National Beverage Corp. (FIZZ)

[NewJerichoMan]

HOW U.S. CONVENIENCE STORES CAN STAY AHEAD OF THE RETAIL PACK

http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2017/how-us-convenience-stores-can-stay-ahead-of-the-retail-pack.html


In 2016, convenience stores captured 85% of all sales through sales from just six categories: Cigarettes, packaged beverages, candy, beer, salty snacks and other tobacco. Digging deeper, Nielsen data shows that subcategories like enhanced water, import, super premium and craft beer, ready-to-eat (RTE) meals, e-cigarettes, tools and housewares and sparkling wine all delivered mid-to-high double-digit sales growth for convenience stores last year.

The growth in subcategories like RTE meals and enhanced water align with broader consumer health and wellness trends. RTE options are also amplified by deli sales, which grew 8.3% to $1.2 billion last year, while fresh produce sales slipped about half a percent to $425 million. Overall, recent sales trends magnify the degree to which consumers seek fast, economical and increasingly healthy options from their convenience stores. That said, convenience stores are also more likely to attract people for meal-time trips rather than “fill-in” and “routine shopping” ventures. And that means being well stocked is now a consumer expectation rather than a desire.