You’re kidding, right? You’re kidding, right? “13 Places to Eat Before You Die.”
Joe’s is located in a convenience store, which also sells gasoline.
It is not a joke. In fact, it was included on the list along with other hyper-priced items like Per Se in New York City. This symbolises the massive changes that have occurred over the past few years at the nation’s 152,000 convenience stores.
“Convenience stores are increasingly becoming food markets for time-pressed consumers seeking fast and healthy choices,”Jeff Lenard from the National Association of Convenience Stores (nacsonline.com).
These days, while it’s possible to get in and out of most stores quickly and fill up your car at most stores while you shop, the shelves will likely be filled with fresh food that is normally found in traditional restaurants and supermarkets. Sushi. Gourmet sandwiches. You can also find lots of fruit, yogurt, and other goodies. “better-for-you”Items
Some shops have gone above and beyond, offering convenient ways to get fresh foods fast. There are many ways to make that convenience even better.
Casey’s General Stores is an example. With 1,880 locations across 14 states in the Midwest it not only makes its pizza on-site, but also began delivering it to customers’ houses in 2011. It eventually became the fifth largest pizza business in America after Papa John’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s Pizza and Little Caesars. “Folks in a lot of these small towns don’t have pizza parlors, so it became a natural for us,”Terry Handley, the firm’s president and chief operational officer, said it.
Others have completely blown away all preconceptions. Chef Point Cafe in Watauga (Texas) draws lines that stretch past gas stations for its gourmet lobster bisque, and roast duck specialties. The Tioga Gas Mart in Lee Vining (California) makes a delicious mango margarita. It’s a favorite at outdoor concerts. Han-Dee Hugo’s, Duck, North Carolina sells seafood in an instant at their drive-thru windows if they aren’t in a hurry.
“The world is changing, and people want new experiences,”John Litton Clark, Han Dee Hugo’s vice-president of operations, said it.
Are all these industry updates paying off? Last year, there was a record $213.5 trillion in merchandise and food sales. The highest growth (9.8%) came from edibles such salads, sandwiches, and coffee bars.
