U.S. Hispanics and purchases at convenience stores

U.S. Hispanics are more likely to purchase grocery foods, dairy and bread from convenience stores than non-Hispanics, reported The NPD Group in The C-Store Hispanic Shopper, which examines the typical convenience store (c-store) shopping behavior of Hispanics by level of acculturation and how it compares to non-Hispanics.

Spanish-dominant Hispanics are more likely to make grocery item purchases at c-stores than other Hispanics, NPD said.

On average, U.S. Hispanics make almost two more visits a month than non-Hispanics to major oil chain c-stores, and nearly one more visit over a 30-day period to traditional c-stores than non-Hispanics. For some Hispanics, c-stores supplement or substitute grocery stores.

In addition to groceries, more than two thirds of Hispanics consider having fresh food available at c-stores to be very/somewhat important. Hispanics are more likely to purchase fresh foods for lunch or breakfast, and they prefer hot foods, found NPD. They are least likely to purchase sandwiches/wraps.

"As one of the fastest growing U.S. population groups, Hispanics are an important segment for the c-store channel," said David Portalatin, NPD's c-store industry analyst. "As this report reveals, having a good range of grocery like items and other staples may increase Hispanic traffic, and promoting fresh foods considered to be more homemade or cooked should resonate well among Hispanics."

Source: Published originally on CSP Daily News as U.S. Hispanics More Likely to Purchase Groceries at C-Stores: NPD, July 22, 2013.