NEW YORK – A CNBC report earlier this week highlighted the growing sophistication of gas station foodservice programs.

“The hottest thing in food now is happening at gas stations across the country,” CNBC wrote on its website introducing the video segment, and they are “fast becoming the new gastronomic destinations for foodies.”

In her “Chew and Brew” segment, reporter Jane Wells visited several popular stations cum restaurants.

At the Corner Deli & Grill inside a Mobil gas station in West Los Angeles, customers line up for its acclaimed Mexican food. (Corner Deli was featured in the 2012 NACS “Ideas 2 Go” program.)

“I got tired of selling just chips and candy bars,” explained owner Richard Speckman, who invested $300,000 to add the restaurant to his Mobil station.

“Gas stations don’t make much selling gas … so you really need something else to drive the profits and food is a great way to do that,” said Jeff Lenard, NACS vice president of strategic industry initiatives, in explaining the growing trend of sophisticated foodservice at gas stations.

“If you look at where gourmet restaurants always want to be, they traditionally want to be at hotels because of their traffic,” he said, adding that gas stations also deliver that steady stream of traffic with up to 1,000 visitors each day.

As for The Corner Deli, it has recently expanded to catering, and four messengers deliver food throughout the day.

“Why don’t you quit selling gas?” Wells asked.

“This is working,” Speckman said.