SAN ANTONIO, Texas – At the recent tradeshow exclusively for CST Brands, operators of Corner Store convenience stores, healthy snacks like dry roasted edamame were a popular offering alongside the typical Icees, doughnuts and beer.

Highlighting a broad array of healthy snack foods and offerings for quick grocery store-type trips — items like perishable items, dairy and produce — was a key element, part of efforts to appeal to c-stores’ growing base of Millennial shoppers.

"Millennials snack a lot, rather than having full meals," said Hal Adams, CST senior vice president and chief marketing officer, according to a Houston Chronicle report. "And what we love about Millennials is they're more accepting of our channel of trade than any other age group that came before them. I'm not sure why, but they're just more into exploring and not so wrapped up into traditional ways of eating and taste."

CST is testing an approach to make their stores a regular alternative to grocery stores with a pilot program at four San Antonio-area stores. Customers at those stores can expect to see potatoes, onions and tomatoes alongside fresh breads, rolls and buns. The chain is also developing a plan to introduce an expanded dairy and produce selection to its larger locations since its acquisition of central New York’s Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes, which have traditionally provided extensive foodservice options.

"We think there is an opportunity for us to be a niche fill-in for folks who enjoy large supermarkets but can't go there every day," "It's very nice to be able to park right in front of our store, pop in, buy five items and go home, throw spaghetti in a pot with some sauce and have a salad and go." (For more on how convenience stores are using market basket analysis to guide shoppers toward complementary products, read “From Mission to Market” in the January issue of NACS Magazine.)