Hot on the heels of Amazon's new shop, 7-Eleven has opened its first checkout-free store in Melbourne, Australia. Accustomed to the seamless nature of transactions on e-commerce platforms, people are looking for a similar experience when shopping at bricks-and-mortar sites.

Australian supermarket giant Coles is adding 75 new products to its selection of ready-to-eat meals in an effort to boost its approach to convenience. Amid growing time pressure and desires to eat healthier, people want meal options that are both nutritious and easily accessible.

In a city where convenience reigns, cooking at home is usually given short shrift in New York – let alone finding the time to source local ingredients. Local Roots NYC is trying to break that pattern with its subscription service, connecting city dwellers with local farmers and their producers.

As tastes become more international and health becomes a top concern, more Americans are looking beyond supermarkets to find new flavours that surprise and delight. Canvas8 spoke to 20 people from across the US to understand what occasions lead them to visit specialty food stores.