Is the bitcoin ATM (­BTM) the next must-have accessory for convenience stores?

As the machines populate more retail locations, there are certainly reasons to consider it. Take the Quick Stop c-store in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood, for example. The manager there told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he sees a “steady stream” of customers who come in to use the machine daily.

Years ago, it might have been unusual for a large snack manufacturer to purchase a smaller natural or organic company. But in 2017, many of the major acquisitions in the category involved larger companies getting in on the better-for-you snacking trend by purchasing the makers of successful healthier brands.

Here are some of the most prominent acquisitions, which will help form the look and taste of new products in the coming year and beyond, in the snack and candy market in 2017:

I’ve written this letter many times. But no matter how many I’ve written, this one is the hardest.

Naked Juice Co. is launching its new Fruit, Nut & Veggie Bars this month. The new products will be available in the refrigerated section at retailers nationwide by the end of February, the company said. This marks the first time the company is releasing a nonbeverage product in its 35-year history.

The Coca-Cola Co. aims to collect and recycle 100% of its bottles and cans and make its packaging completely recyclable by 2030 as part of the "World Without Waste" campaign. The initiative—effective as of last week—looks to set a new global standard for beverage packaging, the company said.

For hackers looking to steal financial data, malware is usually the weapon of choice. Data breaches caused by malware can be devastating to a chain’s profits, image and customer security.

And they happen all the time.

There were 1,093 recorded data breaches involving more than 36 million customer records in 2016, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center, San Diego. And because many data breaches go unreported, there likely were more.

When customers step inside any of Kwik Trip’s 527 locations, they are met with products that seem somewhat out of place in a convenience store. A cold case of meat, fresh vegetables and fruits are all strategically placed to show shoppers that Kwik Trip is a valid place to stop and buy what they need for dinner.

It’s not easy to persuade customers to buy fresh grocery items in stores better known for selling cigarettes and lottery tickets. So that's why Kwik Trip hits them with it as soon as they walk in.

Consider the everyday foodservice customer—the familiar face, the regular—and chances are, c-store staff can predict what that customer is buying from day to day. Their loyalty is secure, and they’re happy with the food and drink offering.

It’s the more elusive consumer, the one who’s more likely to visit a fast-food chain, who is harder to plan for. So how can c-stores influence their traffic?

Retailers and consumers are living in “a golden age of beverage innovation,” according to a report from Packaged Facts that looks at packaged-beverage trends.

“Ideas are flowing like perhaps they haven’t in decades, if not a century,” said David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts, Rockville, Md. “Indeed, until recently, the beverage industry had remained untouched by radical transformation. That is not the case any longer.”