Shelves stocked with packaged foods including rice, pasta, canned goods, and jars, arranged in a storage or pantry area with labeled boxes and organized sections.

Trend Watch: Campus Convenience Is Having a Moment

From big chains to local favorites, convenience stores are a vital part of an area’s culture. And nowhere are these local cornerstones more essential than on college campuses. From big chains to local favorites, convenience stores are a vital part of an area’s culture. And nowhere are these local cornerstones more essential than on college campuses.

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Campus convenience students want

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  • Minimalist blue line icon of a grocery basket filled with items like a bottle, baguette, and produce, representing food shopping or essentials on a light background.

    Fresh & Dietary-Friendly Foods

    Across the U.S., students overwhelmingly lament the lack of grocery options. “I wish my campus offered more ingredients I could use to cook,” one shared.2 Some reported that they crave global ingredients for cooking authentic international food. Others stated that food allergies and other health concerns are their main reason for seeking out kitchen ingredients.

    Today, 20% of Gen Zers avoid foods due to allergies or other health concerns.3 To satisfy this large portion of students, it’s important that campus convenience stores offer a wide range of dietary-friendly products.

  • Minimalist blue line icon showing a triangular sandwich alongside a takeaway coffee cup with a lid, representing a quick meal or grab-and-go food on a light background.

    Quick & Healthy Options

    Grab and go. Heat and eat. Fruit and yogurt. From late-night bites to class snacks to post-workout fuel ups and everything in between, students are looking for a robust variety of quick ways to satisfy that hunger.4

    Our research shows students are passionate about improving their health and wellness. However, the products available on campus don’t always help them achieve their goals.5 So, when we asked our student insights community, The Quad Squad, about what types of products a campus convenience store should have available daily, it wasn’t a surprise that they resoundingly answered that meaningful variety (57%) and healthy options (47%) are their top needs.6

  • Minimalist blue line icon of a smartphone displaying a fork and leaf symbol on the screen, representing digital food ordering, healthy eating, or a mobile meal app on a light background.

    Tech-Enabled Community

    In contrast to Millennials, Gen Zers prefer brick-and-mortar stores that pair a great in-person experience with frictionless tech. Cashless payment, mobile ordering and easy transactions are all simple tech solutions that help boost student satisfaction.7

    Students’ preference for in-person shopping is consistently supported by the high value they place on belonging to an inclusive, supportive community.8 One way they engage with their communities is by shopping small, favoring local vendors and small businesses.9 

Modern self-serve community pantry with shelves labeled community and essentials, stocked with food and personal care items, plants on top, and a counter with a kiosk under a food hive sign.

Meet Sodexo’s fast-growing on-campus market, Food Hive

Experience is the name of the game for Gen Z students, and it’s the way the convenience industry is leveling up both on- and off-campus. According to research, students are seeking retail experiences that offer something for everyone, and it’s clear that markets with a community focus fulfill their urge to engage with authentic environments that are woven into the fabric of campus life.10

 

One way Food Hive boosts inclusivity on campus is by spotlighting local partners and minority- and women-owned businesses with featured products. This chance to engage with small businesses is a welcome and exciting experience for students.11 With community-centered products boosting local pride, students are encouraged to stay on campus to get the daily essentials that help them get the most out of their college journey.

Explore Food Hive

Ingredients for student success

In this era where a sense of belonging is tantamount to student success, understanding what Gen Z really  needs from campus convenience is more important than ever. Modern convenience stores make it easy for campuses to care for students’ holistic needs, enhancing their access, well-being and satisfaction, all while providing a space for quick, meaningful connections. This human approach is fuel for a stronger campus community, when and where students need it most.

Convenience on campus matters

Through location, variety and authentic engagement, campus convenience supports vibrantly inclusive communities. See what the next generation of campus convenience services looks like.

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References

  1. Real-Time Student Insights. Sodexo’s The Quad Squad, May 2024.
  2. Real-Time Student Insights. (May 2024.)
  3. Taste of Tomorrow — Navigating Food Through the Eyes of Gen Z and Alpha. Hartman Group Syndicated Research Study, 2023.
  4. Convenience Store Foodservice in the US. Mintel, 2024.
  5. Campus Consumer Report. Sodexo in partnership with Murphy Research, 2023.
  6. Real-Time Student Insights. Sodexo’s The Quad Squad, February 2024.
  7. “What Is Gen Z?” (2024).
  8. “What Is Gen Z?” (2024).
  9. Real-Time Student Insights. (May 2024.)
  10. Sodexo NorAm Convenience Research. Sodexo in partnership with Finch Brands, 2021. Beyond Prestige: Best Practices in Belonging So Students Fit and Flourish. Sodexo.
  11. Real-Time Student Insights. (May 2024.)