Baking staples, for example, aren’t common on the shelves at most C-stores, but sales of the category have been on an upward trend across the U.S. since the week of March 14, 2020, as consumers settled into restricted living conditions.

As consumers begin to evolve into their new normal, convenience stores can put themselves into the consideration set for these new need states.

Even with the start of spring and the partial re-openings of many U.S. states, a recent Nielsen survey of consumers from 70 countries found that 71% of Americans expect the spread and intensity of the local impact of the virus to increase.

With that sentiment, there’s little doubt that many U.S. consumers will continue practicing social distancing and shopping at smaller stores that are closer to their homes.

In the short term, convenience stores have the opportunity to meet the everyday CPG needs of consumers as they navigate their markets’ path to the new normal.