Hot, fast and fresh. In just a short period, convenience stores have evolved from cigarettes, fuel and lottery tickets into go-to foodservice operations for guests that want quality meals made quickly. Consumers visit c-stores for more than just fuel these days – they can obtain groceries and a movie for a night in, quality cup of coffee and a fresh pastry on the way to work, or a diverse menu of foods that rival the QSR industry’s offerings. Convenience stores are now a major component of the foodservice industry and it’s easy to see why.

Whether it's a K-12 school cafeteria or a fast casual coffee shop, space is limited in just about every foodservice operation. Today, there's also a growing need for businesses to consider additional profit centers by expanding menu selections (or even adding them in the first place) or increasing throughput to accomodate more customers. Here's how.