When it comes to dining, coffee is still king.

Coffee shops not only are the largest part of the field today, but are expected to be the fastest growing section over the next two years.
Food carts, while a small portion of market today, are projected to be one of the fastest growers over the next two years.
The future doesn’t look as good for full-service restaurants and convenience stores, as they are projected to open the fewest new locations in the next two years.
Location-wise, the Northeast us seeing a lower share in number of operations than the other sections of the country. The South and Midwest hold the greatest share.
Sections of the market that seem to trend towards simplicity (less employees, smaller structures) are the more successful operations.

Read more: 2017 c-store and retail census: At your service