Trends for convenience stores in 2012 expected to include expansion plans, increased use of mobile devices for payments and marketing, an emphasis on the 'fresh' foodstuff label and increased efforts to transform customers at the pump into shoppers

Cindy Allen

LOS ANGELES , January 4, 2012 (Industry Intelligence) – Editors at Convenience Store News predict that, in 2012, trends for convenience stores are expected to include expansion plans, the increased use of mobile devices for payments and marketing purposes and an emphasis on the “fresh” label for foodstuffs, Convenience Store News reported on Jan. 3, 2012.

Editors reported they expected to see increased efforts to transform customers at the pump into shoppers via mobile apps that will allow them to order food prior to their arrival and technology that will allow consumers to order food from the pump.

According to the article, other trends that will affect convenience stores are expected to be economic improvement as unemployment levels decrease, further regulation of the tobacco industry by the Food and Drug Administration, and government gridlock prior to the 2012 Presidential election.

Two other trends that editors at the Convenience Store News expect to affect convenience stores in 2012 is the increased use of petroleum alternatives as consumers realize that both electric compressed natural gas cars are cheaper than cars that run on gasoline, particularly when oil costs US$100 per barrel, and the increased use of new store designs as convenience stores try to outpace the competition and match consumers’ changing expectations.

The primary source of this article is Convenience Store News, Deerfield, Illinois, on Jan. 3, 2012.

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