Your convenience store should sell more coffee
Coffee is a rare case for convenient stores where the options are everything. Generally, for a convenience store, there isn't a need for 5 kinds of toilet paper or 10 brands of ketchup like a grocery store would have. When customers are in a rush, convenience is more important than the options. That being said, a convenience store would be crazy to only carry Pepsi and no Coke. There are some options that are important even when space on the shelves is limited. Many people are picky about their coffee so don't treat it like toilet paper and only stock Starbucks bottled frappuccinos.
Convenience stores should be pushing their boundaries with coffee. Not only because it sells well, but also because it attracts customers who are passionate about their morning cup of joe.
Coffee has been a remarkably steady industry with 3/4 of coffee shops staying open during the stay at home orders.
But what if you don't sell hot coffee or lattes? No problem. Cold-brew is the fastest-growing segment in the coffee industry. It is expected to be a staple in the next few years. For cold brew drinkers, they have to sacrifice nothing to buy from a convenience store. Many of the same drinks that customers get at coffee shops every day can be made available in convenience stores. In the Philadelphia area, many stores sell La Colombe. Other stores go with Wandering Bear. The specific bottled coffee drinks that would best benefit your store will depend on your region, neighborhood, and store. Having options between black coffee, cold brew, lattes, local brands, and sweet drinks will have just about everyone covered. Iced coffee isn't even a seasonal beverage. 35% of coffee drinkers continue to drink iced coffee beverages in the winter. Stores don't have to worry about the consistency of coffee drinkers.
Some convenience stores have already jumped headfirst into this coffee movement. Wawa and Sheetz have both started to offer much more than the standard hot coffee. Both have many different coffee and espresso made-to-order drinks. On top of that, their refrigerators have tons of bottled options. They have taken to the coffee movement so well that going to Wawa for your morning cup of coffee is just as normal as going to Dunkin' or Starbucks.
Does that mean that every corner store should have a barista? No, probably not. What convenience stores can do is offer as many options as possible in their refrigerators. Customers would prefer to get everything they need in 1 place so once they stop in for coffee, they might just pick up everything else on their list while they are there.
The only thing a coffee drinker would like more than getting their favorite drink without the lines would be to get their coffee without leaving home. Lula makes that dream a reality. Lula allows convenience stores to deliver to their customers all with a simple setup and 0% commission. Your customers can get their morning coffee and everything else in your store delivered to them in under 30 minutes.
About Lula: Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., Lula provides delivery solutions for convenience stores, pharmacies, and CPG brands that do not have a secondary sales channel, offering the first multi-vendor 30-minute delivery platform and a commitment to building a cleaner, more sustainable world. Learn more about Lula at www.luladelivery.com