“As summer temperatures rise, Stewart’s Shops has the perfect way to stay refreshed,” the retailer noted in a statement. “The 20-ounce Stewart’s Refresher line is freshly made bottled beverages from Stewart’s Shops that include teas, lemonades, juices and energy beverages produced at the Stewart’s plant in Greenfield, N.Y.”

Stewart’s noted that its Refreshers are never stored in warm climates, but they are kept cool from production to delivery in an effort to “ensure the highest quality freshest taste possible,” the statement continued.

Refresher flavors available in-store now include:

• Raspberry Tea
• Green Tea
• Unsweetened Brewed Tea
• Sweet Tea
• Lemon Tea
• Country Club
• Lemonade
• Strawberry Lemonade
• Fruit Punch
• Blue Raspberry
• Diet Peach Tea
• Diet Country Club

As Stewart’s continues to roll out innovative rewards and deals for its customers, it is simultaneously investing in its store network. Last week, the chain announced a $55 million investment to expand and renovate its locations across New York and Vermont, according to a recent statement from the chain.

“There is a growing need for fresh, quality food and beverages, plus our award-winning milk and ice cream and other services,” said Stewart’s Shops president Chad Kiesow. “We are committed to investing in our shops so we can serve our communities to the best of our ability.”

To accomplish its goal, Stewart’s is expanding in several markets this year with the opening of new shops in Sidney, Alexandria Bay and Cohoes, N.Y. The company also opened a shop this month in the former Dexter Market location near Watertown, N.Y.

The Dexter site underwent a $2.5 million transformation following a two-month renovation period in March and April. The shop now features a large food bar with soup, meatballs and mac & cheese. Stewart’s also added an expanded grocery section, a sandwich station and a beer cave.

To celebrate the opening of the new shop, Stewart’s held a grand opening event with food and drink specials on May 29. The company donated $1,000 and $500 in gift certificates to General Brown High School and $1,000 to the Dexter Free Library to mark the occasion.

The retailer is also rebuilding locations in Dolgeville, Norwich, Saratoga Springs, St. Johnsville, Watertown and Wilton, N.Y.

Meanwhile, Stewart’s continues to rebrand and introduce ice cream counters at several of the former Jolley shops that were acquired in late 2024.

“Stewart’s one-stop-shop model of serving as a coffee shop, a restaurant, an ice cream shop and a gas station has helped the company play an important role in neighborhoods throughout New York and Vermont,” Kiesow said.

In addition to the larger construction projects, Stewart’s is remodeling at least 15 shops to increase food and beverage offerings at some of its older, smaller locations.

To support this growth, Stewart’s is in the midst of a multiyear, $30 million expansion of its plant and commercial kitchen just outside Saratoga Springs in Greenfield, N.Y.

Today, Stewart’s owns and operates more than 400 convenience stores across upstate New York, Vermont and western New Hampshire.

The post Stewart’s Shops Announces Return of Fan-Favorite Refresher Sale appeared first on CStore Decisions.

The brand-new store will be open 24/7 and will offer the chain’s signature fresh food, fuel and convenience items. To commemorate the occasion, the chain is hosting a special, ticketed “Get Ready to ROFO” soft opening event on June 24 and 25, offering customers a glimpse of the new store and a complimentary meal from the soft opening menu.

“This new Conshohocken location allows us to better serve Montgomery County with the quality, speed and consistency Royal Farms is known for,” said Melanie Clements, district leader at Royal Farms. “We’re excited to open our doors and welcome the community in.”

The move comes at a period of growth for Royal Farms. Just two weeks ago, the retailer announced that it would open a new location in its home state of Maryland, located in Harwood. The grand opening for the site is set for June 10 and 11 and will also offer guests a free meal from the condensed menu.

“There’s a unique pride that comes with expanding in the state where we started. We’re looking forward to serving up our signature chicken and fries with the same homegrown hospitality Marylanders have trusted for decades,” said Steve Rymer, district leader at Royal Farms.

Additionally, in mid-May, the chain unveiled its first-ever c-store in South Carolina, located in Myrtle Beach. The site features 12 fuel dispensers, a car wash and the chain’s World-Famous Chicken.

“We are honored to officially join the Myrtle Beach community as a reliable, 24/7 neighbor. Beyond our World-Famous Chicken, we are bringing real value to South Carolina through our ROFO Rewards program and a commitment to fresh, affordable meals for every resident. We look forward to being the go-to spot where quality and community meet,” said Joe Kieper, district leader at Royal Farms.

Royal Farms operates more than 300 locations. The chain opened its first store in Baltimore, Md., in 1959. Today, the retailer has locations in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The post Royal Farms Grows Pennsylvania Footprint appeared first on CStore Decisions.

The agreement includes 15 locations in the Des Moines, Iowa metro area, two in Davenport, Iowa, one in Marion, Iowa, two in the Omaha, Neb., metro, and one in Lakeville, Minn. 

The deal marks the “next major step in their strategic growth plans,” Pump & Pantry noted in a statement.

“Since 1971, Pump & Pantry has earned the trust of Nebraskans by delivering a reliable, welcoming stop on the road,” said Charlie Bosselman, CEO. “Now we’re bringing that same experience — great fuel options, everyday convenience and friendly service — to even more communities. We’re energized to aggressively grow our footprint across the Midwest and to welcome new team members and new customers to the Pump & Pantry family. We are also excited to announce our partnership with Starbucks Coffee and Smokey Row Coffee. We think these exceptional brands fit nicely into the hometown experience offered at Pump & Pantry locations.”

“The focus of the Pump & Pantry brand, as well as Bosselman’s brand, is very much aligned with Hy-Vee,” said Lucas Glasgow, senior vice president, Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh. “We’re confident that these locations, under the Pump & Pantry brand, will continue to deliver the same outstanding quality and value to customers on the go as they’ve come to expect from our stores. This move allows us to put more focus on our core business of operating retail grocery stores as well as convenience stores that are adjacent to our existing Hy-Vee stores. Once the transition is complete, we will continue operating 168 convenience stores and have plans to build more Hy-Vee stores in 2027 and beyond.”

Pump & Pantry currently operates 48 convenience stores across Nebraska. Following the close, these Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh locations will be rebranded as Pump & Pantry stores and will continue to offer Hy-Vee Fuel Saver redemptions.

The retailer expects a smooth transition at the Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota locations throughout July, it noted in its statement. At the conclusion of this acquisition, Pump & Pantry will operate 69 convenience stores in three states. In addition, Pump & Pantry is excited to expand Hy-Vee Fuel Saver redemption to all 69 of its locations in the coming months.

The post Pump & Pantry Picks Up 21 Hy-Vee C-Stores, Expands Midwest Footprint appeared first on CStore Decisions.

Cigarette dollar sales in convenience stores rolled in at flat (down 0.6%) at $50.7 billion for the 52 weeks ending March 22, 2026, with unit sales down 5.9% and price per unit up 5.7%, according to Total U.S. Convenience data from Chicago-based research firm Circana.  

Retailers are seeing the trend play out at store level. At Cliff’s Local Market, with 22 stores throughout central New York, cigarette unit sales fell 3.98% in 2025. 

“Customers are trading down or out of the combustible category all together,” confirmed William Laraby, purchasing, manager, Cliffs Local Market. 

The only growth Cliff’s is seeing in the cigarette category is coming from fourth-tier products. 

“For the first time in our company total other tobacco product (OTP) gross margin has surpassed cigarette gross margin for year ending 2025,” Laraby explained. “The majority of that was led by the new modern oral category.”

Meanwhile at Signal Food Stores, cigarette sales have seen double-digit growth since the chain dropped the EDLP (everyday low price) program last year, “however all that growth is coming from the cheap, fourth-tier brands,” noted Sean Bumgarner, VP, Scrivener Oil Co. Inc. dba Signal Food Stores, which operates 13 locations in Missouri. 

“People are looking for value and are trading down to fourth-tier or looking for deal or promos on their favorite brand of cigarettes,” Bumgarner said. That said, the chain expects cigarette sales to be up in 2026.

Erin Slater, category manager, InConvenience Inc., which operates Gas Spot (with fuel) and Good Spot (without fuel) convenience stores, agreed. “Ongoing pricing pressure and inflation continue to drive heightened price sensitivity among consumers, and many are actively trading down into value and fourth-tier cigarettes.  In response, we’ve had to position ourselves to be more competitive in this space.”

But even though the cigarette segment overall is experiencing volume declines, InConvenience Inc. expects “relatively stable performance in 2026,” Slater said. 

The woman-led company opened in early 2024, and it currently operates 29 stores in Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas and Texas. 

“As a newer operator, we are still in a growth phase and are seeing category gains as we build awareness, optimize assortment and establish our position in the market,” Slater added. 

Reviving Cigar Sales 

Cigar sales in c-stores came in flat (down 0.7%) totaling $4.09 billion for the 52 weeks ending March 22, 2026, according to Circana, with unit sales down 6%. Dollar sales of large mass cigars were flat (0.0%) in dollar sales and down 5.3% in unit sales, while premium cigars fell 9.6% in dollar sales and dropped 19.1% in unit sales for the period. Little cigars faced the biggest declines, down 18.2% in dollar sales and 22.5% in unit sales.  

Cigar sales are faring better at Cliff’s Local Market than they are nationally. Laraby reported that sales are up 1% in units, 7% in dollar sales and 9.7% in gross margin for 2025. A shift in strategy has been behind the boost. 

“A couple years ago we reduced our cigar offerings and stopped brining in every limited-time offering (LTO) under the sun, in part due to the New York State cigar tax,” he explained. 

Instead, the chain focused in on stocking the cigar products customers were routinely buying. The move paid off. 

“We continue to see modest growth by focusing on the core items. When we were taking in all the LTOs and new items, we found stores were routinely out of the better selling items as (we) tried to move through LTOs,” Laraby said. 

Cliff’s still sells LTO cigars, but today the chain is more selective about which LTOs they bring in. 

In 2026, individual small cigars, two-pack cigarillos and flavored blunts are driving the most sales at Cliff’s. 

“We have seen a 29% increase in Black & Mild singles and a 24% increase in BluntVille singles,” he said.  

Meanwhile, in Missouri, Signal Food Stores has found the most success with flavored cigars and LTOs. 

“Currently, our year-to-date volume for cigars is up slightly,” Bumgarner said, attributing that to the chain’s success with LTOs.   

At InConvenience Inc., value remains a key driver for cigar shoppers, just like it is with cigarette customers. 

“Consumers are increasingly seeking affordability, with multi-pack formats and price-promoted offerings are outperforming,” Slater said.  “At the same time, the category is benefiting from demand for variety and flavor. As we continue to develop our assortment, we are focused on implementing manufacturer-supported programs to improve visibility, drive trial and better align with customer preferences.”

Flavored cigars are currently the primary growth driver within the chain’s cigar assortment, Slater said.

“Over the past year, we have expanded our authorized assortment to better meet customer demand, which has contributed to increased sales in this segment,” Slater added. “We continue to see opportunity in balancing flavor offerings with other key formats to support trial and repeat purchase.”

Opportunities In Accessories

Cliff’s has seen the tobacco accessories market shifting as tobacco trends change. 

In 2025, for example, unit sales of rolling papers declined by 5%, while unit sales of pre-rolled, fillable cones rose by 29% — a trend likely driven by the legalization of cannabis in New York.

Meanwhile at Signal Food Stores, “Lighters and rolling papers are doing great,” Bumgarner said. 

Good Spot and Gas Spot stores offer a limited assortment of accessories currently, with rolling papers representing the primary item as the chain focuses on building the core tobacco categories, Slater explained. “As we expand, we see opportunity to drive incremental sales through a more comprehensive accessory set and improved merchandising to encourage add-on purchases,” she added.

Gas Spot and Good Spot stores are playfully nicknamed “the G Spot,” a moniker the chain is leaning into because it’s both memorable and attention-getting with customers. 

Recently, the chain saw an opportunity to leverage its creative name to boost accessories sales and began selling branded lighters “with cheeky sayings,” explained Lindsay Griffith, marketing and community engagement manager, for InConvenience Inc. 

“The idea came from customers who asked for ‘G Spot lighters,’ and boy did we get them some memorable designs! Alicia LaFollette, our brand director, designed the lighters and they certainly make an impression,” Griffith said. 

Griffith did an analysis of the chain’s lighter sales and out of 1,400 lighters sold in the last year, she found that some of the bestselling lighters consisted of two designs with popular logos. 

“We leaned into our cheeky branding with three single-color designs, pricing them below the logo-ed lighters, and giving them front and center placement on the displays. After only four weeks of sales, the branded lighters are our second highest-selling brand. They’re definitely giving the other brands a run for their money,” Griffith said.

Upselling by store employees takes some of the credit. 

“We hear consistently from employees that suggesting a lighter or matches when someone is buying combustibles is an easy basket builder,” Griffith said. “Employees have told me that they just say, ‘Do you need a light for that?’ and customers realize that they do need a lighter or matches. I think the obvious connection to what it is being purchased, and that the suggestion is often appreciated by the customer, makes that question an easy go-to for basket building.” 

The post Cigarette Consumers Shift to Fourth-Tier Brands Amid Rising Prices appeared first on CStore Decisions.

Beer purchase data from Fintech shows that beer sales gained momentum through the end of Q1 2026. Based on data from more than 300,000 retailers, including over 147,000 off-premise retail accounts, this year’s first-quarter sales trended higher than in Q1 2024 and Q1 2025. As gas prices rose sharply in the latter half of March, beer sales also gained momentum.

The correlation is largely tied to changes in consumer spending behavior. Increased gas costs shift consumers from “away from home” establishments to “at home” establishments. Those at-home occasions are typically supplied through off-premise retailers, including convenience stores. In these environments, beer is much less expensive, and the quantity purchased is much higher. Consumers increasingly appear to be substituting on-premise alcohol purchases with packaged beer purchases through off-premise channels. 

This positive correlation is exacerbated by the seasonal timing. Beer sales typically rise heading into Q2. Spring months are filled with social gatherings, from Cinco de Mayo celebrations to graduation parties and Memorial Day barbecues.  

Current macroeconomic trends are creating tailwinds for seasonal beer demand and off-premise purchasing trends. While consumers are changing where they buy beer, brand preferences remain largely consistent. Michelob Ultra remained the leading off-premise brand by dollar share in Q1 2026, gaining 0.9 share points. Modelo Especial also remains popular, gaining 0.5 share year-over-year in Q1 2026. Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Lite round out the top five brands for the last quarter.  

Products beyond traditional beer are also gaining popularity. Heineken Zero maintained the top share of dollar in the combined on- and off-premise in the low and no alcohol category for Q1 2026. Michelob Ultra Zero ranked second, but experienced the biggest share gain of 3.2 year-over-year. Corona NA ranked third, with a 2.4 share gain year-over-year. In the cider category, Angry Orchard maintained the top share of dollars in on- and off-premise combined for Q1 2026, with 38.1%, a 0.8 share gain from Q1 2025. 

These trends reinforce the importance of beer category visibility heading into the summer season. As consumers continue favoring at-home consumption, retailers may benefit from emphasizing cold-box availability, value-oriented pack sizes and variety across categories such as NA and seltzers. The retailers that align inventory, promotions and product assortment with evolving purchasing patterns may be better positioned to capture incremental summer sales while grappling with challenges at the gas pump. 

Higher fuel prices may continue to pressure household budgets, but they may also accelerate preference toward at-home consumption occasions. For convenience retailers, that trend could provide an important tailwind for beer sales heading into the peak summer selling season.  

Lester Jones, CBE, is VP, analytics and chief economist for the National Beer Wholesalers Association.

The post A Surprising Bright Spot: Higher Gas Prices May Prove Good for Beer Sales appeared first on CStore Decisions.

The Slidell, La., site is located at the TravelCenters of America (TA) on I-10 and features 12 charging bays and convenient amenities inside.

In Texas, the chain’s new station is also at a TA on I-10 and features 12 400-kilowatt charging bays. The site also includes a full travel store, restrooms, ATM, a pet area and quick-service restaurants (QSRs). The new Ashland, Va., site boasts similar amenities and is also situated at a TA location.

Earlier this month, bp pulse grew to Michigan and Utah with its first sites in the states, as well as a additional locations across Texas.

Recent moves include:

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Located at the Briarwood Mall, customers access convenient amenities at the first bp pulse site in Michigan.

• Number of charging bays: 20
• Charger speeds: 400 kilowatts
• Connectors: CCS and NACS
• Amenities: On-site shopping mall, restaurants, restrooms and coffee shops

Salt Lake City, Utah

Located just 3.5 miles from Salt Lake City Airport, the company’s first site in Utah is ideal for ride-hail drivers, EV rental return charging or airport pickups and drop offs.

• Number of charging bays: 24
• Charger speeds: 400kW
• Connectors: CCS and NACS
• Amenities: Covered canopy, wi-fi

Hillsboro, Texas

Located at a TravelCenters of America (TA) station, the site expands the company’s growing presence across Texas.

• Number of charging bays: 12
• Charger speeds: 400kW
• Connectors: CCS and NACS
• Amenities: Travel store, restrooms, ATM, pet area and restaurants

bp pulse is continuing to build out its network across a variety of site types in bp’s retail network of bp, Amoco, ampm, Thorntons and TA locations.

The post bp pulse Continues its Rapid EV Expansion, Opens First Louisiana Site appeared first on CStore Decisions.

A key development happened in early May when the FDA issued premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) marketing granted orders (MGOs) for four Glas vapor pods: Classic Menthol, Fresh Menthol, Gold (Mango) and Sapphire (Blueberry) — all with 5% nicotine content. 

These authorizations are the first for flavored vapor products. The FDA also recognized the Glas G2 technology, which includes Bluetooth-enabled device-level age verification and access controls. Additionally in March, FDA issued MGOs to the Glas G2 device and a Blonde Tobacco 5% pod. With these recent authorizations, the FDA has now issued MGOs for 45 vapor products.

While there are now only 45 vapor products that have received an MGO, authorizing the first flavored vapor products is a significant step towards expanding adult cigarette consumers’ choices of products that are recognized as less risky.  Research continues to show that flavored vapor products and nicotine pouches can play an important role in helping adult smokers move away from combustible tobacco products.

Behind the scenes, there have been reports of disagreements between the FDA and the White House Administration on the agency’s approach to tobacco and nicotine regulation. It is reported that the Administration favors a more science-based harm-reduction framework that recognizes the role authorized smoke-free products can play for adult smokers. Some in the FDA are concerned that authorizing flavored vapor and nicotine pouches might increase youth usage and negate the notable significant declines in youth usage of tobacco found in the recently published National Youth Tobacco Survey.

Enforcement Priorities 

On the enforcement front, the FDA finalized guidance entitled “Enforcement Priorities for Certain New Tobacco Products Marketed Without Premarket Authorization.” In the guidance, FDA does not intend to prioritize enforcement of the premarket authorization requirement for vapor and nicotine pouch products.

• That are subject to an application that is pending, and the application has been accepted for review, and the application is pending for more than 180 days; and

• For flavored vapor products, if FDA has determined that the application also includes data necessary to evaluate whether such product is appropriate for the protection of the public health. 

Notably, the FDA has further indicated that, to promote transparency to consumers, retailers and other industry stakeholders, it intends to create and maintain a public-facing webpage identifying manufacturers and their associated products that the FDA generally does not intend to prioritize enforcement against as described earlier. The FDA will update the webpage on a rolling basis to reflect changes in manufacturer status, including the addition of manufacturers and products, and, where applicable, the removal of manufacturers and products that no longer qualify under this policy.  

With all these developments, NATO (the National Association of Tobacco Outlets) will be hosting a conference with a special celebration to recognize its 25th anniversary. Included in the agenda are insights to FDA activity on tobacco and nicotine products, and invited presenters include leadership from FDA Center for Tobacco Products to provide an update on the agency’s work.   

To learn more about the conference and to register, click here.

David Spross is the executive director of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO), a national retail trade association that represents 66,000 stores throughout the country. 

The post First Flavored Vape Products Receive FDA Approval as Agency Updates Enforcement Priorities appeared first on CStore Decisions.

Mohammed Ali, who runs two high-volume retail locations in Florida, realized the difference a trusted OTP brand could make for his business. It started when Ali noticed a trend: many “snowbirds,” or Northern customers who travel south during the winter, were asking for Cheyenne. Cheyenne has a long history of helping operators achieve sales success, whether that is through fourth-tier cigarettes, moist snuff, or filtered cigars.

Ali decided to invest in Cheyenne Cigars’ “Core Four” flavors: Full Flavor, Menthol, Wild Cherry, and Classic. Rather than overextending into too many options, Ali focused on these proven, high-demand SKUs, which helped reduce risk while maximizing sell-through.

These popular SKUs paid off quickly. “Customers are loyal to their specific Cheyenne flavor,” Ali says. “Now I keep every style of Cheyenne Cigars in stock.” Many customers transitioned from buying a pack or two to purchasing entire cartons, proving that a focused assortment of trusted products can drive both loyalty and higher volume. By keeping these core flavors consistently available, Ali was also able to build repeat traffic and reinforce purchasing habits among his regular customers.

According to the NACS State of the Industry Report, OTP represents the third-highest source of in-store revenue outside of foodservice, making it one of the most important categories for convenience retailers to manage effectively. While cigarette sales continue to decline, OTP sales have shown steady growth, creating new opportunities for operators willing to adapt to changing consumer preferences.

For Mohammed Ali, success came from keeping the strategy simple. By paying attention to customer demand and focusing on proven products, he built stronger loyalty, increased repeat purchases, and drove larger transactions. His experience highlights an important lesson for retailers navigating today’s tobacco category: you don’t need more products – you need the right products. A focused assortment of trusted, high-performing brands can help maximize limited shelf space while delivering the consistency consumers expect.

For more information, contact Cheyenne at contactus@cheyenneintl.com.

The post As Tobacco Habits Change, Retailers Find Growth Opportunities in OTP appeared first on CStore Decisions.

The transaction, which closed in December 2025, includes AOC’s branded and unbranded dealer wholesale accounts, representing more than 90 million gallons annually. AOC has retained ownership of its commercial fuels and lubricants business, including its bulk plants and cardlocks.

Founded in 1972, AOC grew from a modest regional supplier into a leading independent wholesale fuel and lubricants distributor in central Texas. Over its more than five decades in operation, AOC built a full-service platform serving retail, commercial, farm and fleet customers, with branded supply relationships with Valero, Motiva, and Sunoco.

“Alexander Oil is one of the most respected family-owned distributors in Texas, with deep customer relationships and a long history of operational excellence,” said Carl Ray Polk, Jr., managing partner, Corner Capital. “It has been our privilege to work alongside the Alexander family throughout this transaction, and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Jay and Jud.”

“Our family has been committed to serving our customers across Texas for more than five decades, and we are confident Sunoco will continue that legacy of dependable service,” said owners Jay Alexander and Jud Alexander. “We are grateful to our employees and customers for their loyalty over the years and look forward to seeing these operations transition smoothly under Sunoco’s leadership. We also want to recognize Corner Capital, whose steady guidance, industry expertise and hands-on support were instrumental in helping us navigate this transition.”

The move from Sunoco comes as the company continues to build out its store network through acquisitions. In January, Sunoco inked an industry-shifting deal to acquire 36 c-stores from Pops Mart Fuel, a chain of 54 stores located in North Carolina, South Carolina and Wisconsin.

Pops Mart CEO Don Draughon noted at the time that the synergies between the two companies was too compelling to pass up.

Then in February, Sunoco acquired Jernigan Oil Co.’s convenience retail division, encompassing 56 locations across North Carolina and Virginia.

Jernigan is headquartered in Ahoskie, N.C., and operates a diversified business that includes convenience retail, propane distribution, commercial fuels, fuels transportation and marina operations. The company used the proceeds from the sale of its convenience retail division to reinvest and grow its other businesses,

The post Sunoco Acquires Wholesale Assets from Alexander Oil Co. appeared first on CStore Decisions.

One factor that is largely out of retailers’ control, however, is pricing. According to Datassential’s C-Store Quarterly Tracker from Q1, which taps into the pulse of the c-store foodservice industry using monthly survey data, 51% of respondents noted that c-store prices seemed higher than the previous month.

Forty-three percent said that prices seemed the same, while 6% said they seemed lower.

Generationally, the Baby Boomers are feeling the price increases the most heavily, with 61% responding that prices seemed higher. Fifty-six percent of Gen Xers said that prices seemed higher, with Millennials and Gen Zers coming in at 49% and 40%, respectively.

On the operator side, the majority of respondents reported that they are remaining profitable through this period of uncertainty and shifting customer perception.

Overall, 65% of retailers reported a profitable, average month, while 18% said they had an excellent, or “very profitable” month.

Eighteen percent noted that they had a “not very profitable” month, while notably, 0% said that they broke even or made a loss.

Looking ahead, operators are less than optimistic about traffic levels in their stores. Nearly half (47%) of respondents expect lower traffic levels in the coming month, with 35% expecting similar traffic levels and 18% expecting higher traffic levels.

Datassential’s report explores a range of macro factors including consumer financial health, spending confidence, price sensitivity, saving strategies and more.

Read the C-Store Quarterly Tracker here.

The post C-Store Shoppers Feel the Pinch as 51% Report Higher Prices, Datassential Finds appeared first on CStore Decisions.