Q&A with Kasey Klingensmith, business development leader, foodservice, Hussmann
What are the foodservice trends in c-stores right now?
Kasey Klingensmith Kasey Klingensmith: Freshly prepared food continues to be a trend in c-stores as competing QSR locations see less foot traffic and rising labor costs. Convenience guests are looking for freshly prepared products like made-to-order sandwiches and fresh baked pizza. Operators expanding their foodservice offerings continue to move away from roller grills toward high-speed ovens and small refrigerated prep areas or kitchens. These spaces are also used as production centers for packaged items to be displayed in hot or cold merchandisers. We’re also seeing a move from branded donut programs to in-house programs. Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) and digital signage are seeing increased adoption as operators look to reduce labor and integrate technology to promote their offerings.
What should retailers look for when selecting merchandisers?
KK: Operators should look for a merchandiser that increases the visibility of their key products and fits in well with the store design. We focus on helping our partners realize higher store sales by offering a wide range of merchandisers designed to have maximum pack out and facings. Pack out refers to the total amount of product a merchandiser can hold, and product facings is the number of products visible to the guest. It is also important that retailers confirm their merchandisers utilize low GWP or natural refrigerants such as R-290 (propane) to stay compliant with new regulations.
How do you anticipate the refrigeration regulations (AIM Act) will impact store designs?
KK: On January 1, 2026, new remote refrigeration systems supporting remote display cases, beer coolers and WICFs, will need to be transitioned to low GWP or natural refrigerants. Hussmann has worked to develop new A2L, CO2 and R-290 solutions to assist our customers in updating their store designs. Our new testing lab and plant expansion at our Suwanee, GA facility has allowed us to rapidly develop and test against the latest regulatory requirements. Our engineering and design drafting teams work alongside our sales professionals to ensure we help our clients stay complaint in their store designs.
Hussmann is focused on helping convenience stores attract and retain more customers while increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations.
How are products addressing current and future challenges?
KK: Hussmann’s MD8DA is a four door, 8-foot-long merchandiser rated to hold a variety of products from packaged meat to produce or even dairy. This allows operators to easily expand offerings to include more grocery items. Hussmann’s new FS-OB merchandiser can be easily integrated into a counter for impulse buys at ordering, pickup or checkout areas. Hussmann’s S-Series merchandisers can be installed as a single unit or combined to create an endless lineup and further increase pack out and facings.
How does Hussmann support convenience store foodservice programs?
KK: Hussmann has invested heavily in a comprehensive team dedicated to supporting foodservice opportunities in the convenience market. This includes both internal and external customer facing teams along with an extensive rep network. Hussmann also has a design services team, refrigeration engineers and specialists, and offers an in-house and a third-party installation and service network to support our customers for the life of the equipment.
