Convenience Store Products: What to Sell for Real Growth

The convenience store (c-store) industry is evolving rapidly, driven by shifting consumer demands and competitive market dynamics. To thrive and serve your customers well, you need to carefully curate your product selection to attract customers, boost impulse purchases, and maximize profits.  

Choosing the right c-store products makes all the difference in keeping customers coming back and increasing revenue. Read on to learn more about how to select the best products for your c-store.  

Understanding the Convenience Store Market 

Changing consumer preferences are driving significant shifts in product offerings within the c-store industry. Here are five key trends to keep in mind:  

1. Health and Wellness: Consumers today are more health-conscious, and they prefer nutritious, low-calorie, and functional foods. Items like plant-based snacks, keto-friendly options, and sugar-free beverages are gaining popularity.  
2. Convenience with Quality: Busy lifestyles are driving demand for quick yet healthy meals. Ready-to-eat meals, fresh salads, and meal kits are replacing traditional snack foods as consumers look for substantial, nutritious options to consume on-the-go. 
3. Sustainability: There is a rising preference for eco-friendly products, including sustainably sourced snacks, organic items, and packaging that reduces waste. Consumers are also prioritizing brands that align with their environmental values.  
4. Ethnic and Global Flavors: Consumers these days are highly interested in global cuisines. As a result, products like sushi, ethnic snacks, and international sauces are becoming common in convenience stores, as consumers look for new flavors. 
5. Functional Beverages: Consumers are moving beyond traditional soft drinks and opting for beverages that offer added health benefits. This includes functional waters, juices containing probiotics, adaptogenic drinks, and plant-based milk. 

As consumer preferences shift, it's important to adapt your offerings to meet demand. Make sure you have the best convenience store supplies to stay competitive, and keep your shelves stocked with the most sought-after products. 

3 Core Product Categories for Convenience Stores 

Convenience stores thrive by offering a strategic mix of essential product categories that appeal to their customer base. Here are the three core product categories to focus on: 

1. Food and Beverages (F&B)

High-demand items in this category include snacks, ready-to-eat meals, and beverages.  While customers traditionally purchase sports drinks, frozen drinks, Red Bull, and salty snacks, there’s a growing preference for quick, nutritious options.  

Today, customers increasingly opt for plant-based snacks, protein bars, fresh salads, and functional drinks, such as energy waters or kombucha. Convenient snacks, such as protein bars, granola bars, and pre-packaged nuts, are also growing in popularity.  

In the F&B category, it's crucial to carefully select suppliers and manage inventory effectively. Here are some tips on how to improve these processes:  

• Source from local and trusted brands to make sure that items are fresh and high-quality.  
• Consider supplier reliability and product availability. 
• Base inventory management on demand patterns and seasonal trends. 
• Track expiration dates to minimize waste. 
• Optimize stock levels to maintain a diverse product offering.

2. Tobacco and Alcohol

Tobacco and alcohol are high-margin categories for convenience stores, but they come with strict regulatory requirements. Make sure you understand local laws about age restrictions, advertising guidelines, and taxation to avoid legal complications and fines. 

To maximize sales while staying within legal boundaries, strategically place and promote tobacco and alcohol products. Here are some effective strategies:  

• Position cigarette brands and alcohol products near checkout counters or in dedicated sections to increase visibility and drive sales. 
• Offer promotions or bundled deals, where permitted, to encourage customers to purchase these items. 
• Keep alcohol and tobacco products behind the counter to mitigate risks like theft—especially among those under the legal age for consumption.

3. Health and Beauty Products

Health and beauty products are increasingly popular as impulse buys, especially with the rise of on-the-go self-care. Items such as skincare products, hand sanitizers, and vitamins are often purchased during spontaneous shopping trips. 

To tap into the growing demand for health and beauty products, curate a selection that balances variety with practicality. Here are some recommendations:  

• Keep the selection simple yet appealing, focusing on essential products like travel-size skincare, pain relief medications, and hygiene items. 
• Offer a mix of popular, well-known brands alongside a few niche or organic options to cater to a variety of customers. 
• Maintain a manageable inventory system to keep products available without overstocking.

Emerging Product Opportunities  

As a retailer in the c-store industry, you should constantly explore new product categories catering to evolving trends. By tapping into these opportunities, you’ll differentiate your store and appeal to a broader customer base. Keep reading to learn about a handful of options. 

Locally Sourced and Artisan Products 

Consumers are becoming more interested in supporting local businesses, and are drawn to products with a unique, personal touch. Locally sourced and artisan products—such as handcrafted snacks, beverages, or beauty items, offer a sense of connection to the community and reflect a growing desire for authenticity. 

To capitalize on this trend, build strong relationships with local artisan suppliers to offer products that are both unique and aligned with customer values. Source limited-edition items, local delicacies, or products that reflect your store’s regional identity. These offerings create exclusivity and contribute to your store’s image as a champion of local craftsmanship. 

Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Goods 

With increasing awareness of environmental issues, consumers are seeking eco-conscious alternatives to traditional products. This shift has led to rising demand for sustainable items, such as biodegradable packaging, reusable shopping bags, reusable cups, and organic, fair-trade goods. Incorporate these products into your inventory to tap into the growing market of eco-friendly shoppers. Potential products include reusable water bottles, eco-friendly cleaning supplies, organic snacks, energy-efficient batteries, and sustainable personal care items like bamboo toothbrushes or refillable deodorants.  

Tech and Gadgets 

Technology and gadgets are parts of everyday life, even in c-stores. Items such as portable chargers, smart home devices, wireless earbuds, and phone accessories attract tech-savvy customers. These products add a modern touch to a store’s offerings and drive impulse purchases.  

When stocking tech items, price them competitively while factoring in supplier costs and demand forecasts. Manage inventory carefully, as electronics move quickly and become obsolete fast. If your stocked items are no longer in high demand, sell them at a discount rather than holding onto them and risking further depreciation. 

Strategic Product Placement and Promotion 

Effective product placement and well-executed promotional strategies are essential for locating products and boosting sales. By focusing on the store layout and using targeted promotions, you’ll encourage frequent purchases and increase overall sales. 

Effective Layout and Design 

The layout of a convenience store guides customers through the shopping experience and influences their buying decisions. Strategically place products in high-traffic areas or near checkout counters to increase visibility and encourage impulse purchases.  

High-margin items such as premium snacks, beverages, and unique or impulse-buy products should be positioned in high-visibility "hot spots" throughout the store. Place these products near entrances, aisles with heavy foot traffic, or by checkout areas. Additionally, create visually appealing displays or product groupings to draw attention and encourage customers to explore. 

Promotional Strategies 

Discounts and special offers are powerful tools for driving sales, especially for targeted products. Offer time-limited discounts or bundled deals to encourage customers to add more items to their carts. Utilize loyalty programs to incentivize repeat purchases and improve customer retention.  

Capitalizing on seasonal trends and local events is another excellent way to increase sales of relevant products. For example, offer discounts on cold beverages and snacks during summer months or create themed promotions around holidays. Doing so will increase foot traffic. Event-driven promotions, such as discounts tied to local sports games or festivals, can also boost store visits.  

2 Ways to Use Technology for Inventory and Sales Management 

By embracing technology, you improve operational efficiency and provide a better experience for your customers. Here are two ways to use technology in your c-store: 

1. Point of Sale (POS) Systems 

Modern POS systems do more than just process transactions—they also manage inventory and analyze sales data. Here are four advantages of modern POS systems:  

1. Real-Time Inventory Tracking: Advanced POS systems track stock levels in real time, making sure you are always aware of product availability. This reduces the risk of stockouts and maintains a well-stocked, balanced inventory. 
2. Reorder Alerts: These systems automatically alert you when it's time to reorder popular products. With these alerts, you’ll never forget to reorder an item again.  
3. Sales Data Analysis: Advanced POS systems collect detailed sales data, which you can use to uncover purchasing patterns, customer preferences, and seasonal trends. These insights allow you to make informed decisions about product assortment, promotions, and pricing strategies. 
4. Guiding Inventory Decisions: These systems analyze both historical and real-time sales data to optimize inventory management. This lets you make data-driven decisions to adjust stock levels and improve product selection. 

2. Online Ordering and Delivery Integration 

Integrating online ordering and delivery services gives your store a competitive edge. Here are three key benefits: 

1. Expanding Reach: Online ordering allows you to cater to customers who prefer the ease of ordering from home or while on-the-go. This increases your store’s reach.  
2. Additional Revenue Stream: Delivery services unlock a new revenue channel for c-stores. This attracts customers who may not visit in person but still wish to purchase items like snacks, beverages, and other essentials. 
3. Improved Product Accessibility: Delivery makes it easier for customers to access a wider variety of products you carry. For instance, Customer A, who previously only made impulse buys like candy and drinks in-store, can now order essentials like milk and bread for delivery. This increases their overall spend.

Challenges in Product Selection and Management 

Effective product selection and management are crucial for c-stores, but they come with their own set of challenges. Here are some key challenges you’ll face as a c-store owner:  

3 Inventory Management Challenges 

Inventory management is one of the most critical aspects of c-store operations. These three challenges hinder operational efficiency and negatively impact your bottom line: 

1. Overstocking: Excess inventory ties up capital and increases storage costs. Avoid overstocking by accurately forecasting demand and tracking stock with a POS system. 
2. Understocking: On the flip side, understocking leads to missed sales opportunities and dissatisfied customers. Balance your inventory and reduce the risk of understocking by using demand data, sales history, and seasonal trends. 
3. Inventory Turnover: Low inventory turnover is a sign of inefficient product selection or poor sales performance. To keep turnover rates healthy, monitor product sales regularly and adjust stock levels accordingly. 

2 Challenges With Supplier Relations 

Building and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers is essential for ensuring a steady supply of high-quality products at competitive prices. Here are two challenges you may face in this area:  

1. Maintaining Good Relationships: One challenge is establishing and nurturing clear communication and trust with suppliers. Without consistent follow-ups, feedback on product quality, and timely resolution of issues, it’s difficult to build lasting partnerships that benefit both parties. 
2. Negotiating Better Terms: Another challenge is negotiating favorable prices and terms with suppliers. Without leveraging purchasing volume or long-term partnerships, you may miss out on opportunities for better pricing, flexible payment terms, or exclusive deals that boost profitability. 

Frequently Asked Questions About C-Store Products 

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about c-store products. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to optimize your product offerings, these FAQs will help you understand what works best in the c-store industry. 

What are convenience store products? 

Convenience store products are everyday items customers need quickly and easily, often without the need for a full supermarket shopping trip. These products include snacks, beverages, ready-to-eat meals, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, over-the-counter medications, tobacco, alcohol, and other items.  

Convenience stores provide a wide range of essential products that cater to the needs of busy customers, with fast and easy access to items like snacks, drinks, and basic household necessities. The product mix focuses on convenience, affordability, and accessibility.  

What are the best-selling items in convenience stores? 

The best-selling items in convenience stores include snacks, beverages, and ready-to-eat meals. Popular snacks include chips, candy bars, and protein bars, while beverages range from soft drinks and energy drinks to bottled water and coffee. Pre-packaged meals, such as sandwiches, salads, and microwavable options, are also great products that are high in demand.  

Health-conscious products like plant-based snacks and functional beverages are gaining popularity as consumer preferences shift toward healthier alternatives. Tobacco products, smokeless tobacco options and alcohol are also major sellers. These items are staples due to their quick, on-the-go convenience. 

How do you get products for a convenience store? 

To get products for a convenience store, establish relationships with wholesalers, distributors, or manufacturers and place orders with them. Many convenience store owners work with local or national distributors who provide a wide range of products suited to their market.  

For niche or high-demand products, partner with local suppliers or source them from specialized vendors. Building strong relationships with suppliers is key to ensuring a consistent product supply, negotiating better prices, and obtaining favorable terms. Additionally, you can attend trade shows and stay updated on consumer trends to discover new product opportunities.  

Is owning a convenience store profitable? 

Owning a convenience store can be profitable, but success depends on several factors, including location, product selection, and operational efficiency. Convenience stores benefit from high foot traffic and offer high-margin products, such as snacks, beverages, and tobacco. However, competition is intense, and profit margins may be lower than other types of retail businesses.  

The key to profitability is managing inventory effectively, optimizing product placement, and maintaining good relationships with suppliers. If you offer services like online ordering and delivery, this expands your revenue opportunities.  

Iterating On Your Store’s Inventory 

Here’s your key takeaway—choosing the right products is vital to success in the c-store industry. By focusing on core categories, staying aware of trends, and using effective inventory management, you can boost sales and maintain customer loyalty.  

Want to grow your c-store and generate more revenue? Contact Paytronix today for expert guidance on how to do just that. Alternatively, check out our guide on How to Maximize Online Ordering for C-stores.