MINNEAPOLIS – U.S. consumers spend $1.4 trillion a year on food and beverages, nearly half of which is for food eaten away from home. As consumer confidence has improved over the past years, food away from home has captured an increasing share of food spending.

According to the latest report from General Mills Convenience & Foodservice operating segment, this presents a significant business opportunity for companies who embrace this trend, including convenience stores. In fact, the segment had a record performance year in fiscal 2015 with operating profit up 15%. Over the last decade, this business has gone through an incredible transformation with a clear focus on prioritizing product lines and customer channels. Profit for this business segment has increased by more than 150% since 2005.

Bethany Quam, vice president at General Mills and president of Convenience & Foodservice recently gave the company’s investors an overview of growth plans in the convenience segment for the coming year, including increased presence in the c-store channel.

With away from home snacking identified as a key growth area, convenience stores represent an especially valuable channel, and in fact represent General Mills’ largest snack food channel.

“We have a great lineup of new grab and go snacks coming this year, including Nature Valley Simple Nut Bars made with whole nuts and seeds, and new Sweet and Spicy Chili and Dark Chocolate granola bar,” Quam told investors. General Mills also is expanding its convenience line of Pillsbury mini baked goods, which launched at 7-Eleven last year to great success.

Learn more on the General Mills blog.