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A major British coffee brand is quietly expanding across the U.S., not through traditional cafés, but through one of America’s most beloved roadside travel center chains.The partnership is bringing automated coffee machines capable of serving barista-quality drinks to thousands of consumers every day, turning routine gas station stops into an unexpected front in the global coffee industry.Drivers in Texas and across the South may already recognize a giant yellow road sign featuring a beaver wearing a red hat, the unmistakable symbol of Buc-ee’s, the coffee brand’s new partner.What is Buc-ee’s?Founded in 1982, Buc-ee’s is a Texas-based chain of mega-gas stations famous for its massive travel centers. The chain operates nearly 70 locations across 11 states, according to its store locator. Each location features dozens of gas pumps and electric vehicle chargers, along with an enormous retail space selling food, convenience items, home décor, clothing, and branded merchandise. Most importantly, it is best known for having spotless bathrooms.More Buc-ee’s Business News:Iconic convenience store chain shares growth plans (here’s where)For many road-tripping families, commuters, and long-haul truck drivers, Buc-ee’s has become an unmissable and reliable pit stop.Now, Buc-ee’s is expanding its beverage offerings by installing automated Costa Coffee machines across its stores, giving travelers more options and helping it better compete with traditional coffee chains such as Starbucks.Buc-ee’s coffee bar goes viralBuc-ee’s coffee offerings first gained traction in 2022, when customers began posting Instagram and TikTok videos highlighting the chain’s build-your-own coffee bar. The self-service station quickly went viral for its extensive customization options and unusually low prices compared to typical coffee shops.The buzz eventually led the company to open Buc-ee’s Beanery, a standalone coffee shop in Lake Jackson, Texas. The location features in-store ordering and a drive-thru, serving handcrafted espresso drinks similar to those found at traditional cafés. While self-service bars are common at gas stations, Buc-ee’s stands out for the sheer number of customization options available to customers, with no limit on how much can be added.Buc-ee’s coffee bar customizationsBrews: Hot and iced coffee with multiple roast styles and flavor varietiesMilks: Dairy milk and plant-based optionsCreamers: Liquid and powdered, with flavored and unflavored optionsSyrups: Various flavorsSauces: Multiple flavorsSugar: Regular and brown sugar, as well as zero-calorie sweetenersOne of the biggest draws remains the value price. A coffee typically costs between $1.50 and $2.70, depending on the type and size, far below the $4 to $10 many coffee shops charge. Prices have increased over time, however. Early customers once paid as little as 50 cents for a cup of hot drip coffee.

Buc-ee’s installs Costa Coffee machines inside its travel center stores.Shutterstock

Costa Coffee’s vending-machine strategyCosta Coffee was founded in 1971 and has grown into one of the largest coffee chains in the U.K.The company launched its automated coffee concept in 2011 with the introduction of Costa Express, its first self-service machines placed across retail stores and gas stations after Costa acquired vending company Coffee Nation, according to Reuters.The rollout proved successful. By 2013, Costa had installed about 3,000 machines, hitting a target originally set for 2016.Since then, the company has developed more advanced models and expanded the concept internationally.Costa accelerated its U.S. expansion in 2022 by introducing its Smart Café machines, following The Coca-Cola Company’s (KO) 2019 acquisition of the brand for $4.9 billion, according to Foodservice Equipment & Supplies.The machine can prepare more than 200 barista-quality drinks in under 90 seconds, crafting espressos, Americanos, cappuccinos, lattes, flat whites, and cortados, many of which are available hot or iced, according to Costa’s website.”With no need to hire baristas, you can serve travelers premium beverages, customized just the way they like them,” said Costa in a statement. “It’s a low-risk, high-margin way to elevate the traveler experience.”Buc-ee’s adds Costa Coffee machinesThe exact date when Buc-ee’s began installing the Costa Smart Café machines is unclear, but social media posts suggest the rollout began around mid-2025. One of the earliest sightings came from a British traveler who posted a TikTok video showing a Costa machine inside a Buc-ee’s location.Since then, multiple videos on TikTok and Instagram have captured customers reacting to the machines appearing at their local stores, suggesting the expansion has been gradual.For Costa, the partnership offers a way to reach millions of travelers who already stop at Buc-ee’s locations.Starbucks and Costa Coffee: a global coffee rivalryWhile both Starbucks and Costa operate thousands of stores worldwide, their strategies and current business challenges differ significantly. StarbucksStarbucks (SBUX) remains the largest coffeehouse chain in the world, with more than 41,000 stores across 80 countries as of 2026.However, the company recently launched a turnaround initiative called “Back to Starbucks” to revive store traffic and improve the customer experience following a period of declining sales.The company has also closed several underperforming locations in the U.S. and U.K., which some analysts believe could allow smaller chains and independent cafés to expand into markets once dominated by Starbucks.Bailey Pemberton, an equity analyst at Simply Wall St, said the company must carefully balance expansion and store closures.”Store closures and the handover of some sites to smaller competitors could work against the goal of reestablishing Starbucks as a consistent ‘third place’ if traffic fragments in key urban neighborhoods,” said Pemberton.More Starbucks Business News: Starbucks announces more store closures as strategy shiftsStarbucks makes two big changes to 1,000 stores in 2026Despite those challenges, recent results suggest signs of recovery.In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Starbucks reported a global comparable store sales increase of 4% year over year, with North America comparable store sales up 4%. The gains were driven by higher transaction volumes and higher average ticket size.The company also added128 net new stores worldwide during the quarter,  bringing its total U.S. locations to 16,911.Monthly visits to Starbucks stores were down about 0.6% during the first half of 2025, but later rebounded to about 1.6% growth in the first five months of the second half of the year, according to Placer.ai.Costa CoffeeCosta operates more than 4,000 retail stores across 30 markets, over 16,000 “Proud to Serve” placements in 23 markets, and more than 14,600 Smart Café machines in 14 markets, according to its website.However, the company has faced financial pressures in recent years.Costa’s losses more than doubled to £13.5 million ($17.91 million) in 2024, up from £5.8 million ($7.7 million) the previous year, according to the Independent. Before the Covid pandemic, the company had reported annual profits of up to £100 million ($132.64 million).Costa attributed the downturn to increased competition, rising operational costs, and a reduced store footprint.In 2025, several media reports suggested that Coca-Cola was exploring the sale of Costa for around £2 billion ($2.65 billion), less than half the price it paid eight years earlier.Clive Black, an analyst at Shore Capital, told the Independent that Costa may have reached saturation in its home market.”It has perhaps reached the peak of its extent in the U.K., ‘peak Costa’ if you like, which makes it more exposed than most to competitive challenges,” said Black.Why Buc-ee’s could be key to Costa Coffee U.S. expansionThat pressure may help explain Costa’s push into the U.S. market.By placing Smart Café machines inside Buc-ee’s travel centers, locations already known for attracting heavy traffic, the brand can introduce its drinks to millions of American consumers without building thousands of new stores.For Buc-ee’s, the machines add another premium beverage option that complements its popular self-service coffee bar while strengthening its position as a one-stop destination for travelers. 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Many people assume estate planning is only necessary for families with significant assets, spouses or children.But in a recent interview, Harry Margolis, author of “Get Your Ducks in a Row,” said the opposite can often be true. Individuals who are single, have modest assets and no children may actually have a greater need for a clear estate plan.Without one, critical decisions about finances, health care and the distribution of assets may be left to state law or to people who were never chosen for those roles, he said.For households planning their financial future, the key issue is control: Who will handle your affairs if you become incapacitated, and who will carry out your wishes after you die?Below is a transcript of that interview, edited for clarity and brevity.Do single people with few assets need a will?Robert Powell: Do you need an estate plan if you have little in the way of assets, you’re single and have no children?Here to talk with me about that is Harry Margolis, author of “Get Your Ducks in a Row.” Harry, welcome.Harry Margolis: Good to see you again, Bob.Why estate planning matters, even without familyRobert Powell: This is a question I often get. I’m sure you hear it as well. If someone is single, has modest assets and no children, what’s the point of having an estate plan?Harry Margolis: In many ways, that’s exactly why you need one.When you’re single and don’t have children, you don’t have the natural people in place – a spouse or kids – to step in and handle things if you can’t manage them yourself. That could happen if you become physically or cognitively disabled, or after you pass away.Different states have different rules. Some states presume certain people can serve as your health care agent or manage financial matters. Other states require that you appoint someone directly.But if you don’t have family members who would naturally fill those roles, it becomes even more important that you formally appoint someone to do so. You can do that through a power of attorney and a health care proxy or health care power of attorney.

What happens if you die without a willHarry Margolis: The same issue arises with your assets.Even if you don’t have a lot of assets, the state still needs to determine who receives them when you pass away. If you die without a will, the state follows what are called the rules of intestacy.These rules essentially follow your family tree. If you are married, your spouse typically receives some or all of your estate. If you have children, they receive the rest.If you are single and have no children, your estate usually goes to your parents, if they are living. If not, it may go to siblings, nieces and nephews, cousins or other relatives.That distribution may or may not reflect what you actually want. With a will or trust, you can choose where your assets go instead of leaving that decision to the state.Why a will with beneficiary designationsstill mattersHarry Margolis: Even if most of your accounts have beneficiary designations, it’s still important to have a will.Also worth readingRetirees may want to rebalance as markets broaden, volatility risesWhy “breaking even” on Social Security is the wrong goalThe $83,250 secret every solo entrepreneur needs to know for 2026Medicare mistakes seniors wish they’d known soonerElon Musk says stop retirement saving: Experts call it ‘nonsense’Social Security benefits could drop 7% in 2032Someone still needs to handle the administrative responsibilities after your death. That includes tasks such as cleaning out your apartment or house, selling property if you own a home, and filing your final income tax return.A will allows you to appoint someone to serve as the executor or personal representative who will carry out those duties.Key estate planning documents for single individualsRobert Powell: So it sounds like the basic estate planning documents are similar to what anyone would need: a will with an executor, a durable power of attorney for financial matters, and one for health care decisions. Perhaps HIPAA releases as well. Anything else?Harry Margolis: That’s generally the core of it.One complication for people who are sometimes called “solo agers” is that they may not have someone obvious to appoint for those roles.In those cases, some nonprofit organizations or church groups may be willing to serve as an agent under a health care proxy or power of attorney, or as the personal representative of the estate.Lawyers are sometimes willing to serve as executor or personal representative because that role is largely administrative. But many attorneys are reluctant to act as health care agents. Those responsibilities can be very personal and time-consuming, and if the attorney is billing by the hour, it could significantly reduce the estate.Bottom line for solo individualsRobert Powell: So the bottom line is that even if someone is single, has modest assets and no children, they still need an estate plan with the same core components as any other plan.Harry Margolis: That’s right.Related: The hidden cost of retirement withdrawal rates

Every retailer wants to be more like Costco, at least when it comes to the chain’s financial results.Costco drives revenue by selling memberships.“The most important item we sell is the membership card,” Costco CEO Ron Vachris told Fortune in an April interview.Membership fees matter to Costco because they generate roughly 60-70% of its operating profits from them.“This model generates predictable, high-margin income primarily from membership fees, which account for a significant portion of its operating profit, insulating the company from the volatility of discretionary spending,” The Inyo Register shared.And, while membership drives revenue, the warehouse club’s famed “treasure hunt” drives traffic to its stores as members don’t know what they might find on any given visit.Dollar General wants to tap into those two models — membership revenue and visits driven by treasure-hunting customers.Treasure hunts drive visitsCostco founder Jim Sinegal explained how the treasure hunt model works in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.”We try to create an attitude that, if you see it, you ought to buy it because chances are it ain’t going to be there next time. You’re going to come in and find that maybe we have some Lucky jeans that we’re selling. You come in the next time and we don’t have those jeans but we have some Coach handbags. That’s the treasure-hunt aspect,” he said.It’s not just about changing merchandise, but what you’re selling, according to a leading retail analyst.”The most important element of the treasure hunt is the quality of the merchandise, and Costco delivers. And men, many of whom hate to shop for clothes, can keep their wardrobes up to date while on a quest for steaks or wine. Everyone wins,” retail expert Cathy Hotka wrote on RetailWire.Dollar General embraces the treasure huntDollar General has been testing a new store format, designed to make the retailer more like Costo.”We have reimagined our traditional store format by creating a new layout in response to what customers have told us they want from their shopping trip. This new format is designed to be more open and inviting, resulting in greater browsing and treasure hunt shopping as customers are exposed to more categories as they navigate the store,” CEO Todd Vasos shared during his company’s fourth-quarter earnings call. Early results have been promising.”We tested this new format in a portion of our 2025 remodel projects and are pleased with the incremental sales lift and relative sales outperformance compared to traditional remodels. Ultimately, we believe this format will help drive both increased transactions and ticket as the store provides for an even fuller fill-in trip,” he added. This model isn’t fully new to Dollar General.”This need to snatch up an item before it’s gone is exactly what stores are playing to…This tactic involves having a greater variety of products that change often throughout the year. The ‘treasure hunt’ is also effective because e-commerce sites, a big competitor for dollar stores, cannot replicate the deal, Reuters shared, commenting on Dollar General rotating in different merchandise, mostly under $5, to its stores.Dollar General also plans a membership planWhile Vasos only shared basic details, he made it clear that Dollar General wants recurring revenue from a membership or subscription program.”Looking ahead, we have ample opportunity to further drive incremental sales growth through customer experience enhancements, increased customer awareness, and expanded loyalty opportunities, including a planned pilot of a subscription program,” he said during the Q4 earnings call.Subscription revenue can help retailers build their bottom line and drive recurring revenue, but it’s a challenging space.More Retail:Costco sees major shift in member behaviorRetail chain shuts all locations as legal changes hit industryLululemon struggles to reverse concerning customer behavior”Most traditional retailers have yet to achieve meaningful success with subscription businesses of their own. Part of the struggle for incumbents is the difficulty of launching a new line of business in an unfamiliar channel and at times failing to nourish their subscription businesses — running it as a niche offering or an experiment,” according to insights from McKinsey & Company analysts.There are real brand risks tied to adopting a subscription model.”Failed attempts at building subscription businesses in food, beauty, and retail have been well documented. Such failures often destroy value and, worse, risk creating reputational damage,” the study showed.Many retail brands have tried subscription services, including Loot Crate, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy; Eleven James, a luxury watch subscription model that has closed; and Stitch Fix, which continues to operate, but has struggled.

Dollar General plans major changes in its stores.Shutterstock

Dollar General had a strong yearAs the economy has struggled, Dollar General has benefited from wealthier customers visiting more often. The retailer recently shared its fourth quarter and full-year earnings.Fourth-quarter net sales increased 5.9% to $10.9 billion.Fiscal year net sales increased 5.2% to $42.7 billion.Fourth-quarter same-store sales increased 4.3%.Fiscal year same-store sales increased 3%.Fourth-quarter operating profit increased 106.1% to $606.3 million.Fiscal year operating profit increased 28.6% to $2.2 billion.Fourth-quarter diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) increased 121.8% to $1.93.Fiscal year diluted EPS increased 34.1% to $6.85.Annual cash flow from operations increased 21.3% to $3.6 billion.
Source: Dollar General Q4 earnings release
Dollar General reported a strong quarter and year, but its stock had its worst day in two years after it reported on March 12.”The answer lies in the company’s fiscal 2026 outlook. Management’s guidance implies a meaningful deceleration in the retailer’s core growth engine,” Motley Fool Analyst Daniel Sparks reported.For fiscal 2026, Dollar General expects net sales growth of 3.7% to 4.2%. “And, more concerningly, management guided for same-store sales to increase by just 2.2% to 2.7%. This marks a sharp deceleration from the 4.3% same-store sales growth the company just delivered in fiscal Q4. It also trails Dollar General’s 3% full-year same-store sales growth for fiscal 2025,” he added. Related: Costco shares a new cash-back promise with members

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealThe weather is warming up, and spending time in the sun has never seemed so nice as it does during the first days of spring. The warm afternoon sun with a slight cool breeze, the dog running around the yard, and relaxing and enjoying your favorite book. However you envision your time spent outdoors in the backyard, it’s made better with a comfortable and versatile patio set. If you want space to lay out and have a beverage, invite friends over for a backyard barbecue, or enjoy your morning coffee, the Walsunny 4-Piece Patio Set is an ideal option. The bench is nice for seating multiple guests or lounging out with a pillow, and the coffee table is large enough to fit some snacks, drinks, a book, or a radio.Walsunny 4-Piece Patio Set, $110 (was $200) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Why do shoppers love it?This conversational set includes two chairs, a two-person bench, and a coffee table. The set is constructed of powder-coated steel with breathable mesh fabric that’s both durable and weather-resistant. The table features a tempered glass top that’s large enough to hold drinks, snacks, your favorite book, and more. Everything is easy to clean off with a damp cloth, or you can hose it down and let it dry in the sun. The powder coating provides erosion protection from rain and water, and the mesh paneling dries quickly, offering a no-fuss cleanup when spills occur or when it’s pollen season.Related: Walmart is selling a ‘comfortable’ 3-piece bistro patio set for just $78The set can be moved around the patio or backyard with the easy-to-use curved handles on the back of the chairs, and the table is lightweight enough to be picked up by the legs to move around to prevent scratching your patio. The set can be used together as one piece, or it can be moved around the yard for any occasion. The chairs each measure 30.7 inches tall, 23.6 inches wide, and 22 inches deep, the bench measures 41,12 inches wide and 23.6 inches deep, and the table measures 16.53 inches tall, 35.4 inches wide, and 19.68 inches deep.Shoppers can choose from multiple colors, including black, brown, silver, or gray, but gray is the best deal. Pros and cons of this $110 patio setProsMaterial: The frame is made of powder-coated steel, and the seats use a weather-resistant, breathable mesh material.Layout: This set offers a versatile layout design. It can be separated to use the bench in the garden while the chairs stay with the coffee table, etc.Lightweight construction: Each piece is lightweight enough to move around the patio or yard if needed. Cons Storage: This set is large and would be difficult to store in a shed or the garage during the winter. Uses: While this set is great as a lounge or conversational area, it does not work as well for eating full meals as a dining set would. One shopper said, “This patio set was wonderful for the price, easy to put together, sturdy, and durable. I’ve had no issues and no rust. It’s a beautiful set.” Another shopper said, “Very nice for the price! It’s easy to assemble.”Shop more dealsWalsunny 3-Piece Cushioned Patio Furniture Set, $154 (was $260) at WalmartLofka 4-Piece Patio Set, $100 (was $196) at WalmartLeumius 5-Piece Outdoor Dining Set, $140 (was $175) at WalmartThe versatile Walsunny 4-Piece Patio Set is a great option for any outdoor area. Enjoy it with friends, relax on your own, or use the set separately throughout your home. For just $110, this patio set is a steal. Shoppers can save $90 on this purchase for a limited time.