This expo always delivers a great read on where C-stores are headed, and this year delivered big time. A few IN team members explored the show floor and sampled what’s next. Here are five key highlights from their experience.
1. Co-Branding Everywhere
Partnerships were hard to miss this year. Snack and beverage brands are teaming up in all kinds of ways. Some make perfect sense and others stop you in your tracks. For example, Dr. Pepper was everywhere from Tic Tacs to Dippin’ Dots. They also paired up with Johnsonville sausage for a unique pairing that worked deliciously. These mashups are giving classic products new energy and helping brands tap into each other’s audiences.
2. Flavors That Push (and Play With) Boundaries
If one theme stood out across categories, it was flavor experimentation. Chili lime showed up across salty snacks and even beverages. Dubai chocolate brought a global, premium vibe. And cheeseburger flavor popped up in surprising places. There’s a clear appetite for bold, familiar-but-different options that keep consumers curious.
3. Formats in Flux
We saw plenty of brands stepping outside their usual lanes. Arizona Iced Tea is getting into electrolyte powders (makes sense) and even trying a lunch-kit concept (didn’t see that coming). Nutella is now in the ice cream aisle, and Trolli is turning gummies into popsicles. Everyone’s looking for fresh ways to catch attention and extend their brand monetization power.
4. It’s All About Experiences
Many booths featured unique experiences for show attendees, but this inclusion highlights a larger trend that’s been developing across other foodservice channels. Consumers are looking for more from their hard-earned dollars. They want a meal — and something they’ll remember. The idea of eating as an experience is beginning to make its way into the C-store space through elevated dining areas, more robust menus, and signature offerings that deliver more than the expected.
5. Protein Has Gone Mainstream
In the past, we noted how protein was popping up in the most unlikely of places. This year, protein claims and callouts seemed to be table stakes on snack packaging. We’ll have to see how the trend holds up over time.
The NACS Show 2025 made one thing clear: C-store foodservice keeps evolving. Whether it’s new flavor ideas, unexpected partnerships, or creative product formats, brands are finding fresh ways to grab attention and expand into new occasions.
