2026 Convenience Store Foodservice Innovation Starts Strong: Multiple Brands Launch New Items to Compete in Breakfast and Pizza Segments
Less than eight weeks into 2026, innovation in the U.S. convenience store foodservice sector remains robust. Operators including Casey's, Stewart's Shops, Rutter's, RaceTrac, and 7-Eleven have successively introduced limited-time new items, ranging from spicy chicken pizza to breakfast sandwiches, grilled cheese menus, and waffle lines, highlighting the central role of foodservice in convenience store competition.
Last year, convenience store retailers placed foodservice innovation at the core of their operations to narrow the competitive gap with restaurants. This year, the trend continues—although less than eight weeks of 2026 have passed, several convenience store operators have already launched new food items that are generating attention. Here are some highlights.
Casey's Launches New Pizza
Casey's General Stores introduced last monthBarn Burner Chicken Pizza, a product born from its annual pizza contest—where employees develop new flavors and showcase their creativity.
This pizza features a Sriracha sauce base, topped with grilled chicken, bacon, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, red onions, jalapeños, and a drizzle of Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce. Consumers can purchase it in select markets including Indianapolis, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, Peoria, and Springfield, Illinois.
Stewart's Focuses on Breakfast Sandwiches
Stewart's Shops launched a new item earlier this monthBig Breakfast sandwich. Priced under $5, it is available on a hard roll or bagel, with a choice of ham, bacon, or sausage, topped with egg and melted cheese.
Customers can also order Stewart's Meat Lovers Big Breakfast sandwich—a combination product featuring bacon, sausage, ham, egg, and cheese, also served on a hard roll or bagel.
Rutter's Ventures into Spam and Grilled Cheese
Rutter's has added two items to its popular rotating menu so far this year. The first is a Spam-wrapped hot dog, which hit stores on January 27. This is an extension of the limited-time Spam menu the convenience retailer offers each fall in partnership with Hormel Foods.
In early February, Rutter's also unveiled a new grilled cheese menu. This limited-time menu features eight hot sandwiches, each paired with a different protein: BBQ pulled pork, Buffalo chicken, steak, bacon with jalapeños, Blazin' bird, bacon, triple bacon, and hot dog.
RaceTrac's Waffle and Pizza Innovations
AlthoughRaceTrac acquired sandwich fast-casual chain Potbelly last year, it hasn't stopped the convenience retailer from advancing its own foodservice offerings.
Earlier this month, the company added its latest item to its breakfast lineup—the Hot Honey Chicken & Waffle sandwich, available for a limited time at participating stores. This is a variation of RaceTrac's waffle breakfast sandwich, which includes chicken, egg, melted cheese, and hot honey.
Additionally, RaceTrac introduced a new Southwest Sausage Pizza, as well as an egg salad sandwich on cracked oat wheat bread. Like the waffle sandwich, the pizza and egg salad sandwich are available for a limited time at participating stores.
7-Eleven Strengthens Breakfast Category
Since early January, participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores have begunoffering new breakfast items。
New additions include: a sausage, egg, and cheese waffle sandwich—featuring a Belgian waffle with pearl sugar wrapped around egg, sausage, and cheese; crispy waffle potato bites; and the El Gran Tocino breakfast taco—a handmade tortilla wrapped around bacon and cheese. The latter is a promotional item from 7-Eleven's Laredo Taco Company fast-food chain.