Convenience stores benefited a lot from being considered essential retailers in 2020 and 2021; therefore, these grocery outlets did not face reduced hours or closures related to the measures introduced to cope with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Canada. Consumers sheltering at home during lockdowns, and home seclusion in general, including for reasons of remote working and distance learning, continued to pile up treats and snacks.
Convenience stores players in Canada tried to strengthen their retailing shares by increasing their focus on private label and developing multichannel strategies to broaden their reach and sales avenues. Some convenience stores focused on private label offerings to provide more competitive prices, which appealed to consumers in a tough economic climate in the wake of COVID-19, and a more consistent brand message.
To encourage more foot traffic, convenience stores adapted to the ongoing COVID-19 situation by adopting various safety measures, for example by imposing restrictions on self-service beverages and food and enforcing strict quality controls. Many of the safety measures they adopted went well beyond what was mandated.
Convenience stores is likely to see a soft recovery over the forecast period due to weaker demand and channel blurring, despite retail value sales receiving a boost as pre-pandemic traffic patterns continue to normalise. However, the proximity and convenience of other retail channels, such as supermarkets and drugstores, will allow consumers to shop for packaged goods in different retail formats, which can be expected to take a toll on convenience store sales as the forecast period progresses.
To stem the flow of customers in other directions, and to increase their foot traffic and revenues, convenience stores are expected to continue to innovate and evolve their business models, not least by aiming to appeal to the increasing number of health-conscious consumers. In addition to increasing their on-the-go food offerings, some operators of convenience stores are allocating more shelf space to healthier selections, such as organic snack bars, nutrition drinks, yoghurt and beef jerky, in order to cater to time-pressed individuals and households.
Convenience stores is expected to see more conceptual change in the forecast period as players wrestle with new realities and norms in the wake of the COVID-19 experience. While predating the pandemic, digitalisation in convenience stores received a push from the exigencies of COVID-19.
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Chained grocery retail outlets selling a wide range of groceries and fitting several of the following characteristics: Extended opening hours Selling area of less than 400 sq metres Located in residential neighbourhoods Handling two or more of the following product categories: audio-visual goods (for sale or rent), foodservice (prepared take-away, made-to-order, and hot foods), newspapers or magazines, cut flowers or pot plants, greetings cards, automotive accessories. Sales data excludes foodservice sales. Example brands include 7-Eleven, Spar. Note: The number of branches required to be termed chained varies from country to country but is usually ten or more. If a multinational is operating in the country, then this is included, even if there are fewer than ten outlets under the brand.
See All of Our DefinitionsThis report originates from Passport, our Convenience Stores research and analysis database.
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