Convenience Stores Play in the Restaurant Industry: Frank Beard Explains

A wave of gas stations and convenience stores is breaking out of the mold of roller-grilled hot dogs and slushies. Taking their cue from restaurants, "c-stores," aka convenience stores, are tapping into a growing demand for convenient feel-good food. In response to the market, some stores are offering freshly prepared meals and catering. This is big news. These stores aren't just blurring the lines between convenience stores and quick-service restaurants—they're also disrupting the catering industry. In Part 1 of this podcast, we go inside the mind of Frank Beard, an Analyst for the smartphone app GasBuddy, to learn about the industry landscape of convenience stores. Frank shares how gas station and convenience store operators are rethinking their business models to be more food-forward and capitalize on the catering opportunity. Listen to Part 1 and stay tuned for Part 2, which will discuss how convenience stores are changing the catering industry.