Road Trip Refresh: Gas Stations Elevate Food โGame, Challenging Convenience Store Norms
LA CROSSE, WI โ – Forget staleโฃ coffee and predictable chips. The American road trip โis undergoing a culinary upgrade as convenience store chains nationwide roll out unexpectedly โฃelegant food offerings, from fresh lasagna โto chef-curated charcuterie. What was once โa last resort for sustenance is rapidly โคbecoming a destination โfor discerning palates.
This shift โreflects a broaderโ trend in the $280.7 billion convenience store industry, were retailersโ are increasingly focused on attracting customers with higher-quality foodโฃ optionsโ to boost margins and compete โwith fast-casual restaurants. For travelers,โฃ it means โฃa โฃwelcome break from the predictable, and perhaps โa surprising culinary highlight on the highway. The evolution is impacting chainsโ large and small,from regional favorites to expanding giants.
Kwikโ Trip,a Midwest mainstay,now delivers daily fresh “Take Home Meals” – includingโ beef stroganoff and fettuccine alfredo – prepared inโ its La Crosse,Wisconsin,kitchens. โฃBuc-ee’s, known for its expansive Texas-sizedโ stores, โขboasts a fudge programโฃ with over 20 flavors and a โwall โof house-made jerky. Even smaller chains are joining the fray: Pennsylvania’s rutter’s allows customersโข to top burgers with mozzarella sticks or crab cakes, and once served a burger between two grilled-cheese sandwiches.
Beyond individual menu items, some chains are rethinking the entire convenience store experiance. โAlltown Fresh, a New England concept, offers cateringโข services including charcuterie boards, recognizing the pairing potential โwith its beverage selection. meanwhile,โ Laredo Taco company,โ found inside select 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes locations, is serving tacos that would impress a โขdedicated taquerรญa.
The Midwest chain โCasey’s has also entered the premium food space, introducing BBQ pulled-pork pizza andโ King’s Hawaiian pulled-pork sliders as seasonal limited-time offers. Thes developments signal aโฃ clear message: the daysโ of the basic gas stationโค snack are numbered,and the openโ road now offersโฃ a more flavorful journey.
