Convenience stores have, in a way, become like a lifeline for saving the day on road trips with items ranging from quick snacks to hot meals. Of course, not all convenience stores are created equal; some go above and beyond to provide quality, convenience, and variety. Whether to refuel the car or replenish the stomach, such stores easily become an apt pit stop for road travelers needing something quick for their journey.
A Quick Stop for Every Need
Convenience stores are for one thing: making your life easier. The usual fare of coffee, soda, snacks, and hot food is here. An ExtraMile convenience store takes it to a new level in making sure its customers find what they are looking for without fuss. After all, a survey said 80% of road trippers stop at a convenience store for snacks, meaning they are indeed an intrinsic part of the American travel experience. You will find everything under one roof, from cold drinks that will quench your thirst to hot meals to keep you going on the road.
Coffee: The Road Trip Fuel of Choice
Coffee is nothing less than an integral substance in the lives of people, especially movers. The NCA says that 64 percent of Americans drink coffee every day, a very keen preference among students and professional workers. Coffee consumption stands as much for the ease with which it is picked up from the stores around as for its caffeine kick. Key statistics on the consumption pattern of coffee include:
- Students: 58% of the students attending college consume it daily.
- Workers: 75% of the workers in the U.S. need the use of coffee to get through the day.
- Road-trippers: Coffee is the No. 1 selling item at C-stores in the U.S., accounting for 30 percent of in-store sales.
The next time you’re in need of the caffeine kick, a kiosk, or convenience store, as it is more universally known, will have a brew ready, awaiting your next adventure.
Road Trip Snacks: From Sweet to Savory
Snacks on the road just wouldn’t seem as much fun without a bottomless pit of munchies going through. Salty, sweet, or somewhere in between, convenience stores stock options for an amazing array of choices. Studies show that sales for convenience store snacks are a multi-billion-dollar business, with an estimated 42 billion dollars in yearly U.S. sales alone.
Some of the best road-trip snacks include:
- Beef jerky: a good source of protein, ideal to curb hunger without the mess.
- Granola bars: In an easy-carry and lightweight size, these are healthy grasps to have for a quick lift.
- Chips and dip is the ultimate snacking combination for quick indulgence.
- Candy bars are the go-to treat when one needs a sugar fix.
Many of these snacks are also available in convenience stores, which means that travelers can easily find their favorite snacks while on the road.
Growing Popularity of Convenience Stores
Convenience stores are no longer the place where you just drop in to refuel while getting gas. Over the last decade, they’ve expanded their products and reason for existence and have become ingrained in American consumer culture. According to a research report by IBISWorld, annual sales in the Convenience Stores industry of the United States outweigh $650 billion. Growing demand is driven by:
- More Road Travel: There has been a rise of 20% in long-distance traveling by road in the U.S., which was observed in research during 2023 compared to five years prior.
- Busy Lifestyles: Convenience stores will offer quick snacks or meals to people with busy schedules without their need to leave the highway.
- Demand for Fresh and Hot Food: Convenience stores have surged into fresh food options, including everything from sandwiches to hot pizzas, letting travelers not be dependent on snacks packed on the site of origination.
Conclusion
Convenience for road trippers means much more than an assurance of a quick drink or a little snack but rather an assurance of a quality stop that’s reliable and meets the diverse needs of the modern traveler. In general, convenience stores have turned out to be irreplaceable in road tripping, from having just a pick-me-up coffee to a full meal on the go. The next time you hit the road, just swing by your nearest convenience store and be amazed at a place that houses all things convenient, of different varieties, and quality too.
