The Shift Toward Convenience Stores for Ready-to-Eat Meals

Mar 26, 2025 | Food

OUR TAKE

With menu prices climbing and consumers more focused than ever on cost, it is no surprise that some are turning to their local convenience stores for meals. While price isn’t everything, the added convenience of fueling up or grabbing household items and thus saving time shifts the balance. We wrote about this shift in 2019, noting that millennials’ preference for convenience has drawn them to smaller format stores. It appears the same is true for Gen Z and likely future generations. Quick-service restaurants are popular for their speed and affordability. But if they invest in freshness, quality and innovative selection, they could become the major go-to meal stop in the consumer’s schedule.

Source Summary

Consumers are rapidly choosing convenience stores as their go-to destination for ready-to-eat meals and beverages. Nearly one-fifth reported an increase in foodservice purchases at convenience stores, decreasing fast-food visits by 40% and coffee shops by 39%. The majority of new growth comes from female, Gen Z and Hispanic/Latino consumers—driven by lower foodservice prices, a wider variety of meal options and the ability for consumers to multitask at stores (getting food, gas, household items).

[Techonomic]