C-Store Dive Outlook for 2023
As c-store operators look to the year ahead, what do they see?
No doubt many of them see an ongoing challenge in convincing price-conscious consumers to come into their stores to buy snacks, drinks and meals. Although inflation has been slowing down recently, the cumulative effect of so many months of paying high prices has pushed shoppers to look for better deals and new ways of relieving pressure on their wallets.
C-store operators are also rightly concerned about ongoing labor challenges, escalating demand for new technology and the need to stand out against so many other operators, including restaurants and dollar stores, that are moving assertively to secure consumer loyalty.
But the year ahead also carries plenty of promise. Options like self checkout are remaking how shoppers interact with stores, while personalized technology is opening up new frontiers in shopper loyalty. Manufacturers have innovative new products on tap. And in retail media, c-store chains see a tantalizing new way to boost their profit margins.
In this trendline, C-Store Dive lays out several industry developments that promise to significantly impact operators this year. Our “Top Trends” piece is informed by conversations with leading retail experts. We also take a look at some of the ways c-store designs are evolving, and at what’s ahead — in ways both good and bad — for the fast-growing retail media sector in 2023.
We’re confident these storylines will have a significant impact on c-store sales in the year ahead. Thank you for reading.
