Six trends that redefine Canadian convenience stores
Intouch Insight launched the findings of their study on the outlying trends that c-stores compete for. Issues like customer visits, loyalty and operational consistency were explored in their 2026 C-store Trends Report.
As the traditional “gas-and-go” model is changing, customers are shifting their spending habits meals, beverages, EV charging and everyday services according to Cameron Watt, president and chief executive officer of Intouch Insight. “Convenience stores are no longer competing on proximity alone.”
Convenience store as a ‘third place’ or a destination
As inflation is tightening the purse strings on many customers' budgets, many are reducing their spending. C-stores are now expanding their role in consumers’ routines, according to the study, and becoming more of a “third place,” a social space that is neither home nor a workplace.
These third places are a destination where customers are “given a reason to stay longer, return more often and view the store as more than a transactional stop,” said the report. “Customers are already looking to c-stores for more varied missions, including coffee or fountain beverages, restrooms, prepared foods or fresh meals, and loyalty program offers or app deals.”
Trend 1: Foodservice as a c-store draw
“In the battle for customer loyalty, proximity is no longer enough,” Intouch Insight reported. “We’re seeing a massive spike in people grabbing breakfast and lunch at their local shop, likely because everyone’s back in the office and looking for a quick, cheap bite.”
Almost 60% of the convenience stores visited in the recent Intouch Insight audit were serving made-to-order (MTO) food. Of the nearly 60% of c-stores visited in that audit were serving made-to-order food, while 58% of consumers said they are likely to choose a brand over a closer competitor because of exclusive food items, in places such as Dank Mart, which offers a “curated selection of rare and viral snacks.”
The report stated that the “real currency is an exclusive, craveable item that turns a casual stop into a dedicated trip. The power of a signature menu item creates a reason to choose one store over another stop that may be closer.
60% of people in the same study were interested in buying international or culturally diverse food profiles from a convenience store.
Trend 2: Beverages are becoming a destination category
Intouch Insight’s survey data also found that 58% of consumers are likely to choose a brand over a closer competitor because of exclusive food items. One example being the Slurpee, which demonstrates how exclusive, proprietary items can create a loyalty barrier that proximity alone can not imitate.
Beverages are a big destination category, according to the study. Data from the study found that 75% of consumers had visited a convenience store at least once in the past 39 days primarily to buy a beverage without purchasing fuel or snacks.
Only 6% of people surveyed think of a convenience store first when they want a specialty drink, but beverages are expected to become a destination in 2026, with innovation in a variety of categories. Industry experts say retailers increasingly want to be known for beverages, not just for fuel or convenience, according to the study.
Customers expect beverage customization as a standard, not a perk. 59% of customers found the ability to personalize their drink to their taste is important.
Trend 3: Health and trust are reshaping convenience
The study stated that by “2026 the demand for portion control, high protein and radical transparency must coexist with the need for speed.”
The rising use of GLP-1 inhibitors like Ozempic are changing convenience stores’ offerings for ready-made meals and snacks. What customers on weight loss drugs buy is changing. Items like protein shakes, yogurt, meat snacks and kombucha are growing.
Sales of frozen desserts, chips, alcohol and candy are reported to be receding by customers who are on GLP-1 inhibitors. The report states, “The opportunity is clear: shift the menu to embrace protein-forward snacks, smaller portions, hydration-focused beverages, and ‘permissible indulgences’ that satisfy cravings without derailing health goals.”
Trend 4: C-stores becoming more experience-led
Retailers are entering new markets, investing in technology, and stretching their capabilities in foodservice, beverage, operations, and customer experience. New c-stores in 2026 are trending toward larger square footage and more food-forward layouts, said Intouch Insight.
This isn't just about aesthetics; it's about capturing the "superusers." While casual drivers just want to get in and out, the 24% of customers who visit multiple times a week are motivated by familiarity and safety, not just discounts. The study found that for these loyalists, “the store isn't a utility; it's a daily rhythm and a space that finally feels like theirs.”
Many like WayPoint have collaborated with musicians and cultural events to create a “third space” by making their convenience store a destination such as a concert venue.
Some have worked with public relations teams to create an experiential marketing experience for a new product launch or milestone anniversary for a popular product.
Trend 5: EV charging is changing the forecourt
Intouch Insight reports that EV charging is a “total rewrite of the customer journey. It transforms dwell time, resets site expectations, and redefines the store’s role during every stop.”
For EV drivers, charging is a destination experience, not just a pit stop, attributed largely to the amount of time it takes to charge an electric car. As fast charging can take from 20 to 40 minutes, the dwell time marks a dramatic difference from the traditional five-minute gas-and-go.
While EV drivers are significantly more likely to enter the store and spend on prepared meals and impulse items, these purchases hinge on uptime. The report recommends “using AI to forecast traffic so operators can sync food and beverage deals with specific charging windows, optimize restroom and lounge maintenance in real-time, and pinpoint exactly which experience variables turn a charging session into a high-value store visit.”
Trend 6: Consolidation and consistency
As brands scale across new markets and formats, the distance between strategy and reality grows. In this more complex environment—defined by food-forward menus, EV charging, and AI—consistency is the new competitive edge.
The larger the network, the more individual store execution determines whether your investment actually reaches the customer.
“The strongest brands use customer feedback, operational data, AI-driven insight, and frontline measurement as a connected loop. They identify the gap, prioritize the fix, and improve consistently across the entire network. Closing that loop is how you build trust, guarantee consistency, and win in this channel,” recommends the report.
