Convenience stores prepare for spring: frozen drinks and fresh flavors take center stage

As winter winds down, many convenience store retailers are preparing for warmer weather. Some are choosing to revamp existing programs or extend popular pilot programs, while others are introducing new flavors through short- or long-term menu updates. Here are several new products worth noting for convenience store customers.

Summer frozen flavors

Several convenience store retailers and suppliers have launched limited-time frozen new products or brought back popular items from previous years.

Rich Products Corporation, in partnership with ice cream maker Good Humor, has introduced a limited-time Orange Creamsicle-flavored milkshake in its Rich's F'real line. The product will be available at multiple retailers including Kwik Trip, Sheetz, Circle K, RaceTrac, and Royal Farms.

Icee, a frozen beverage brand well known in the convenience store channel, has brought back its Easter-themed Peeps-flavored limited-time product.

7-Eleven is taking a two-pronged approach. Although the retailer has offered banana-flavored Slurpee in the past, this Brr-Nana flavor is a new take on banana. According to a spokesperson, the new flavor will be sold on a limited basis through the end of this year.

Stewart's Shops is also balancing old and new: its mint-flavored Shenanigan milkshake is returning to stores, while it has added a chocolate protein milkshake pick-me-up. In addition to the milkshakes, the New York-based retailer is offering customers cold foam as a beverage customization option.

Stewart's launches seasonal ice cream

The New York-based retailer has also unveiled its summer seasonal ice cream limited-time product lineup.

The five new flavors include: Philly Espresso (Philly vanilla ice cream base with espresso swirl and espresso crunch); After Dinner Mint (mint ice cream with fudge strips and chocolate mint crunch); Sunshine Swirl (vanilla ice cream with orange sorbet swirl); Peanut Butter Brownie Bonanza (chocolate butter fudge ice cream with peanut butter swirl and baked brownie pieces); and Caramel Cookie Dough (vanilla ice cream with salted caramel swirl and cookie dough pieces).

Stewart's has also brought back two flavors: Strawberry Shortcake (vanilla pudding-flavored ice cream with strawberry swirl and strawberry shortcake crumbles) and Dirt Cake (vanilla pudding ice cream with cookie crumb swirl and brownie pieces).

These flavors will roll out in phases throughout April.

7-Eleven expands chicken lineup

According to a company spokesperson, 7-Eleven has added two chicken products at its stores and updated a third.

The company launched a chicken sandwich earlier this month, available at select 7-Eleven, Stripes, and Speedway locations. The sandwich is coated in garlic breadcrumbs and served on toasted bread.

7-Eleven's fast-food brand Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits has also added a chicken wrap containing chicken strips, lettuce, and shredded cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla, with a choice of Roost Signature, spicy mustard, ranch, or spicy ranch sauce.

The company has also updated its boneless wings, making them larger and improving the seasoning in the breading.

In addition to chicken options, 7-Eleven has partnered with Dr Pepper to launch Johnsonville Dr Pepper sausages.

Stinker launches pizza rolls

Stinker Stores added pizza rolls to its menu starting Monday, a company spokesperson confirmed.

Pizza rolls are available in cheese and pepperoni varieties. According to a company LinkedIn post, an order includes two pizza rolls with a choice of ranch or marinara dipping sauce, priced at an expected $5.99.

Pilot updates fresh food program

Pilot Company has launched two foodservice programs.

The Pilot eats model, unveiled in early March, expands the company's hot deli menu, featuring hand-tossed pizza and a new Southern chicken sandwich. Meanwhile, Pilot eats Express offers traditional grab-and-go items such as pizza, wings, chicken strips, wrapped sandwiches, and various sides.

The new programs allow Pilot to "set a consistent standard for identifying which stores offer customers the food they want," said Sean Marrero, the company's senior vice president of food and beverage.

Casey's expands wing offering

Casey's General Stores will roll out its chicken wings to all more than 2,900 stores, said Darren Rebelez, president and CEO, during the company's third-quarter earnings call. The retailer initially tested the menu addition at select stores around Des Moines, Iowa, in early 2025 and received positive customer feedback, company leaders said on the Q3 fiscal 2025 earnings call.

Casey's wings initially launched in five flavors: garlic parmesan, barbecue, sweet chili, buffalo, and mango habanero.

Love's launches pesto chicken lineup

Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores has added three items featuring pesto chicken to its rotating menu, which updates every two months.

Customers can choose from a Chicken Pesto Wrap (pesto chicken salad, shredded parmesan, spring mix, and pesto sauce wrapped in a tortilla); Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad (pasta tossed in sauce with pesto chicken salad, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, and red onion); and a Pesto Chicken Snack Tray.

The new menu items were developed at the Culinary Innovation Center at Love's headquarters in Oklahoma City.

Royal Farms launches dipping sauce

Royal Farms launched a creamy dipping sauce called "RoFo Sauce" in early March with a "Chesapeake flair" to pair with its signature chicken menu, according to a company announcement.

The sauce is named after the common nickname for the East Coast convenience store retailer and was added to the menu as part of its recent Tender Fest promotion.

Tuna salad also returned during the promotion and can be served as a wrap, sandwich, sub, snack, or side, the announcement said.

McLane Fresh launches heat-and-eat line

McLane Fresh, the retail foodservice program of McLane Company, launched several new products at Convenience Retailing University.

The distributor released a new line of heat-and-eat meals, including Chicken Parmesan with Pasta, Chicken Alfredo Penne, Chicken Enchiladas with Cilantro Lime Rice, and Firecracker Chicken with Vegetable Fried Rice.