If price is important this summer is heating up to be a battle for the foodservice consumer.

Convenience stores have learned menu bundling from Quick Serve Restaurants. Grocerant prepared ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat fresh prepared food is booming in the Northeast United States.

According to Convenience Store news;” Rutter's Farm Stores recently expanded its fresh-food menu to include turkey wings and sliders, which are available in all 36 of its stores that offer touchscreen ordering. The wings, which are $1.39 each and can be ordered one, two or three at a time, comprise 2.25 ounces of meat that is marinated and then fried. They can be ordered with original, buffalo or spicy seasoning, according to the convenience chain.”

What I like is the fact that Rutter’s utilizes restaurant industry bundling options for items; “ new sliders offer a hamburger or fried chicken patty served on a fresh-baked roll. Yellow American cheese, pickle and onion can be added at no additional cost. Sliders can be ordered in quantities of one ($1.29); three ($3.39); six ($5.94); or 12 ($9.96) at a time.

QuickChek, Wawa, Sheetz and Rutter’s all have a strong fresh prepared ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat quality food program. Products that at one time were priced at a competitive advantage over Quick Serve Restaurants.

However times are changing fast and the QSR industry is fighting back with $ 1.00 food items and $ 1.00 drinks. McDonalds is offering this summer at many locations any soda any size for only $1.00. Burger King is offering medium frozen drinks for only $1.00 and many $1.00 food items. If price is important, the focus this summer is on the consumers pocket book.

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