The Untapped Foodservice Opportunity Inside Every C-Store

A recent study revealed that an estimated 30% of sales and 40% of gross profits for C-stores come from food service.

While the traditional “gas station food” model still serves a need, it’s no longer enough to capture the modern consumer’s expectations. Today’s customers want quality, consistency, and convenience, and they’re willing to pay for it. 

 “Consumer priorities: Speed, freshness, digital convenience” 

At the same time, delivery intermediaries like DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats have reshaped how consumers discover and access food. These platforms aren’t competitors, they’re gateways. For C-stores, they’re a chance to extend your food brand beyond the fuel pad, reaching customers where they are and converting them into repeat in-store guests. 

What This Means for C-Stores and Where the Real Opportunity Lies 

The best operators in the industry are already shifting their mindset:  Instead of comparing themselves to other convenience stores, they’re benchmarking against leading QSRs.

Why that matters:

• Efficiency: Streamlined operations mean faster throughput and less waste.

• Quality: Better consistency in preparation drives repeat visits and brand trust.

• Simplicity: Limited, high-performing menus reduce complexity and maximize profitability. 

C-stores that combine quality, differentiation, and operational discipline are setting a new standard for foodservice in the convenience channel. 

“The QSR mindset isn’t just about food. It’s about discipline, data, and the customer experience.” 

And with digital ordering and delivery, stores can now compete directly for the same customers who once viewed c-stores as a last resort for food. 

Turning Potential into Performance With Upshop 

 At Upshop, we’re helping C-stores transform their foodservice operations into QSR-level performers without adding layers of complexity.

Our AI-powered Production Planning and Recipe Management modules are designed to give operators full control over every aspect of food production from prep to performance.

Here’s how:

Production Planning 
Predict what to make, when to make it, and how much. Upshop’s intelligent forecasting uses real-time sales, events, and seasonality to ensure you hit the sweet spot, enough to meet demand, without overproducing.

Recipe Management 
Maintain consistency across locations. Standardized recipes, portion controls, and digital prep guides mean your food always meets brand standards, whether you’re running one kitchen or one hundred.

Operational Intelligence 
With connected data and AI insights, you’ll finally have a clear view of your margins, waste, and profitability allowing you to make proactive decisions, not reactive guesses.

“Imagine your C-store kitchen running like a QSR, predictable, profitable, and powered by intelligence.” 

The Takeaway

C-stores have the customers, the traffic, and the access. What’s missing is the QSR-level precision to unlock their true potential.

By embracing data-driven production, menu discipline, and operational intelligence, the next wave of convenience foodservice will not just compete with QSRs it will become one.