A Roundup of Noteworthy Foodservice Findings for the Week of June 28, 2021 © 2021 Technomic, Inc

LARGEST CONVENIENCE-STORE COMPANIES 2020 U.S. STORE COUNT Top Convenience 7-Eleven 9,465

Stores Expand Share Circle K—Alimentation Couche-Tard 7,139

Speedway 3,839 Led by 7-Eleven and Circle K, the GPM Investments stood out as the industry’s 10 largest convenience-store growth leader among the top 10 Casey's 2,207 companies finished 2020 with a convenience-store companies in 2020, combined footprint of 30,159 total U.S. increasing its store count by nearly 9% locations, growing by 0.2% on an primarily through acquisitions. The EG America* 1,704 annual basis. company purchased Empire Petroleum last year and recently finalized its In May, 7-Eleven finalized its acquisition Murphy USA 1,503 acquisition of ExpressStop convenience of Speedway, the third-largest stores. convenience-store chain in the U.S., GPM Investments** 1,384 with more than 3,800 locations across 36 states. The deal expands 7-Eleven’s U.S. network to more than 13,300 total Ampm—BP America 1,026 stores and significantly increases the company’s market share. ExtraMile 975

Wawa 917

*Note: EG America includes Cumberland Farms, Turkey Hill and Kwik Shop, plus other banners **Note: GPM America includes Fas Mart, Shore Stop and Scotchman, plus other banners Source: Technomic Ignite Company

A tropical fruit known for its vibrant red- month that consumers rated among the pink skin and sweet pulp, dragon fruit’s top five for uniqueness, draw and been one of the hottest ingredients on craveability—the Dragon Fruit menus this season. Not only is it Quencher from Scooter’s Coffee, currently the fastest-growing flavor on featuring fruit juice, green coffee menus, up 53.3% in the past year,* but extract, dragon fruit and lychee.** a number of leading companies have What’s driving the trend? Among the spotlighted it in their products recently. fruit’s many nutritional benefits, dragon As of late, Red Bull unveiled a Summer fruit also is known to boost the immune Edition Dragon Fruit flavor, Bruster’s system, something consumers have Real Ice Cream launched Mango been increasingly looking for amid the Dragon Fruit Sorbet, and dragon fruit- pandemic. Plus, exotic fruits have been flavored drinks have popped up hot this past year in general. With those everywhere from Taco Bell to Wendy’s trends in mind, expect longan fruit and to Starbucks. ackee (and others in the lychee family), as well as cara cara oranges, to Further, according to Technomic Ignite similarly find momentum. Menu concept testing data from May, there was just one limited-time offer that

*Source: Technomic Ignite Menu, Q1 2020 to Q1 2021 Dragon fruit **Source: Technomic Ignite Menu concept testing data Image Source: Shutterstock

“I CHOOSE VEGGIE/GARDEN/PLANT-BASED BURGERS BECAUSE THEY…”

Plant-Based Burgers Are healthier 72% No Longer a Novelty Taste good 55%

Plant-based burgers, particularly those Brands may consider innovating with mimicking meat, were very unique proprietary patty blends to stand out when they first emerged, but years of from the growing number of operators Are better for the 47% rapid growth on menus has increased highlighting Beyond Meat or Impossible environment availability and removed some of the Food options. Nut blends, in particular, novelty formerly connected to these are emerging and appear poised for items. Indeed, fewer consumers now growth. Are something than two years ago are purchasing 35% burgers because they are unique. different/unique Instead, consumers increasingly order plant-based burgers for environmental reasons compared to two years ago. Fit my diet (e.g., vegan, 32% This aligns with more companies, vegetarian, etc.) including restaurants and plant-based burger suppliers, marketing the environmental benefits of these options. Are more affordable 20%

Base: 360 consumers who would order a plant-based burger Source: Technomic Ignite Consumer and the 2021 Burger Consumer Trend Report

Chicken chains are doing well across growing chicken chains. posted 6.6% unit growth and about the world right now. 24,100 locations. With 815 units and a blistering 34.7% Buoyed by the ongoing hype unit growth, China’s Lao Xiang Ji is one Get more insights into leading chicken surrounding chicken sandwiches and of the globe’s fastest-growing chicken players as well as data-driven riding a growth wave since the chains for an operator of its size and consumer and menu insights from a pandemic hit, restaurant brands within represents significant competition to global perspective with Technomic’s this menu category appear bullish on any chain looking to enter the market. new Global Chicken Menu Category continued expansion. Report. Two American brands are also among The category is so hot right now, it’s the world’s quickest-growing chicken also drawing significant crossover chains: Raising Cane’s—up 16.4% to competition from interlopers such as 482 units, and Wingstop—up 10.6% to burger and pizza chains. Even players 1,385 units. in Mexican and seafood segments are For its part, KFC—easily the world’s delving deeper into chicken. largest player in the chicken category Against this backdrop, let’s look at with a system larger than its closest 13 some of the world’s largest and fastest- global chicken competitors combined— Image Source: Shutterstock

Source: Technomic Global Foodservice Navigator Program Note: Units based on data from end of 2019

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