Business
Convenience stores are eating fast-food chains’ breakfast
A Wawa store is seen on May 29, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Kent Nishimura | Getty Images
Fast-food restaurants are losing breakfast customers to convenience stores.
Morning meal traffic to fast-food chains rose 1% in the three months ended in July, while visits to food-forward convenience stores climbed 9% in the same period, according to market research firm Circana.
“Over the long run, convenience stores have taken share, really at foodservice overall, but the morning meal has been their strong suit,” David Portalatin, Circana senior vice president and foodservice industry advisor, told CNBC, noting the trend has largely been driven by what the group calls “food-forward convenience stores.”
For decades, McDonald’s and its rivals have tried to lure consumers away from home to eat their early morning offerings, betting that convenience and unique items will win over diners. While fast-food chains have made some inroads, 87% of what consumers eat and drink in the morning comes from their own refrigerators or pantries, according to Portalatin. That leaves plenty of opportunity for fast-food chains — and anyone else who wants a slice of the breakfast pie.
FILE PHOTO: A McDonald’s Corp. McGriddle breakfast sandwich is displayed for a photograph in New York, U.S.
Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Before the pandemic, fast-food chains started seeing a new rival for their breakfast customers: convenience stores. Regional chains like Wawa in the Northeast and Casey’s General Store in the Midwest were expanding their reach and investing in their foodservice options, taking pages from the fast-food companies’ own playbooks.
For a time, lockdowns and the shift to hybrid work reversed those market share gains. But in the three months ended in July, food-forward convenience stores once again gained the upper hand in the battle to serve consumers breakfast, according to Portalatin.
Circana separates food-forward convenience stores like Buc-ee’s and Sheetz from the broader industry, although more chains may soon fit under that umbrella. 7-Eleven, the biggest convenience, or c-store, in the U.S., is planning to invest more in its prepared foods business, inspired by the success of its Japanese business. C-store chain RaceTrac on Wednesday announced that it’s buying Potbelly for about $566 million, although it’s unclear what its plans for the sandwich chain include beyond expanding its footprint.
Fast-food’s breakfast breakdown
In recent years, more diners have been watching their budgets, conscious of rising menu prices and a tight job market.
Year-over-year morning traffic to fast-food chains has fallen every quarter for the last three years, according to data from Revenue Management Solutions, which advises restaurants on how to increase sales and profits. In the second quarter, fast-food breakfast visits fell 8.7%.
To see the struggles, look no further than McDonald’s, which dominates the quick-service breakfast category.
“… The breakfast daypart is the most economically sensitive daypart, because it’s the easiest daypart of a stressed consumer to either skip breakfast or choose to eat breakfast at home,” McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said on the company’s earnings call in late July. “And we, as well as the rest of the industry, are seeing that the breakfast daypart is absolutely the weakest daypart in the day.”
McDonald’s morning visits accounted for 33.5% of its traffic in the first half of 2019 but fell to 29.9% in the first half of 2025, according to Placer.ai data. To try to drum up traffic, the chain has included breakfast items in its new Extra Value Meals, including a deal for a Sausage McMuffin with Egg with a hash brown and a small coffee for $5.
To reverse breakfast’s slide, fast-food chains are taking hints from their competition. After years of convenience stores looking to fast-food chains for ideas on how to grow prepared food sales, from installing ordering kiosks to new menu items, the dynamic has flipped.
“[Quick-service restaurants] are looking at late-night sales and early morning sales, and they are directly looking at convenience stores and saying, ‘What is working? How can we bring that to our stores?'” National Association of Convenience Stores spokesperson Jeff Lenard told CNBC.
The rise of the c-store meal
Prepared foods have offered a lifeline for convenience stores as demand for gasoline, tobacco and lottery tickets has fallen over time. The industry’s overall foodservice sales reached $121 billion in 2024, according to data from the NACS.
Most customers visit the gas pump during the morning and evening rush hours, on their way to and from work, presenting the perfect opportunity for c-stores to sell them breakfast or dinner. This year, 72% of consumers surveyed by InTouch Insight said they saw c-stores as a real alternative to fast-food chains, up from 56% a year ago and 45% two years ago.
Broadly, the c-stores that have focused on fresh food have been winning over more customers.
For example, Wawa has seen its customer base grow by 11.5% since 2022, while fast-food chains McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s have seen their combined customer base shrink 3.5% in the same time, according to data from Indagari, a transaction data analytics firm.
The majority of 1,170 respondents to an InTouch Insight survey for CNBC said that they have purchased made-to-order breakfast from a c-store in the morning in the past three months. Forty-eight percent of respondents said that when they choose breakfast from a convenience store, they are replacing a visit that they might otherwise make to a fast-food restaurant like McDonald’s or Dunkin’.
Buying coffee and breakfast from a c-store likely won’t be cheaper than making it at home. But consumers perceive it as “good bang for their buck,” according to Sarah Beckett, vice president of sales and marketing for InTouch Insight.
Plus, c-store customers get a wider breadth of options. In addition to coffee, gas stations sell energy drinks, protein shakes and yogurt smoothies. And customers can pick up a granola bar or banana to accompany their breakfast sandwich. Fast-food chains lack that kind of variety.
But above all, what matters to consumers is the food itself.
“While [a] convenience store broadly does have some tailwind from being a lower price point, the ultimate differentiator, and what’s really going to set apart the winners from losers, is that quality aspect of it,” Circana’s Portalatin said.
Signage at a Casey’s General Store.
Courtesy: Casey’s General Stores
Brady Caviness, a 33-year-old account executive at Bailiwick who lives in Minneapolis, told CNBC that he indulges in a breakfast pizza from Casey’s General Store when he’s traveling. If he’s back home, where there isn’t a Casey’s nearby, he’ll stop by McDonald’s, Dunkin’ or Starbucks if he’s in the mood to buy his breakfast.
The Iowa-based chain is the country’s third-largest c-store chain and claims to be the fifth-largest pizza concept based on its number of locations. Casey’s reported same-store sales growth of 5.6% for its prepared food and dispensed beverages for the three months ended July 31.
Like Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza, Casey’s breakfast pizza, topped with cheese, scrambled eggs and a choice of bacon, sausage or vegetables, has grown a cult following since its launch in 2001.
“I think Casey’s is kind of a unique thing,” Caviness said. “My whole life, I’ve had the Egg McMuffins.”
New Delhi: Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) on Saturday hailed the regulatory changes introduced by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), simplifying norms for IPO and foreign portfolio investors.
Sebi, in its recent board meeting, decided to revise the minimum public shareholding (MPS) norms for large companies planning initial public offerings (IPOs).
“We welcome SEBI’s progressive and well-calibrated reforms announced at its recent Board Meeting. The new incentive structures to expand mutual fund penetration beyond the top 30 cities and among women investors align closely with AMFI’s financial inclusion objectives,” said Venkat N Chalasani, Chief Executive, AMFI.
The reduction in the maximum exit load from 5 per cent to 3 per cent further reinforces SEBI’s commitment to investor protection and transparency.
The reclassification of REITs as ‘equity’ for mutual fund investments is also a timely step that will enhance diversification opportunities and support the growth of real estate as an investible asset class, Chalasani added.
Taken together, these initiatives will broaden investor participation, strengthen the long-term health of the mutual fund industry, and strike a thoughtful balance between regulatory rigour, investor protection, and ease of doing business, he said further.
Earlier, SEBI announced a series of regulatory changes, including a major relaxation in IPOs, ease for FPIs planning to invest in the domestic market, and simplifying entry norms for advisory certifications.
Under the new norms, companies with a market capitalisation of Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore will now get more time to meet the public shareholding requirements.
They will be required to achieve 15 per cent MPS within five years of listing and 25 per cent within 10 years.
At present, companies are required to meet the 25 per cent threshold within three years.
Additionally, a new category of alternative investment funds that are exclusively available to accredited investors (AI) has been approved. According to a SEBI announcement, the minimum ticket size for Large Value Funds has been reduced from Rs 70 crore to Rs 25 crore.
The new SWAGAT-FI framework, which offers 10-year registrations, a single demat account, and exemptions from the FVCI rule requiring 66 per cent of corpus in unlisted equity, will benefit sovereign wealth funds and pension funds.
New Delhi: With only three days remaining to file Income Tax Returns (ITRs) for FY 2024-25, taxpayers are facing technical issues across key e-filing platforms, adding to the usual end-of-season stress. The Annual Information Statement (AIS), Form 26AS, and Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) portals have been intermittently down due to high traffic, leaving users frustrated and venting on social media.
This year, filings have been slower than last year. By September 11, only 5.47 crore returns had been submitted, compared to 7.28 crore by July 31, 2024. The TRACES portal, which is essential for accessing Form 26AS, downloading TDS certificates, and verifying tax credits, has also been unavailable since September 11, further complicating matters for taxpayers and professionals.
Recommended System Requirements
To avoid technical issues, the Income Tax Department recommends:
Browsers: Microsoft Edge (v88+), Chrome (v88+), Firefox/Mozilla (v86+), Opera (v66+)
Operating Systems: Windows 7 or higher, Linux, Mac OS
Other Requirements: CSS and JavaScript enabled, cookies allowed, and a Class 2 or Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) for certain filings
Late ITR Utility Releases Add Pressure
This year’s filing process has been more challenging due to late release of ITR utilities. The CBDT extended the non-audit ITR deadline from July 31 to September 15, but most utilities became available later than usual:
29 May 2025: ITR-1 & ITR-4 Excel utilities
4 June 2025: ITR-1 & ITR-4 online utilities
11 July 2025: ITR-2 & ITR-3 Excel utilities
17 July 2025: ITR-2 online utility
30 July 2025: ITR-3 offline & online utility
8 August 2025: ITR-5 Excel utility
14 August 2025: ITR-6 Excel utility
Last year, most forms were released by early April, giving taxpayers nearly three months to prepare. This year, the compressed timeline has put extra pressure on both individuals and chartered accountants.
Bank Holidays Could Complicate Cash Payments
The upcoming weekend and bank holiday on September 13-14, combined with the 2nd Saturday on September 13, raises concerns for taxpayers needing to deposit cash for tax payments. Officials have not yet clarified whether banks will remain open.
Penalties for Missing the Deadline
Missing the ITR deadline can be costly:
Late filing fee: Up to Rs 5,000 (capped at Rs 1,000 for incomes below Rs 5 lakh)
Interest: 1 percent monthly on unpaid tax, calculated on a part-month basis
Expert Tips to Avoid Last-Minute Hassles
Check system compatibility: Ensure your browser, OS, and DSC meet requirements
Prepare documents early: Keep Form 26AS, AIS, and TIS ready
File early: Avoid peak hours to reduce portal downtime
Stay informed: Check official e-filing updates and notices
For smooth filing, use the official Income Tax Department e-filing portal: https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/
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Business
India’s Office Space Demand Set To Get A Boost As 85% Firms Eye Expansion In Two Years: Report
Last Updated:
India’s office market is entering a defining decade, marked by both resilience and reinvention, according to CBRE India.
Flex space operators continue to hold a significant share of India’s office leasing, consistently accounting for over 15% of annual absorption.
Office space demand in India is set to get a major boost, with 85% of domestic firms planning to expand their portfolios over the next two years, according to real estate consultancy firm CBRE’s latest India Office Occupier Survey 2025. The intent marks a sharp rise from 73% in 2024, reflecting stronger business sentiment, digital adoption and a shift towards an office-first approach.
The report noted that companies have bounced back strongly since the pandemic years. Leasing by domestic firms during 2023-24 was nearly 86% higher compared to pre-Covid levels in 2018-19. “India’s office market is entering a defining decade, marked by both resilience and reinvention,” said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO of CBRE for India, South-East Asia, the Middle East & Africa.
Office-First Policies Gaining Ground
The survey found that 94% of firms now prefer employees to work from office at least three days a week. More than half the companies (52%) have already adopted a full return-to-office policy, compared with 36% last year.
Flexible Workspaces On The Rise
Flex space operators continue to hold a significant share of India’s office leasing, consistently accounting for over 15% of annual absorption. The trend is expected to accelerate, with more companies planning to allocate up to half of their office portfolios to flexible workspaces in the coming years. Smaller occupiers, in particular, are leading this shift, 58% of them intend to place more than 10% of their office footprint in flex spaces within two years, according to the CBRE report.
GCCs Fuelling Expansion
Global capability centres (GCCs) remain one of the strongest demand drivers, contributing 35-40% of total annual office absorption. The survey found that 65% of GCCs expect to expand in the next two years, especially in sectors such as banking and financial services, life sciences, and engineering. Average deal sizes by GCCs have also grown, rising to about 108,000 sq. ft. in the first half of 2025 from 91,000 sq. ft. in 2024, it added.
Ram Chandnani, Managing Director-Leasing, CBRE India, said, “GCCs alone account for about 35-40% of absorption, driven by their rapid evolution into high-value innovation hubs. Flexible workspaces are no longer a secondary option; they are becoming integral to occupier strategies.”
ESG and Smaller Cities Gaining Traction
Sustainability has emerged as a key focus, with nearly three-fourths of GCCs already setting ESG targets for their real estate portfolios. At the same time, more occupiers are eyeing tier-II and tier-III cities for growth, citing access to skilled talent, lower costs, and improving infrastructure, CBRE said.
CBRE expects these forces — office-first strategies, flex space adoption, GCC expansion, and sustainability — to shape India’s office market in the years ahead, reinforcing the country’s position as a global office hub.
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h…Read More
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h… Read More
September 13, 2025, 15:41 IST
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