Many consumers prefer convenience stores over all the other alternatives, even for their regular grocery shopping.

Why? It’s simple: They have a strong presence nationwide and offer easy access and a fast shopping experience for essential products. 

Convenience stores also operate more extended hours, allowing for even more conveniences (pardon the pun). 

As these stores are often linked to gas stations, they provide consumers a chance to refuel while shopping for groceries and other items. 

In 2022, due to the higher prices of fuels and foods, these stores saw a significant decline in sales. However, in the second half of 2024, “strong foodservice and merchandise sales” helped overall sales to reach a record $335.5 billion, according to Jeff Lenard, vice president of media and strategic communications at National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). 

According to NACS, there are 152,255 convenience stores operating in the United States. 

Considering this data, it’s logical that beverage brands are making sure their products are on the shelves of convenience stores. Coca-Cola, the king of the beverage industry, has just upped its offering across these small retail shops. 

Moreover, the soda giant made a move to address the needs of consumers who have been forced to tighten their wallets due to inflation and overall economic pressures. 

Coca-Cola rolls out single-serve mini cans in convenience stores 

Starting January 1, 2026, Coca-Cola will debut a 7.5-ounce mini can as a single-serve option in convenience stores across the country. 

While mini cans have been popular for a while, they have only been available in multipacks. Now, consumers have more choices for enjoying their favorite sodas.

Related: Coca-Cola brings back popular Diet Coke flavor

Mini cans will be available for the following soda flavors: 

• Original Coca-Cola 
• Coca-Cola Zero Sugar 
• Coca-Cola Cherry
• Sprite 
• Fanta Orange

The expected retail price of a single mini can is $1.29, according to a report from C-Store Dive. 

 Joel Bishop, president of commercial leadership for the North America Operating Unit at The Coca Cola Co, stated that “people want more ways to enjoy Coca-Cola on their terms.” 

Convenience stores are where many of today’s quick decisions happen, and the cold vault plays a big role in those moments. By introducing mini cans into that space, we’re giving shoppers more choice and making Coca-Cola easier to enjoy and more accessible for the next generation.

Coca-Cola also announced that it will debut a new, limited-time flavor, Coca-Cola Cherry Float, starting in February 2026.

This flavor will be available in various package formats, including single-serving mini cans. 

More than affordability: Mini cans allow moderate consumption 

The rollout of mini cans offers consumers a great opportunity to try new flavors. If they discover it suits their taste, they can continue to buy more of it, or even choose larger serving sizes.

The strategy behind bringing single-serving mini cans to convenience stores is about more than just the price tag.  

As consumer trends shift and healthier alternatives become more popular, the beverage giants are doing their best to adapt to customer preferences.

Earlier this year, Coca-Cola launched a prebiotic soda under its juice brand Simply and said it will offer a version of Coke sweetened with cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. 

Related: Coca-Cola’s discontinued college drink makes a big comeback

Launching smaller soda cans across convenience stores enables health-oriented consumers to indulge in moderation.

According to a new study from the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the rising use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for weight loss has led to a decrease in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and processed foods. 

Data suggest that more than half of mini-can buyers also buy a snack, indicating that this type of format is more convenient for this type of consumer, writes the Beverage Industry. 

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Some consumers on Reddit shared their preference for smaller cans, saying they love little treats.

And while others argue it is more expensive to buy mini cans, those who prefer them say they finish quicker and don’t end up wasting those last few sips, which may have gone flat since opening the can. 

Coca-Cola’s latest bet on single-serving mini cans is also based on its prior success with smaller product packages.

Per a 2019 report by CNN Business, the company’s quarterly sales exceeded projections, partly due to a double-digit increase in volume for its 7.5-ounce mini cans. 

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