The5For

Hey everyone, and welcome back to The 5 For your daily dose of convenience store insights!

Thursday, May 15th, brought a fascinating blend of news from the c-store world, including a major chain’s strategic hires, a beloved brand’s well-deserved recognition, a surprising comeback story, a popular LTO returning, and important legislative developments. Grab your favorite snack (perhaps from a nationally recognized food destination!) and let’s dive in.

1. Kwik Trip: Double Winner in USA TODAY’s 10BEST!

It’s no surprise to many, but Kwik Trip continues its winning streak, securing top honors in the 2025 USA TODAY 10BEST Road Trip Award Winners. The La Crosse-based chain was named both the “Best Gas Station Brand” and the “Best Gas Station for Food” in the U.S.. This follows a third-place finish for food in 2024. Kwik Trip operates over 800 stores across six states, with more than 500 in Wisconsin alone. USA TODAY highlighted their fresh bakery items made daily and their commitment to sourcing milk from dairy farms within a 100-mile radius of La Crosse. Their food offerings, including burritos, pizza, salads, soups, and fried chicken, were noted for being fairly priced and made with high-quality ingredients. This recognition underscores Kwik Trip’s success in building a loyal customer base through quality food and convenience.

Kwik Trip’s success story is a powerful reminder that investing in high-quality food service and freshness pays off. Consider ways to enhance your own prepared food offerings, highlight ingredient quality, and potentially explore local sourcing options if feasible. National recognition like this drives traffic, so focus on what makes your food unique and appealing to customers.

2. 7-Eleven Appoints New VP to Focus on Key Categories and Seasonal Trends

Industry giant 7-Eleven is strategically focusing on core store categories and seasonal trends with the appointment of Sembe Cole as Vice President of Merchandising for its Center Store and Seasonal product categories. Cole will oversee categories including packaged foods, snacks, confectionery, frozen treats and ice cream, health and beauty, and toys across over 12,500 locations. In this role, he has end-to-end oversight and is tasked with driving category vision, product innovation, and performance optimization. A key part of his focus is ensuring these categories evolve with consumer behaviors and marketplace trends. This emphasis on seasonal and center store items is particularly relevant heading into warmer months when demand for specific snacks, drinks, and frozen treats increases. Cole has a long history with 7-Eleven since 2002, holding numerous leadership roles including VP of western franchise operations and VP of North Atlantic operations.

This move highlights the importance of proactively managing key center store categories and capitalizing on seasonal opportunities. Review your sales data to identify trends and ensure your inventory aligns with seasonal demand. Experiment with limited-time offers (LTOs) and new products in high-traffic categories like snacks, candy, and beverages to keep your offerings fresh and exciting for customers. Pay attention to evolving consumer trends in these core categories, just as 7-Eleven is doing.

3. FoxTrot’s Surprising Return with a New Flagship Store

In unexpected news, FoxTrot, the upscale convenience store chain that closed its doors in April 2024 before re-emerging in September, has opened its first new-to-industry location. The new store, located at 935 W.Webster in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, opened on May 15th and joins six other existing Chicago stores and two in Dallas. FoxTrot positions itself as blending traditional convenience with a curated selection of local goods, prepared foods, and a focus on customer experience. The new location features an expanded cafe menu with items like new breakfast tacos, house-made smoothies, exclusive coffee blends, and seasonal lattes. They are also highlighting a broader selection of globally inspired gummies and curated premium goods from local artisans and CPG brands. The store includes unique design elements like a patio and is celebrating its opening weekend with various promotions, including free coffee, vendor samples, and drink specials.

FoxTrot’s return suggests there’s still a market for a more premium, curated convenience experience, especially in urban areas. While a full FoxTrot model might not fit every location, operators can draw inspiration by focusing on quality prepared food, offering a thoughtfully selected mix of popular and local/unique products, improving store aesthetics and customer seating areas, and using promotions and events to engage the community. This differentiates your store beyond basic grab-and-go.

4. Casey’s and Andrew Zimmern Bring Back the Beloved BBQ Brisket Pizza LTO

Get ready for a tasty comeback! Casey’s is bringing back its highly requested, limited-time offer BBQ Brisket Pizza. The chain is once again partnering with four-time James Beard and Emmy award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, a self-proclaimed fan of gas station food, to promote the LTO. The pizza features Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, and double-hardwood, pit-smoked beef brisket, finished with jalapeños, red onions, and a creamy ranch drizzle. It’s available on original or thin crust through September 2nd. Chef Zimmern praised Casey’s pizza for its “big flavors, unique textures and fresh ingredients,” calling the BBQ Brisket Pizza a “perfect example” and stating that Casey’s pizza is “simply the best” gas station pizza. Brad Haga, SVP at Casey’s, noted that bringing back the pizza was a direct response to customer requests.

This is a fantastic case study in leveraging successful LTOs and forming strategic partnerships to generate excitement and drive foodservice sales. Consider what unique flavor combinations or premium ingredients could work as LTOs for your prepared food program. Partnering with local food figures or highlighting quality ingredients can add credibility and appeal, attracting both new and returning customers. Listen to your customers – bringing back a requested item can build significant goodwill and guaranteed sales.

5. “One Big Beautiful Bill” Progresses in the House with Potential Impacts for C-Stores

Shifting to the legislative landscape, the U.S. House of Representatives is making progress on a significant reconciliation package dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill”. This complex bill combines work from multiple committees and could have notable effects on the convenience store industry. Notably, the House Ways and Means Committee included several provisions beneficial to c-stores: making the 199A Qualified Business Income Deduction for pass-through entities permanent and increasing it to 23%, bringing back 100% Bonus Depreciation for purchases through 2029, increasing the “Death Tax” threshold, and increasing the Section 179 expensing threshold to $2.5 million. NACS voiced support for these tax changes. However, changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) proposed by the House Agriculture Committee raise concerns. The bill shifts more administrative costs to states and, more significantly, requires states to contribute to the SNAP benefit cost based on their payment error rates. This could incentivize states to find cost-saving measures, potentially including cutting SNAP benefits or restricting eligible products, which would directly impact retailers and customers who rely on the program. The bill still faces hurdles in the House and potential changes in the Senate.

This legislation highlights the critical need to monitor federal and state government actions. Be aware of the proposed tax benefits that could impact your business structure and investments. Pay close attention to developments regarding SNAP, as changes at the state level could directly affect your customer base and sales. Engage with industry associations like NACS, who are actively advocating for the industry’s interests on these very issues.

The Bottom Line

That wraps up The 5 For May 15th! From recognizing excellence in food service and strategic corporate moves to a bold return and significant legislative maneuvering, it’s clear the convenience industry is dynamic and constantly evolving. Understanding these developments and their potential impact is key for every owner-operator.

What are your takeaways from today’s headlines? Have you tried Casey’s BBQ Brisket pizza? What are your thoughts on the FoxTrot comeback? Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks for joining us and be sure to check back soon for more insights right here at The 5 For. Have a great rest of your day!