Foodservice
Kwik Trip pulls the plug on roller grills
Kwik Trip, a convenience store chain in Wisconsin, USA, announced it will remove roller grills from all of its more than 900 stores by September 21, while retaining original grill items such as hot dogs and Tornados, which will instead be sold from in-store grab-and-go hot food warmers. Paul Servais, the company's vice president of food service, said tests showed that grab-and-go warmers generate higher sales. Previously, Murphy USA had already eliminated this equipment in its new store designs. Industry data shows that roller grills were once an important factor for consumers choosing convenience stores, but they are now being replaced by more efficient space solutions.
7-Eleven is launching a new pizza crust. Will customers bite?
7-Eleven announced it will launch a new pizza crust nationwide this week, characterized by a crispy, bubbly outer layer and a light, airy internal structure, to be used on pizzas such as cheese, Italian sausage, and extreme meat. The new product will gradually debut at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes convenience stores starting September 3, seen as the company's latest move to strengthen its food service strategy and establish itself as a culinary destination.
Pilot names new VP of food and beverage
Pilot Company appoints Sheeva Hoders as Vice President of Food Service, succeeding Jamie King. With nearly nine years of company experience, Hoders will be responsible for advancing food service strategies such as Pilot eats.
C-Store Dive Trendline on Top 5 stories from C-Store Dive
QuikTrip has launched its first Gen 4 store in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, with an area approximately 1,000 square feet larger than traditional stores, featuring an upgraded kitchen, self-service beverage area, and family-friendly amenities, aimed at enhancing customer experience and employee efficiency.
Hop Shops brings creative flair to new pizza program
Hop Shops, owned by Valor Oil, will debut its in-house pizza program, Disco Dough Pizza Company, on Sept. 1 at its Verona, Kentucky location. The program features 16-inch pizzas sold whole or by the slice (quarter slices) and 14-inch thin crust pizzas, with initial varieties including cheese, pepperoni, sausage, meatball, and breakfast. Developed by the Hop Shops team under VP Damon Bail, the initiative aims to replicate the creative success of the chain's disco bathrooms.
Corner Pantry’s latest store advances its foodservice journey
Corner Pantry's new store in Camden serves as the flagship model for its foodservice program, with expanded kitchen space and workflow, and the first Botrista beverage machines, providing a replicable model for future locations.
Proprietary drinks lead recent foodservice additions
As the summer limited-time promotional season continues, convenience store companies such as 7-Eleven, Sheetz, Rutter's, RaceTrac, Stewart's Shops, and Hunt Brothers have recently introduced new products. Among them, 7-Eleven added a new private-label soda line, Sheetz launched canned energy coffee for the first time, Rutter's expanded its annual collaboration with Spam, and RaceTrac made multiple menu updates.
The rise of gas station sushi: How c-stores can capitalize on the growing popularity of Asian foods
Asian-flavored foods are transitioning from niche to mainstream in the convenience store channel. Executives from McLane and Hissho Sushi point out that consumer demand for fresh, convenient, and globally inspired flavors is driving this trend. Data shows that 100% of convenience stores offering sushi reported sales growth over the past year, and 15% plan to add sushi this year. The article also analyzes key factors for successfully running a sushi program and recommendations for getting started.
3 Big Numbers: What do c-store diners want? Here’s what the data shows.
Food service plays a significant role in convenience store retail, accounting for 28.5% of sales in 2025. Recent research shows that food quality (44%), the need for quick meals (28%), and high-frequency weekly visits (60%) are key to understanding consumer choices.
Functional snacks are reshaping the grab-and-go category in convenience stores
Grab-and-go snack decisions in convenience stores are often made within seconds, but the intentions consumers carry—more protein, recognizable ingredients, better nutritional balance—are significantly transforming this category. Bel Brands is launching Babybel Pro, a two-piece cheese pack containing 10 grams of protein and billions of probiotics, targeting the demand for functional snacks. Industry data shows that better-for-you snack sales have grown 10% recently, with about 70% of consumers frequently or always actively choosing healthy foods; the global gut health market exceeds $71 billion and is projected to surpass $105 billion by 2030. Households using GLP-1 medications account for about 23%, further driving demand for smaller-portion, multi-benefit snacks.