Consumers on the go are hungry for products that deliver on taste, health and value.
The food-to-go sector is evolving rapidly as consumers look for options that combine convenience, nutrition and value. While traditional lunchtime staples such as sandwiches, crisps and soft drinks continue to dominate, healthier alternatives, protein-rich products and more premium meal deal combinations are increasingly shaping purchasing decisions.
If there is one trend cutting across almost every part of food-to-go, it is protein.
One of the most notable developments of 2026 comes from Jack Link’s, which is hoping to introduce a new generation of consumers to meat snacking through a major partnership with digital superstar MrBeast.
While jerky has traditionally been viewed as a niche category in the UK, the market is now worth £44m and has grown by 26% over the past three years.
David Harriman, UKI Country Director at Jack Link’s, says: “With household penetration still below 7%, growth in meat snacks is fundamentally about recruitment. This launch is designed to unlock new buyers, new occasions and genuine incremental value for retailers.”
The partnership gives Jack Link’s access to MrBeast’s Gen Z and Gen Alpha audience while reinforcing jerky’s position as a convenient, protein-rich snack. With younger consumers increasingly looking for products that deliver sustained energy throughout the day, meat snacks are benefiting from changing attitudes towards healthier snacking.
Protein’s influence can also be seen in hot food-to-go.
Rollover is aiming to capitalise on the trend with the launch of its new Chicken Tenders Snack Box. Available across convenience and forecourts, the product combines crispy chicken breast tenders with a sweet and spicy hot honey dip.
The launch taps into two major consumer trends: demand for protein-rich foods and growing interest in adventurous flavours. Chicken is now the second most popular food-to-go choice, while boneless chicken remains consumers’ preferred format for eating fried chicken.
Tony Owen, General Manager at Rollover, says: “With hot honey continuing to grow in popularity, it felt like the perfect opportunity to bring something fresh and exciting to the category. The product is designed to drive trial and appeal to Gen Z and millennials seeking high-protein snacks.”
Shoppers now expect their snacks to work harder for them, whether that’s delivering protein, fibre, natural ingredients or simpler recipes, notes Natural Balance Foods, which supplies Trek and nākd bars. “Within cereal bars, Better For You snack bars are the fastest-growing segment, up +12.1% [NIQ Scantrack Retail Data to w/e 27.12.25],” says Marketing Manager Alice Boardman, highlighting that cereal bar singles are growing +8.2% [ibid].
As supermarkets continue to strengthen their meal deal propositions, Scottish convenience retailers have a significant opportunity to win back food-to-go shoppers by offering the right drink choices alongside food, says Red Bull.
Soft drinks remain a key driver of value in the channel, with energy drinks standing out as the fastest-growing segment and one of only two soft drinks categories currently driving growth across the board [Nielsen WE 5-4-2025, CGA WE 17-6-2025], observes the firm.
This trend is being fuelled by younger consumers, with consumption amongst 18–24-year-olds up 21% vs 3YA [Insidery 2025]. “Energy Drinks is the number one soft drink[Insidery 2025 category that Gen Z’s choose during a casual meal [CGA OPUS, June 2025], which puts it ahead of coffee and cola,” says kesperson.
For this reason, Red Bull advises convenience retailers to ensure energy drinks are prominently available in chillers and meal deal offers, stating that Red Bull acts as a beacon for the category.
Retailers should also consider changing consumption habits throughout the day. “27% of Sports & Energy usage occasions are in the morning [Kantar | Share of Occasions | 52 w/e to 25 January 2026] and breakfast on the go is at an all-time high, with energy drink sales seeing a surge during this time,” says Red Bull. “Meal deals work particularly well for premium products such as energy drinks, with one in four Sports & Energy usage occasions featuring food [Kantar Usage Panel 2024], so it’s important to consider all the different mealtimes where these would be relevant.”
“What’s driving growth is no longer niche or sports-led products, but everyday protein bars that feel accessible, enjoyable and relevant to real-life routines – reflected in the fact that Functional Health Bars are now the fastest-growing part of Better For You snacking, up +24.3%, compared to Sports Nutrition at just +5.5% [ibid].”
Shoppers are prioritising products that support broader wellness goals without compromising on taste or texture, notes Grant Yates, Sales Director at Yoplait.
He claims that protein, fortification and functional health are increasingly shaping shopper behaviour in the yoghurt aisle. “Health is now an important purchase driver, with functional segments such as protein and gut health growing [Nielsen NIQ Total Convenience, MAT, 21.02.26]. Shoppers are increasingly looking for products that work harder for them, whether that’s supporting bone health with vitamin D or providing high-protein options that fit seamlessly into busy routines.”
Alongside demand for health benefits is consumers’ insatiable need for value as they continue to face the cost-of-living crisis. Yoplait is tapping into this with Yop’s first-ever price-marked pack (PMP) for convenience. Available in its most popular strawberry flavour, the £1.59 PMP drink will be available in Eden Farm, Parfetts and Bestway.
“The addition of a price-marked pack will further drive consumer trust and attract value-conscious shoppers,” says Yates.
A recent collaborative trial in independent convenience stores led by Yazoo unveiled compelling evidence that combining effective in-store merchandising with PMPs can drive significant sales growth in the impulse-driven chilled milk drinks category. One of the key findings, based on retailers’ EPoS data, was that there was a +89% average sales uplift in overall Yazoo PMP sales across all three participating stores.
Sophie Williams of Broadway Convenience Store in Edinburgh, who took part in the trial, said: “We were blown away by the impact; our chilled milk drinks sales went through the roof.”
Kepak, owner of the £94.6m Rustlers brand, is helping convenience retailers tackle one of the biggest food-to-go challenges: waste caused by short shelf lives. Its new East St Deli range uses Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) to offer a market-leading shelf life for pre-packed sandwiches, giving retailers more time to sell stock and reducing the risk of waste.
Research conducted by Kepak and the Association of Convenience Stores identified pre-packed sandwiches and their short shelf lives as the leading causes of convenience-store food waste.
East St Deli maintains freshness, taste and texture for longer without artificial preservatives.
Kepak’s internal modelling suggests the extended shelf life of its new East St Deli range could cut sandwich wastage by up to 50%, helping address the estimated 10.7m to 17.8m sandwiches discarded in UK retail each year [Kantar Worldpanel OOH 52we 13 July 2025].
The premium range includes five sandwiches: Chicken & Stuffing, Chicken & Bacon Mayo, Tuna Mayo, Egg Mayo and Cheese & Onion Mayo, plus Sweet Chilli Chicken and Chicken Caesar wraps, all with an RSP of £2.89.
PMPs have seen significant growth in the past few years, observes KP Snacks. “We’ve seen a recent increase in grab bags and large PMP sales as people are tempted by the bigger packs,” says Stuart Graham, Head of Convenience and Impulse. “70% of shoppers purchase items[Nielsen NIQ Total Convenience, MAT, 21. are increasingly looking for products that work harder for them, whether that’s supporting bone health with vitamin D or providing high-protein options that fit seamlessly into busy routines.”
Alongside demand for health benefits is consumers’ insatiable need for value as they continue to face the costait is tapping into this with Yop’s first-ever price-marked pack, the £1.59 PMP drink will be available in Eden Farm, Parfetts and Bestwayy’re getting good value.
The PMP format continues to grow, with value share rising to 70% across 2025, compared to 68% in 2024 [NIQ 52 w/e 13/12/25, Independents & Symbols].
PepsiCo is maximising the opportunity by investing in PMP formats across a number of food-to-go lines. “With almost 750,000 shoppers at risk of exiting the category at the £1 RRP price threshold [Kantar Worldpanel data / Out of Home / CSN / Impulse / 52we/ 10-Nov-25], we unlocked greater value for retailers and shoppers with the launch of a Walkers 85p RRP price-marked pack across impulse bestsellers,” says Ed Merrett, Wholesale Controller at PepsiCo.
The modern food to go market is becoming increasingly sophisticated. While convenience remains essential, value and health benefits, in particular protein content, are also important considerations for today’s consumers.
Retailers don’t need to invest in full in-store kitchens or cooking facilities to elevate their food-to-go offer, highlights St Pierre Groupe. “For many, the biggest gains come from focusing on high-impact, low-risk investments that enhance the existing proposition, particularly around the morning and lunchtime missions,” says Commercial Director Rachel Wells.
“The morning run presents a clear opportunity to grow food-to-go sales by merchandising a strong range of morning goods alongside the hot drinks dispenser. Simple investments in layout, signage and availability, combined with the strength of brands like St Pierre, can drive linked purchases, encourage repeat visits and increase spend across multiple categories without adding operational complexity.”
Individually wrapped morning goods, such as St Pierre Butter and Chocolate Croissants, are well suited to this mission, she adds.
