Mini meals, little treats and a beverage boom: Trends shaping convenience services

As snacking replaces sit-down meals and nonalcoholic beverages gain momentum, fruit is emerging as a common thread across multiple consumer trends. A new industry forecast points to growing demand for tropical flavors, mini meals and small indulgences, creating new opportunities for convenience services operators to refresh assortments and merchandising strategies.

The Fruit Fwd Forecast, a new report from Dole Packaged Foods, highlights trends related to how fruit and flavor are expected to shape snacking and beverage choices in the coming year. The consumer behaviors and trends highlighted in the report can inform product choices that convenience service operators make in the coming year.

Increasing interest in tropical flavors

Consumer interest is growing for tropical flavors such as guava, passion fruit and dragon fruit. Evidence of the ‘tropical takeover,’ says Dole, includes increasing web searches for tropical flavors and tropical fruits as well as growing media coverage of Latin American, Caribbean and other international cuisines. For convenience services operators, the data suggests consumers may respond strongly to adventurous flavor profiles in packaged snacks, chilled fruit cups, juices and frozen novelties.

Rapid growth in fruit-forward beverages

The report also highlights beverage trends, particularly nonalcoholic options such as dirty sodas, which pair colas and other dark sodas with fruit add-ins, flavored syrups and cream or creamy ingredients. Operators offering office coffee service may already have all the key ingredients in a client’s break room or micro market. Smart pricing and merchandising, complete with recipes, can drive opportunity and engagement. As Sarah Hooper, senior manager of health and wellness at Shaw Industries, and Jeremy Querin, hospitality manager at Insight Global, said at CTW in November, clients expect their convenience services partners to stay one step ahead of the trends and deliver experiences that make employees feel seen and welcome.

In addition, social conversations and searches for mocktails, floats and other fruit-centered nonalcoholic drinks are increasing. Consumer retailers have already responded, expanding nonalcoholic beverage offerings, and tropical beverages incorporating flavors like dragon fruit and mango have grown sharply in product introductions. These shifts indicate an opportunity for operators to broaden their cold offerings and machine assortments with ready-to-drink mocktails, refresher-style beverages and fruit-forward sparkling drinks.

The rise of mini meals

More consumers are assembling smaller plates and snack boards in place of traditional meals, with many replacing at least one meal per week with snacks, according to the 2025 Circana Snack Survey. More than half of consumers eat snacks instead of meals when pressed for time, Dole notes in its report, and a majority prioritize “naturally nutritious” options such as fruit, nuts and dairy over more processed alternatives.

Consumer interest in mini meals could create opportunities in micro markets and smart stores, as consumers seek snacks during nontraditional dayparts. Single-serve fruit, yogurt, snack packs and bento-style combinations can meet demand for convenient, flexible mini meals.

An enduring demand for small, indulgent treats

More than 75% of consumers consider snacks a critical part of their day for a “moment of joy” or emotional boost, refusing to cut them out even when budgeting, Dole reports, citing Circana’s State of Snacking Report.

Dole notes consumers’ “treatonomics delights” trend: how small, affordable luxuries have become everyday essentials. According to the report, most consumers prioritize taste and indulgence and view snacks as key moments of joy, even when they are budgeting. It also notes strong consumer interest in foods with layered textures and that texture is a purchase driver for younger adults. These findings reinforce demand for single-serve treats, including fruit-based frozen items, layered parfaits and dessert-style products that combine a health halo with indulgent flavors and textures.

Growing interest in fruit for digestive health and beauty

Dole’s report also highlighted the growing link consumers see between gut health, overall wellness and appearance. Dole cited rising searches for “gut-friendly fruits,” “superfruits for skin” and “fruit for gut health” as well as increased news coverage connecting fruit consumption and the microbiome. Tropical fruits such as pineapple and mango are frequently referenced for their digestive enzymes and perceived beauty-from-within benefits.

For convenience operators, capitalizing on opportunities to position fruit snacks, smoothies and beverages within broader wellness and self-care occasions, perhaps as part of employee enrichment and experiences that make employees feel seen and welcome. Leaning into self-care offerings in markets and smart stores located in hospitality and lodging, healthcare public areas, college and university common areas, transportation hubs like airports, and gyms and fitness centers could pay dividends.

In conclusion, the Fruit Fwd Forecast underscores a 2026 landscape in which fruit plays multiple roles: a carrier of bold global flavors, a centerpiece of snackable mini meals, a functional wellness ingredient, and a key component of permissible indulgence. Operators who respond with updated product mixes, expanded beverage sets and merchandising that highlights these attributes may be better positioned to meet evolving consumer expectations in workplaces, campuses and on-the-go locations.