As 2025 unfolds, Toast Inc. (NYSE: TOST), the dedicated digital technology platform for hospitality, is expanding its horizons to cater to convenience stores, bottle shops, and grocery markets. With its new comprehensive food and beverage retail solution, Toast is set to transform the retail landscape, beginning with a prominent showcase at the National Retail Federation Show in New York City. This move signals Toast’s enhanced commitment to enabling retailers to modernize operations, streamline inventory management, and elevate customer experiences.

 

A Decade of Expertise in Action

Steve Fredette, President and Co-Founder of Toast, shared insights into the company's trajectory: “With over a decade of experience empowering restaurants with advanced technology, we are now extending our capabilities to the food and beverage retail sector.” As the boundaries between retail and hospitality increasingly blur, Toast is positioning itself as the technology platform of choice for convenience stores, bottle shops, and grocers. This proactive approach aims to provide a seamless inventory management experience, catering to evolving consumer expectations.

 

Meeting Rising Consumer Demand

Recent trends indicate that consumers are shifting their preferences towards made-to-order and prepared food options at convenience stores. According to findings from Intouch Insight’s 2024 Third-Party Delivery Report, over 56% of consumers view convenience stores as reliable alternatives for ready-to-eat meals compared to traditional fast-food outlets. A recent study by Toast revealed that more than half of food and beverage retailers are now incorporating foodservice into their offerings, underscoring the need for integrated technology solutions to manage complex operations efficiently.

 

Success Stories: Retailers Thrive with Toast

Among those benefiting from Toast’s innovative solutions is Ashlea Hogancamp, co-founder of Herban Market. Facing challenges in sourcing high-quality, organic food for her family, Hogancamp opened a neighborhood store that quickly adapted to customer demands for prepared food. After switching to Toast’s system, she noted, “Our original POS struggled under the increased volume, leading to significant losses. Toast provided a comprehensive platform for managing both retail and food service seamlessly. The insights on inventory management have allowed us to stock our best-selling items consistently, making us competitive against larger retailers.”

 

Empowering Retailers with Cutting-Edge Tools

Toast Retail is a powerhouse of functionality designed to enhance operations for convenience stores, bottle shops, and grocers of all sizes. Key features include:

 

Smart Inventory Planning

Utilizing historical sales data, Toast Retail predicts when items are likely to run out, empowering retailers to maintain optimal inventory levels. This tool eliminates the hassle of overstocking or understocking, ensuring that customer favorites are always available.

 

Mobile-First Technology

The SmartScan feature allows retailers to quickly add new SKUs by scanning barcodes with mobile devices, pulling essential product details and images in seconds. This expedites the process of updating inventory, enhancing operational efficiency.

 

Bulk Operations Management

Retailers can adjust pricing, print barcodes, and modify stock statuses for thousands of SKUs simultaneously, making inventory management efficient and hassle-free.

 

Multi-Location Management

With features designed for retailers operating multiple locations, Toast Retail helps maintain an accurate view of inventory across all sites. This flexibility allows retailers to offer diverse product options without losing track of stock availability.

 

Enhanced Customer Checkout Experience

Toast’s point-of-sale (POS) terminals facilitate a swift and transparent checkout process, improving customer satisfaction. Options such as self-checkout kiosks and handheld terminals help manage busy periods effectively.

 

Offering SNAP EBT Payment Processing

Toast partners with Forage to enable retailers to accept SNAP EBT benefits, providing greater access to essential food items for American families in need.

 

Toast is dedicated to supporting the evolving food and beverage retail landscape. With a multitude of tools designed to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences, Toast’s innovative solutions are well-positioned to meet the demands of modern retailers.

 

To discover more, visit Toast’s retail page or stop by Booth #203 at the National Retail Federation Show, where innovation meets convenience.