Industry trends, operator insights, and how your pizza program can keep up
Convenience store foodservice is evolving fast—and the most successful store owners are evolving with it. From bold flavors to smarter formats, today’s winning strategies are built around customer cravings, streamlined operations, and all-day appeal. The good news? If you’re running a Hunt Brothers® Pizza program, you’re already ahead of the curve.
Let’s take a look at what’s trending in c-store foodservice—and how your pizza program is built to deliver.
Hot, Craveable, Handheld
Bold comfort food is having a moment, and that moment isn’t going away. Today’s customers want snacks and meals that feel indulgent, flavorful, and portable. That’s why c-stores offering hot, handheld options are seeing higher tickets and more repeat traffic—especially when they feature bold flavors, limited-time items, or easy pairings.
- Pizza snacks like WingBites® and Hunks™ match trending flavor profiles.
These hot, ready-to-eat items hit all the marks: crispy texture, craveable flavor, and easy-to-eat size. They appeal to snackers, grazers, and lunch-on-the-go customers looking for bold flavor without the wait. - Multiple sauces = rotating variety without changing inventory.
By offering a mix of sauces, you create new flavor experiences using the same core product. It keeps things fresh for regulars without overcomplicating your prep or ordering process. Try keeping hot sauce by the warmer! - Perfect for lunch, second lunch, or snack o’clock.
These handheld options sell well beyond the traditional noon rush. Stocking your warmer during late morning, mid-afternoon, or late-night hours can capture hungry customers who didn’t even know they were hungry yet.
Your takeaway: Snack-size items with bold flavors are driving foodservice wins in every region.
Thinking Beyond Lunch
Foodservice isn’t just about the lunch rush anymore. More operators are stretching into morning and evening hours—and seeing strong returns. Pizza for breakfast? Absolutely. Late-night impulse snack? Even better. The key is hot, appetizing, visible food that’s ready when customers are.
- Offer breakfast pizza in the mornings.
Add our breakfast pizza with scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage to your menu—an easy, filling favorite that’s perfect for commuters, shift workers, or early risers. It’s a simple way to activate your warmer before 10 a.m. - Use warmers to keep slices ready into the evening.
Not everyone eats on a 9-to-5 schedule. Stocking your warmer through dinnertime and beyond helps serve after-school crowds, evening commuters, and late-night snackers. Just make sure to rotate for freshness and eye appeal. - Pair with coffee, energy drinks, or soda depending on the daypart.
In the morning, breakfast pizza and a cup of coffee make a satisfying combo. In the afternoon or evening, offer pairings with soda or energy drinks. Smart beverage pairings boost ticket size and round out the meal.
Your takeaway: A wider foodservice window means more chances to drive sales—and pizza fits every shift.
Doing More with Less Labor
Labor challenges are a reality in today’s staffing landscape. That’s why c-store owners are simplifying prep, training, and execution without skimping on quality. The best programs don’t require tons of training— just a solid system and smart products. Here’s how your pizza program helps you get the most out of slimmer staffing:
- Pizza items arrive pre-portioned and ready to bake.
There’s no guesswork or measuring required. Dough, sauce, and snacks like WingBites come in exact portions, reducing waste and ensuring consistency—even when prepared by a new employee. - Simple prep and clear guides help train staff quickly.
With visual instructions, training sheets, and videos, your team can be up to speed in minutes—not days. It’s ideal for high-turnover environments or stores where foodservice isn’t the main job. - Ovens and warmers minimize hands-on time.
The oven does the work while the team focuses on customers. Once items are baked, they go into the warmer—ready to sell without extra handling or attention. That’s a major win for small teams juggling multiple duties.
Your takeaway: Your pizza program is built for real-world labor constraints—and still delivers big.
Smaller Setups, Bigger ROI
Not every store has space for a large setup, but that doesn’t mean smaller profits. What we’re seeing in the field is that space isn’t stopping pizza program growth—because smart operators are maximizing every inch. A smaller setup option rivals bigger program kiosks in both sales and quality.
- Compact setups product high-margin snacks and meals.
With just a few square feet and the right equipment, you can offer a range of craveable, filling options like pizza, WingBites, and Hunks.
- Warmers keep items hot and highly visible.
A well-stocked warmer not only protects food safety—it can be your best salesperson. The visual appeal of hot, fresh Hunks draws attention and encourages impulse buys throughout the day. - Display near the register to boost impulse buys.
Placing your warmer within eyeshot of checkout lines increases conversion. Shoppers making quick purchases are more likely to grab a hot slice or snack when it’s easy to see and easy to add to their total.
Your takeaway: You don’t need a big footprint to run a big-deal foodservice program.
High Protein Choices Make the Cut
Health conscious customers aren’t just shopping in the produce section. They’re looking for high protein, satisfying options in every aisle—especially in foodservice. Protein-rich snacks are viewed as filling, energizing, and worth the extra spend.
- Wings offer a hot, portable, high protein snack.
With zero breading and plenty of protein per serving, Wings appeal to keto eaters, gym-goers, and customers who just want a satisfying, guilt-free snack on the go. They’re easy to prepare and easy to position as a better-for-you option. - Breakfast pizzas with eggs, bacon, and sausage help customers meet protein goals.
Your breakfast pizza delivers on flavor and With a base of scrambled eggs, protein-packed toppings like bacon and sausage, and cheese, it fits right into morning routines for customers looking to fuel up without skipping flavor. - Pair with water or low-sugar drinks to appeal to nutrition focused customers.
Customers focused on health tend to choose beverages carefully. Promote meal combos that include water, unsweetened tea, or low-sugar options to round out the appeal—and offer signage that suggests these better-for-you pairings.
Your takeaway: High protein foodservice options are in demand—and your menu already includes them.
Stay Current, Stay Competitive.
The best c-store foodservice programs today aren’t reinventing the wheel—they’re doubling down on what works. Bold flavor. Smart timing. Simplicity. With your pizza program, you already have the products, tools, and support to match what’s trending and outperform the competition.
Want to take the next step?
Talk to your TBHC Delivers Account Manager to explore promotions, optimize or expand your setup, or add new items that keep your program moving forward.
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TBHC Delivers
TBHC Delivers is the largest distributor of Hunt Brothers Pizza; we are our own business and brand. We own our trucks and follow, believe and deliver on all Hunt Brothers Pizza’s visions. TBHC Delivers builds upon the high-quality product of Hunt Brothers Pizza with value-add customer service like our 15-Point Promise.