A Focus On: Making the Best of 2025

The new year always brings optimism, but 2025 presents many changes for the convenience channel, such as the vaping disposable ban and the April increase in the National Minimum Wage.

“Retailers will need to watch their sales and waste levels, and react accordingly in 2025,” says Paresh Vyas, owner of Jack Lane Convenience in Greater Manchester.

“There will also be higher constraints on budgets, and with our costs continuing to increase, there will be lots of changes next year.”

However, retailers that can navigate the trends well, and work out where they can drive extra sales, will thrive in 2025. Here’s what you need to know. 

Value will continue to drive convenience store buying decisions

The rising cost of living continues to tighten shoppers' purse strings, meaning retailers are having to offer more value to drive sales.

“Costs are going up and financial aid from the government is going down, so customers are more price-conscious than ever,” Vyas says.

“As a result, we’ll be running more promotions to help sales and communicate that we offer value.”

Many retailers are shopping around more when purchasing stock and are being more ruthless with their listings. Many independents are delisting slow sellers going into 2025 in a bid to offer a core range that consistently sells.

But while costs continue to tighten, retailers should remember that the convenience channel already offers great value. Shoppers are still looking for something special and, providing you offer a good experience in store, with quality products on offer, you can still drive profits with premium lines.

Alan Mannings, owner of Shop on the Green in Chartham, Kent, adds that convenience store pricing is on par with supermarkets in some cases and that some categories will be immune to value trends.

“We’ve got crisps in store that sell consistently that are priced at £4.99. Sometimes shoppers want to treat themselves,” he says.

Focus on food to go

Food to go – and even takeaway-style food to go – will be the convenience store trend to focus on next year, according to Vyas and Mannings.

“Food to go will be a massive area for us to focus on next year,” Mannings says.

Mannings plans to create a premium meal deal and will be working closely with Country Choice. “We’re doing a small refit in store, overhauling our range to make room for the right products, such as salads and sandwiches,” he says.

Vyas has also seen the food-to-go opportunity and says that, after lying relatively dormant for the past few years, the category is starting to grow again.

He says: “We’re looking at fresh options, like fruit salads, to cater for our increasingly health-conscious customer base.”  

Health missions will be in demand

January marks the start of the ‘New Year, new me’ ethos. In January 2024, 59% of consumers said they were trying to eat healthier, making this a prime opportunity for your store in the coming weeks.

“We’re anticipating that the number of people buying vegan products will grow, and we’ve noticed more shoppers in our area aren’t eating meat,” Vyas adds. “We also regularly hear them say they’re eating less meat after reading about the supposed health benefits from doing so.”

January means ‘Veganuary’ for some, with 1.8 million consumers participating in 2024. We can also help fill your shelves with vegan, vegetarian and healthier alternatives. This includes low-calorie or high-protein options, such as:

• Eat Real – A healthier alternative to standard snacks, Eat Real products are vegan, gluten-free and made from natural ingredients, catering to individuals seeking better-for-you snacks, without compromising on taste. Flavours include Tomato & Basil Hummus Chips, Chilli & Lemon Lentil Chips, and Sour Cream & Chive Quinoa Chips.
• BetterYou – BetterYou Magnesium Waters offers a convenient, effective, and great-tasting way to meet daily magnesium requirements, enhancing overall health and wellbeing for consumers on the go. There are three varieties to choose from: Citrus & Botanicals - Hydrate, Pomegranate & Rhubarb – Energy, and Blueberry & Mint - Focus.
• Barebells – A range of chocolate bars, health bars and protein bars, as well as a selection of milkshakes and protein shakes. Flavours include Caramel & Cashew, Cookies & Cream, Crispy Nougat, Hazelnut & Nougat, Raspberry Cream and more.

Energy will dominate soft drinks

The energy drinks market has grown substantially in the past few years, and retailers predict this will continue in 2025.

“Red Bull is the core energy drink, but we now have a broad range, which we continue to update with new flavours and varieties,” says Vyas.

Vyas believes the larger formats will be the biggest opportunity for retailers. “We stock the bigger format of Red Bull, and it flies off the shelves in comparison to the 250ml format,” he continues. “They just offer better value.”

Here are some of our alternative bestselling soft drinks:

• Actiph - Actiph Water is Europe’s leading alkaline ionised water. While not a traditional ‘energy drink’ it was founded by seven-time Guinness World Record holder and ultra-endurance athlete, Jamie Douglas-Hamilton and reduces tiredness & fatigue. Flavours include Blackcurrant Apple Raspberry, Lemon Lime Orange, and Mango Pineapple Passionfruit.
• C4 Energy – Packed with B-Vitamins and offering 160mg of caffeine per can, C4 Energy is available in a range of varieties including Cosmic Rainbow, Frozen Bombsicle, Pineapple Head and Orange Slice.
• Huel – The Huel brand continues to go from strength to strength, diversifying into bars in recent years. Its drink range offers the health benefits of a balanced meal and is available in Banana, Berry, Chocolate and Vanilla flavours.
• OxyShred – Offering 113mg of ‘clean’ caffeine with every serving, OxyShred is a US market-leading functional drink that comes in Kiwi Strawberry, Passionfruit, Proton Plasma and Slimer Lime flavours.

What else will help profits in 2025?

Growing margins is a huge focus for retailers in 2025, which can be accomplished by buying strategically and reviewing your overhead costs.

Vyas is aiming to reduce overheads next year by focusing on sustainability and introducing energy-efficient measures.

“We’re getting quotes together to install doors on our chillers, but we’re also looking at cheaper alternatives, too, like sensors,” he concludes.

From a buying perspective, take some time to conduct a range review and shop around. If you stock healthier products, for example, or are looking to do from the New Year, we can help.

Get in touch to find out how we can help you have a successful 2025 and beyond.