Portable Food makes Grocerants the What, Why and for Whom of today’s food success stories?

Grocerants and grocerant food are fast becoming a big niche, driven by consumers! Grocerant food refers to any retail prepared food component that is ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat available in Grocery store, Convenience store, Restaurant as To-Go or - Take Away, Dollar store, Mobile Truck or Kiosk format.


Grocerants developed as a result in of the blurring of the line between restaurants and grocery stores aimed at the time-starved consumer with ready to-eat or ready-to-heat prepared food components that can be bundled into a meal. Demand by consumers became visible shortly after Eatzi’s opened in Dallas, Texas and now spanning the country in the likes of Sheetz, Wawa, Boston Market, Marketside, Fresh & Easy, Greenwise, Culinaria, Safeway’s Lifestyle stores and Restaurants with To-Go or Take-Away food.

Globally we are witnessing prepared food sections in department stores, Mobile vans and trucks, shopping malls in Europe and Asia. At airports around the world we see kiosk selling meal components or kits. Combined the items can range from sauces, entrees to side items, salads, baked goods and fresh fruit deserts. Some examples of items range from Mango– curry sauce, fried chicken, lasagna, cream spinach, flat-bread sandwiches, steak, prime rib, various casseroles (hot-dish) to salads, side salads and single proportioned deserts. They can be picked up at the specific unit, or delivered.

The Grocerant sector is utilized by a multi-generationally customer base for varied reasons ranging from ease of cooking time, multi-culture flavor profile with unfamiliar cooking preparation formats, save time, portion size. The majority of Grocerant shoppers are looking for portions for one or two people, flexibility of components is key i.e. curry sauce may go on pasta, rice or a baked potato; empowering consumer choice.

There is a growing focus on “better for you” aspect within the niche. Most interesting is wide swath in which customers refer to “better for you” while shopping in this niche. Here are just a few examples: less packaging, save time, smaller portions, ability to accommodate entire family taste profile, ability to prepare singularly or family style, price, still a HOME COOKED MEAL.

 Ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat the Grocerant niche accommodates today’s family in a style that is built for change. Is your company bundling for success?

www.FoodserviceSolutions.us  specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a brand leveraging marketing integration strategy.  Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche and has been since 1991 Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us