Pastrami-bacon-jam burgers and salmon sandwiches: Gas stations are going gourmet

"It has a drive-through, curbside pickup area, and gourmet menu items-and it's a model of the convenience store of the future. Fireside Market's burger and sandwich menu is several steps up from the outdated idea of day-old taquitos spinning on a rotating food warmer at the local convenience store. Instead, its menu has items like a burger topped with bacon, pastrami, and balsamic-onion jam, and a grilled-salmon sandwich."

"The percentage of in-store sales that comes from food service-a category that includes prepared foods, commissary, and beverages-is on the rise. It grew from 23% of in-store sales in 2021 to nearly 29% today, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores trade group. That trend is especially noticeable at breakfast time: Sales from morning-meal traffic at food-forward convenience stores grew 9% in the third quarter this year, compared to just 1% at fast-food chains, according to data from market research firm Circana."

"Fireside Market's 9,700-square-foot Slinger location, its first with EV chargers, is designed for this new reality. 7-Eleven closed more than 400 stores in North America last year, but it's looking to grow its fresh prepared-food offerings as part of its comeback. Meanwhile, food-forward chains are in expansion mode. Buc-ee's opened its largest location ever in Luling, Texas, last year, while convenience store chain Sheetz opened its 800th location in Raleigh, North Carolina, in Aug"

Falling demand for gas, tobacco, and lottery tickets has upended the business model convenience stores once relied on. Convenience stores are increasingly investing in kitchens, prepared foods, and gourmet menus to replace declining fuel and tobacco revenue. Food service share of in-store sales rose from 23% in 2021 to nearly 29% today, with morning-meal sales at food-forward stores growing 9% in Q3 versus 1% at fast-food chains. Fireside Market's new Slinger location features a drive-through, curbside pickup, EV chargers, and elevated burger and sandwich offerings. Large chains like 7‑Eleven, Buc‑ee's, and Sheetz are expanding or shifting toward fresh prepared-food offerings.

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