Convenience stores offer a wide array of snacks for their customers’ variable appeal, whether it be to have something to munch on along the road or as an energizer on a very busy day. With such an overwhelming amount of options, it is hard to pick out the right snacks. Herein, we review how one could choose the best snacks from convenience stores, underpinned by research, trends, and data on what is really selling.
The Convenience Store Snack Market: A Snapshot
The convenience store market is hot. As the National Association of Convenience Stores’ yearly numbers show, with over $700 billion of revenue annually generated in convenience stores, more and more consumers just enter convenience stores like ExtraMile convenience store to find a quick snack or meal and accordingly spend their money in an array of snacking options from chips up to healthy offerings.
Convenience stores may be in vogue, driven by road trips. In 2023, a Statista report showed that nearly 60% of Americans take road trips every year. On-the-go, many fuel up with snacks from convenience stores. These trends reflect the bigger preference for grab-and-go snacks that can be eaten in a jiffy, especially during travels.
What Makes a Great Snack Choice at a Convenience Store?
When choosing snacks from a convenience store, there are a couple of things you will need to pay attention to:
- Convenience: Snacks should be easy to grab and eat while you’re on the move.
- Taste: Snacks should not be good just for the salty or sweet tastes but must also be satisfying for that middle ground where your cravings sit.
- Health – People are after healthier options for snacks, which is driven more by the emerging concern for better nutrition and health.
- Variety: Convenience stores carry everything from indulgent snacking options to better-for-you.
Snack Options for Different Needs
Convenience store snacks have grown popular for use on the road because, according to some estimates, nearly 58% of users prefer their snacks portable and nonmessy and like them satisfying. Trail mix contains nuts and dried fruit, at times with few chocolate pieces or candy, giving it an all-round characteristic of being satisfying and convenient. A high-protein, portable snack, really good for a road trip in nature, is beef jerky. Granola bars give a healthy value and are rather easy to carry. Popcorn makes a low-calorie but similarly satisfying snack.
More people drink coffee today than ever; 64% of Americans drink at least one cup every day. The favorite snacks to go along with coffee include pastries-muffins, croissants, or donuts-cookies, such as chocolate chip or oatmeal nuts, like almonds or walnuts.
Health-conscious options include fruit cups, vegetable chips, and protein bars. Fruit cups contain necessary vitamins, vegetable chips are crunchy yet lower in calories than potato chips, and protein bars are an excellent source of protein and can be a meal replacement in a pinch. Overall, convenience store snacks offer a variety of options for different needs and preferences.
What to Avoid When Selecting Snacks
To avoid junk food snacks, opt for natural sources of sugar, like dried fruits, rather than those high in sugar like chips and other processed meats. Salty snacks, such as chips and processed meats, should also be avoided because it will make a person feel sluggish and thirstier. Instead, one can choose fresher options and avoid processed foods that contain preservatives and additives, which include sources of unhealthy fats.
Snack Trends in Convenience Stores
Consumer preference changes what snacks convenience stores should carry. Recent research by Technavio estimated that the global snack food market, driven by a change in taste and toward healthier, more sustainable products, is set to grow by an additional $14.3 billion by 2026.
It simply means that, with growth, there is an increasing trend in the number of convenience stores offering healthier snacks, organic options, and plant-based alternatives to meet up the growing demand for nutrition-conscious food.
How to Make the Best Choice
Snacking is made easy at ExtraMile by packaging together popular, convenient, and healthier options. The best choice of snack foods can be determined by considering what your needs are at that moment:
- If you need something to last a really long trip, stick to protein-rich snacks-like jerky or nuts.
- Granola bars and trail mix are quick bites that’ll keep you going for energy.
- If you are watching your calories, fruit cups or vegetable chips will work for you.
Conclusion: Smart Snacking at Convenience Stores
Convenience retailers have proved a cornerstone in the lives of people leading busy lifestyles. With proper information, one can make the right kind of snacking decisions, whether on a road trip or having coffee breaks or health-conscious snacking. With those all options available in one store, one should not need to settle when cravings get the better of them.
