Some 70% of symbol retailers experience a 10%-plus sales uplift during the summer, according to exclusive research by HIM Research & Consulting.

A survey of 300 c-store retailers found that 56% of respondents - including 41% of unaffiliated retailers - enjoy a double-digit summer sales boost, while 21% of respondents said they saw a 6-10% rise during the warmer months (23% of symbols and 19% of unaffiliated retailers).

More than one in three (36%) unaffiliated c-stores experience a 0-5% sales rise in the summer, compared with just 7% of symbol retailers.

Only 3% of respondents said summer sales were either flat or declined.

Soft drinks was the biggest sales driver for respondents (90%), followed by ice cream (57%) and alcohol (31%).

For more on how to make the most of summer sales, turn to p50.