Convenience Stores are an essential part of food provision in Canada. And they are well positioned to provide a snapshot of consumer desires and societal changes. Most convenience stores focus on so-called RTU (Ready To Use Food), which gives good margins, but requires both the organisation of logistical chains and the acquisition of new machinery for the storage and preparation of food.

As everywhere else in the world, there is growing attention to healthy, organic, gluten-free and non-GMO foods, so supplying these is key. Coffee has moved centre stage and outlets are once again introducing automatic stations serving coffee. Finally, the meteoric rise in delivery services like Uber-eats and Skip the Dishes are enabling mini markets and Convenience Stores to expand their customer portfolios.

Terry Yaldo, vice-chair and owner of Midway Convenience Stores, emphasises the fact that the sector is concentrating not only on quality, for example by offering specialty coffee, but also on specialisation and differentiation from more commercial options, offering products that differ according to location and are as fresh and healthy as possible.