Buy any two reports together for 10% off the total purchase price
Buy any three reports together for 15% off the total purchase price
Buy any four or more reports together for 20% off the total purchase price
"C-store foodservice is growing, but sustained gains require stronger credibility, clear value, and routine relevance."
Pooja Lal, Research Analyst
The US convenience store foodservice market is projected to reach $78.1 billion in 2026, continuing steady year-over-year growth. Momentum is occurring within a more deliberate consumer environment: financial caution persists, food choices are anchored in habit and perceived value, reinforcing the need for clearer quality and price justification within routine trips.
While c-stores are strongly associated with convenience and affordability, these equities do not consistently translate into food-led consideration. Many visits remain transactional, particularly fuel-driven, and prepared food offerings must compete against ingrained QSR perceptions and expectations. Opportunities lie in refining core strengths rather than pursuing complexity. Improvements in food quality, value perception, and operational consistency rank above feature-driven upgrades. Beverages, customization, and visible freshness cues offer accessible pathways to drive incremental engagement. Digital tools such as order-ahead and frictionless pickup can further integrate foodservice into everyday routines.
The next phase of growth will favor operators who balance differentiation with affordability and strengthening credibility without disrupting the speed and ease that define the channel.
For the purposes of this Report, Mintel defines convenience stores as establishments that retail a limited line of goods, primarily groceries and ready-to-consume beverages and snacks, in easily accessible locations. The majority of convenience stores also sell motor fuel. According to the NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores), common characteristics of convenience stores include:
Note: Sales data in this Report includes foodservice sales only and excludes sales of retail products (eg CPG) and sales of gasoline. Foodservice outlets that are franchised and/or operated by third parties, such as a Subway operating in a c-store, are also excluded from the market size.
The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:
Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.
We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:
Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.
Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.
Pay via credit card or invoice (net 30 payment terms)
We send a PDF, Powerpoint and Excel Databook straight to your inbox. An interactive version of the report is also available on our online platform
Focus on the data that matters most to you with a customisable databook avaliable on our platform
Discount automatically applied in basket
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn more
We use Mintel to inform our thinking and reinforce strategy. If you’re presenting new ideas, it’s essential they are underpinned by robust data and evidence, and clearly rooted in fact.
Mintel gives us all that. It’s a great brand and one that is trusted by clients.
We have such a great working relationship with Mintel on lots of different levels. As an insight partner, they have helped us to develop our business planning in specific categories as well as supporting our creative process but they’ve also been super helpful with facilitating our events in their inspirational offices near St Paul’s.
They’re an innovative company, with a client-focused team that always delivers.
One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.
We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.
We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.
We utilize Mintel Reports, Trends and Comperemedia to mine for insights across the numerous business verticals that Epsilon serves, such as CPG, automotive, telecom, healthcare/pharma, retail and financial services.
By integrating Mintel insight into new business opportunities, we have been able to gain the competitive edge necessary to advance partnerships with global brands and key business players.
For our organization, it’s about depth and breadth. Having one without the other doesn’t enable success in our business.
There is no question that Mintel is the go-to resource for the best quality market research, but I did not think it was an affordable option for Abacus Marketing to consider. As a small marketing agency, we only work with a few new clients each year.
However, we have a very high-end consultative approach to our work, so we really do need a partner like Mintel to provide the big agency experience we are always aiming to deliver. Our clients come from an incredibly diverse range of industry sectors, so we obviously need access to market research reports from a very wide spectrum of marketplaces – and that is precisely what we got.
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn more
