Quality Food Not Associated With C-Stores In Consumers’ Minds

Harried on-the-go consumers appreciate the convenience of quick meals and snacks, as long as they don’t come from convenience stores, Mintel research has found. C-stores pride themselves on being the “ultimate destination for convenience, Mintel says, but research shows that a third of consumers have never bought food at a C-store because of perceived low quality. They do buy beverages there, however, including fountain drinks, coffee drinks and frozen beverages. Nevertheless, Mintel foodservice research director Eric Giandalone says, C-stores were less affected by the recession than restaurants. Mintel forecasts the $22.8 million C-store foodservice sector to grow by 4.1 percent in 2011.