Coffee and tea are hot across foodservice — and c-stores play an important part in that growth.
Overall, customer traffic at gourmet coffee and tea outlets grew 12% in the fourth quarter, according to Circana, while traffic in the overall foodservice marketplace declined 1%. Servings in specialty coffee were up 7% overall, led by coffee and tea specialty retailers.
“In an inflationary environment … specialty coffee is an affordable indulgence,” said David Portalatin, senior vice president, food industry advisor for Circana. “It’s a way to treat ourselves without breaking the bank.”
