Forecourt Foodservice and Beverage Trends: Specialty Coffee Growth and Conversion Revenue Lifts

QSR & Forecourt Foodservice Trends: Beverage Dynamics and Store Remodels

Convenience store and quick-service restaurant (QSR) operators are navigating distinct shifts in consumer beverage preferences and physical store performance. Recent industry data published in September 2026 highlights momentum in specialty and cold coffee sales alongside proven revenue gains from legacy store conversions.

Out-of-Home Beverage Trends and Coffee Demand

According to the 2026 National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) Fall Report released by the National Coffee Association (NCA) and conducted by Dig Insights in June 2026, out-of-home coffee consumption among past-day coffee drinkers rose to 38%. This represents the highest share recorded since January 2020. Despite this uptick, home consumption remains dominant, with 83% of past-day coffee drinkers preparing their beverages at home. Details can be found in the NACS Report.

In specialty coffee, consumer adoption set new benchmarks. A record 48% of American adults reported consuming specialty coffee in the past day. Espresso-based drinks contributed heavily to this category, with 47% of American adults drinking an espresso-based beverage in the past week—an increase of 17.5% since 2022.

Fulfillment channels also show distinct preference shifts:

• Drive-thru adoption: 55% of past-week out-of-home coffee purchasers ordered via drive-thru.
• Mobile ordering: A record high of 40% of buyers placed orders through a mobile application.

Retail purchasing channels for home preparation experienced shifting channel dynamics between January 2026 and June 2026. Grocery stores maintained the leading share for in-home coffee purchases, though their market share fell from 42% to 35%. Conversely, mass merchandisers increased their share from 23% to 28%.

Temperature preferences continue to pivot toward cold options. Cold coffee was consumed by 21% of past-day coffee drinkers in June 2026, up from 17% in January 2026 and 16% in 2022, while hot coffee accounted for 71%. In terms of commercial projections, supply chain services provider The McLane Company estimates the global cold brew coffee market is currently valued at $1.2 billion and expects it to reach $4.2 billion by 2028.

Store Conversions and Dispensed Beverage Growth

In forecourt store updates reported by CSP Daily News, Casey's General Stores disclosed key performance metrics during its Q1 fiscal year 2027 earnings call on September 9, 2026 (for the quarter ended July 31, 2026). Casey's chairman, president, and CEO Darren Rebelez confirmed that stores converted from CEFCO to the Casey's brand experienced an average lift of approximately 30% in prepared food and dispensed beverage sales compared to the identical pre-remodel period.

Casey's closed its $1.145 billion acquisition of Temple, Texas-based Fikes Wholesale (owner of 198 CEFCO stores) on November 1, 2024, raising its total store footprint to roughly 2,900 stores. Casey's holds the No. 3 spot on CSP's 2026 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count. During fiscal year 2026, the company remodeled approximately 50 CEFCO stores, followed by 24 store remodels completed in Q1 of fiscal year 2027. Casey's confirmed it remains on track to achieve its full-year expansion target of 120 store units.

Strategic Analysis for Operators

Strategic Alignment with Cold and Espresso Demand

The sustained rise in espresso-based drinks (47% weekly reach) and cold beverages (21% daily reach) points toward clear operational adjustments for dispensed beverage program design. Forecourt operators considering modernizing their beverage hardware should review whether modular espresso platforms meet local throughput requirements.

*Hypothesis for Operators:* Upgrading legacy filter machines to dual-purpose automated espresso and cold-dispense units increases high-margin beverage revenue per customer transaction. *Proposed Test:* Run an 8-week pilot comparing 10 control stores using legacy coffee hardware against 10 test stores fitted with automated cold espresso dispensers, measuring average transaction value and beverage gross margin.

Mobile and Drive-Thru Fulfillment Infrastructure

With 55% of out-of-home coffee buyers relying on drive-thrus and 40% using app-based ordering, forecourt layouts must handle dual-lane or dedicated order pickup workflows without creating pump-side congestion.

*Hypothesis for Operators:* Dedicated mobile order pickup counters at the forecourt counter reduce customer wait time and increase order completion rates. *Proposed Test:* Measure queue duration and unfulfilled app orders over 30 days across 15 locations before and after implementing designated mobile pickup staging areas.

Remodel Economics and Brand Conversion

Casey's reported 30% sales surge across prepared food and dispensed beverages at converted CEFCO locations demonstrates the value of unifying menu offerings under an established foodservice brand. While capital expenditure for full conversions is substantial, store network expansions can leverage existing real estate assets to achieve operational scale.