CONVENIENCE RETAIL IN ISRAEL IS EVOLVING RAPIDLY.

Israel’s convenience retail sector is an interesting space to watch. It sits right at the intersection of changing shopper habits, urban living, fast service expectations and a market that is naturally open to smarter, more innovative technology.

The wider food retail market is sizeable and resilient. 

USDA Foreign Agricultural Service reported that Israeli food retail sales reached US$21 billion in 2024, with the food retail market made up of supermarket chains, convenience stores, local grocery stores and wet markets. It also noted that per capita consumption increased by 4.1% in the first quarter of 2025. That matters because convenience formats thrive when customers want quick access, local availability and easy top-up shopping — not necessarily a full weekly shop. 

Competition is also intensifying.

Euromonitor’s 2025 convenience retail summary highlights that convenience retailers in Israel have become more competitive in recent years, as players look to benefit from higher prices and margins compared with some other formats. It also notes that major discounters, including Rami Levi, have expanded into convenience stores to capture growing demand. This points to a segment that is no longer just about forecourts and quick snacks. It is becoming a more serious battleground for food retail. 

The forecourt convenience operators already have significant reach. 

Paz references more than 300 retail sales points and positions its activity around convenience, city-centre supermarkets and services close to the customer. Delek Israel is described as operating around 238 gas stations, with around 195 Menta stores. Sonol says it has over 230 gas stations and approximately 200 convenience stores spread across Israel. These are exactly the kinds of distributed retail networks where consistency, speed and control become operationally important. 

But the sector is also under pressure. 

Euromonitor identifies several forces shaping the market: rising grocery prices, rapid grocery delivery, and security concerns sustaining demand for stores closer to home. It also notes the expansion of Wolt Market as fast delivery reshapes consumer expectations. For convenience stores, that creates a clear challenge: customers expect speed, availability and choice — while retailers are trying to protect margin, manage staff time and keep operations secure. 

This is where cash automation becomes very relevant. Not because Israel is standing still on payments — quite the opposite. The Bank of Israel reported a sharp increase in digital payment usage, with the value of payment card payments rising by 99% over the past decade, reaching NIS 451 billion in 2023. But digital growth does not mean cash disappears from everyday retail. 

SUMMARY

For convenience retailers in Israel, the opportunity is clear. Stores are becoming faster, more connected and more service-led — but the operational realities have not gone away. Cash still needs to be accepted, managed, secured and reconciled. The difference now is that it no longer needs to be handled manually.

Glory’s retail automation solutions help convenience stores bring cash into the modern retail journey — at the point of sale and in the back office. That means faster transactions, less pressure on staff, fewer manual processes, stronger cash control and a smoother experience for customers who still choose to pay with cash.

And importantly, this is not about introducing technology from a distance. Glory works with trusted local technology integrators who understand the Israeli retail market, the operating pressures, and the way convenience stores really workday today. In Israel, Glory is working with G&S, bringing local knowledge together with global cash automation expertise to help retailers identify the best way to optimise their stores — from the checkout to the back office.

If you are looking at how to make your convenience stores faster, smarter and easier to operate, now is a good time to start the conversation.

Modern retail needs modern cash handling.
Let’s look at how Glory and G&S can help you build it into your store. Contact Glory Country Manager: Inna.baykova@glory-global.com