcommercial.com/high-performance-blenders/summit-edge-high-performance-blender-hbh855/) feature one-touch AutoBlend, which stops blending once drinks achieve the perfect consistency.
[Discover our full line of commercial beverage equipment for convenience stores.](https://hamiltonbeachcommercial.com/market-segment-convenience-entertainment)
[View full post](https://blog.hamiltonbeachcommercial.com/beverage/c-store-innovation-3-magic-words-to-boost-your-business)
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