**The $1 Trillion Convenience Squeeze**

Convenience retail is getting bigger. And smaller at the same time.

IGD forecasts global convenience sales climbing from about $900 billion in 2025 to more than $1 trillion by 2030. Sounds like a victory lap. Not quite. The channel is projected to grow at 3.5% annually, trailing the total grocery sector at 4%. As a result, convenience share of global grocery spending slips from 10.7% to 10.4%.

Even North America, the largest convenience market, is expected to see share fall from 16.9% to 15.1% by 2030 as discounters and rapid delivery services turn up the heat.

So what are operators doing? They are going straight at restaurants. In 2026, stores are pushing foodservice beyond the roller grill, using commissary models and high-speed ovens to pump out fresh sandwiches and salads. Regional chains are adding drive-thrus, barista-style coffee, dirty sodas, global flavors, and high-protein items to steal trips from QSRs. Groups like CORE Foodservice are helping chains with 20-100 units compete through value-driven, low-prep menu innovation.

Why it matters: growth alone will not save convenience. If your channel is growing slower than grocery, you are losing relevance. The real fight is for prepared food occasions, not just grab-and-go snacks.

Quick take: the future c-store looks less like a pit stop and more like a compact restaurant with a beverage problem. Brands that win will treat convenience as a foodservice platform, not just another shelf.