Industry News

The retailer also expects to roughly double the number of stores that include a QSR, from 1,080 to 2,100, as it gears up for a 2026 IPO. Dive Insight: 7-Eleven’s plan to open 1,300 new stores through 2030 comes about six months after sharing that it would open 600 stores over four years, including 500 between 2025 and 2027. The 2030 target shows that 7-Eleven intends to ramp up annual store openings, and it has already increased the number of store openings planned for the next three years from 500 to 550. The 1,300 goal would represent about 10% of the 12,963 stores 7-Eleven had in North America in February. It’s also more stores than all but four of its c-store competitors have in their entire networks, according to the NACS top 100. It’s unclear if this will increase 7-Eleven’s overall store count, since the company also plans to close some underperforming…

Prepared food powers the 22nd consecutive record year of in-store sales at U.S. convenience stores. Foodservice in U.S. convenience stores continues to set brands apart by offering diverse and exciting menu options. It also drove in-store sales to record levels in 2024, according to newly released data from the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). Foodservice sales, which includes prepared food; commissary; and hot, cold, and frozen dispensed beverages, accounted for 28.7% of in-store sales and 39.6% of in-store gross margin dollars at convenience stores in 2024. Most foodservice sales are from prepared food, and that share has grown over the last five years. In 2024, prepared food accounted for 68.4% of foodservice sales. Foodservice sales have seen remarkable growth over the past 20 years. In 2004, 11.9% of in-store sales came from foodservice. Food-forward strategies at convenience stores are driving trips and enhancing customer experience. Despite sluggish convenience store sales…

Plans for Australia’s first large-scale advanced soft plastics recycling facility are a step closer, after Cleanaway and Viva Energy successfully completed their pre-feasibility study for the project. The collaboration will see the conversion of soft plastics into food-grade recycled plastics using Cleanaway’s collection infrastructure and Viva Energy’s refining and polymerisation capabilities. The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 3 April 2025, which will see the project move to a full feasibility study – the next key step in delivery of the project. The partners will be undertaking a 12-month feasibility and engineering study for both the sorting of the plastic and its transformation into pyrolysis oil. This will involve engaging with technology providers and engineering support to develop an integrated concept design and provide greater clarity around the capital and delivery costs. The front-end engineering and design phase is expected to start in 2026, once details of the…

UCB celebrated its trade partners during a Gala Dinner at its annual 2025 UCB National Member Conference at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast. Following three days of insightful business sessions, a trade show, and numerous networking opportunities, attendees were treated to a Disney themed gala dinner, during which UCB recognised its trade partners that have gone above and beyond to provide excellent service. Winners are chosen based on feedback from UCB members, making the recognition all the more valuable. UCB 2025 Trade Partner Award Winners

In a world that’s evolving faster than ever – driven by technology, shifting consumer behaviours, and changing workforce expectations – there’s one constant we can’t afford to overlook: the power of great people. It’s our people that make the real difference. The convenience industry is, at its heart, a people business. Yes, we talk about innovation, automation, data and AI – and all of those are important. But none of it matters if the people driving the experience aren’t empowered, connected and committed to delivering exceptional outcomes. Leadership today is less about titles and more about influence. It’s about showing up with clarity, authenticity, and empathy. And more importantly, it’s about creating environments where individuals can do their best work – and feel proud doing it. The shift to hybrid work has fundamentally changed the way we operate. Flexibility isn’t a perk anymore – it’s an expectation. But while flexibility…