Convenience Stores: Source of Food/Beverages among Adults, What We Eat In America, NHANES, 2013-2016

Authors: MORTON, SUZANNE - American Society For Nutrition; Rhodes, Donna; Moshfegh, Alanna

Submitted to: Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group
Publication Type: Research Technical Update
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/29/2020
Publication Date: 6/30/2020
Citation: Morton, S., Rhodes, D.G., Moshfegh, A.J. 2020. Convenience Stores: Source of Food/Beverages among Adults, What We Eat In America, NHANES, 2013-2016. Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group. Available: https://www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg/wweia/dbrief.

Interpretive Summary: Convenience stores account for a small but growing percentage of food purchases. Using nationally representative survey data from 2013-2016, this report presents results on the contribution of convenience stores as a source of food and beverage consumption among U.S. adults (20 years and older). On any given day, 1 out of 4 adults consumed at least one food and/or beverage from convenience stores. Consumption of food/beverages from convenience stores was lowest among adults 60 years and older, non-Hispanic Asian adults, and among adults with family incomes greater than 350% of the federal poverty level. When consumed, convenience store items contributed about one-fifth of daily intake for energy and more than one-third of daily intake for added sugars. More than half of the daily energy intake from convenience store food/beverages was consumed at snack occasions. This highlights the importance of convenience stores to U.S. dietary intake and need for further research on socio-demographic differences. This dietary data brief is available on the FSRG website www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg.

Technical Abstract: Food and beverages sales in convenience stores have increased over the past several years. There are more than three times the number of convenience stores in the U.S. This report presents results on convenience stores as a source of food and beverage consumption among adults, 20 years and older, using data from What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016. Convenience stores included convenience-type stores, dollar stores, drug stores, gas stations, gift shops, and liquor/beer stores. Overall, 26% of adults consumed at least one food and/or beverage, excluding plain bottled water, obtained from a convenience store on any given day. Consumption of food/beverages from convenience stores was lowest among adults 60 years and older, non-Hispanic Asian adults, and among adults with family incomes greater than 350% of the federal poverty level. Among consumers of food/beverages from convenience stores, 19% of daily energy intake came from convenience store items, with the majority (55%) of energy from these items consumed during snack occasions. One in four adults obtained at least one food or beverage from a convenience store on any given day, with convenience store consumers having a different demographic profile than non-consumers. This highlights the importance of convenience stores to U.S. dietary intake and need for further research on socio-demographic differences.