CHICAGO, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As a year of industry-rocking acquisitions and jaw-dropping tech disruptions nears its end, the editors at CSP and Technomic gathered to identify what c-stores can expect in 2018. Read on for 10 big trends set to drive industry progress—and pain—in the year to come.
During a packed general session at Outlook Leadership, Abbie Westra, director of Winsight's retail content group and editor-in-chief of CSP Magazine, addressed attendees about the 2018 trends. "The bottom line is for retailers to focus on their employees as well as their store and customer base; there is no either-or," Westra said.
Highlights from the 2018 Convenience Retailing Trends Forecast include:
The battle for supremacy. Convenience behemoths 7-Eleven and Alimentation Couche-Tard will continue to fight for U.S. store count into 2018. Find out who will hold onto the top spot as M&A across the board grows.
Employee benefits get personal. In a historically snug labor market, convenience stores are finding innovative ways to directly connect with team members by taking an individualized approach to career ladders and training programs.
Next meal-solution destination. The convenience segment is prepping for a much larger piece of the foodservice pie. Angling for space in the meal-kit revolution, c-stores are beginning to reposition away from mere in-and-out and to quick, high-quality meals at home.
To see all the trends, read the full forecast here.
About Winsight LLC
Winsight LLC is a recognized leader in business-to-business media and information services for the convenience-retailing, foodservice and grocery industries. Winsight has an extensive media portfolio, including five publications: CSP, Restaurant Business, FoodService Director, Convenience Store Products and Winsight Grocery Business. Winsight also offers a suite of digital products, including websites, e-newsletters, webinars, video products, mobile and tablet apps, and custom marketing solutions. In addition to more than 12 major EduNetworking conferences and advisory meetings, Winsight also produces seven exclusive, large-scale executive-level conferences: Restaurant Leadership Conference, Global Restaurant Leadership Conference, Outlook Leadership Conference, Convenience Retailing University, FSTEC, MenuDirections and Restaurant Directions. Winsight also acquired Technomic Inc., a provider of primary and secondary market information and advisory services for the food industry. For more information on Winsight and its brands, go to winsightmedia.com.
About Technomic
Technomic Inc., a Winsight company, delivers a 360-degree view of the food industry. It impacts growth and profitability for clients by providing consumer-grounded vision and channel-relevant strategic insights. Its services range from major research studies and management consulting solutions to online databases and simple fact-finding assignments. Its clients include food manufacturers and distributors, restaurants and retailers, other foodservice organizations, and various institutions aligned with the food industry. Visit Technomic at technomic.com.
CONTACT
Steve Holtz
News Director and Editor-in-Chief, CSPDailyNews.com
Winsight LLC
312-940-1576
sholtz@winsightmedia.com
SOURCE Technomic Inc.