Quality Fresh Ready-2-Eat Food in Convenience Stores.

Harkin back to the days that employee’s uniforms were back & white.  Employees all dawned paper hats, a time that the roller grill was introduced and ready-2-eat hot prepared food was introduced in the Convenience store channel.  It was a time when the availability of food staples in extended hours of operations drove sales in this dynamic channel. 

The Convenience store channel continues to be dynamic; currently it is booming in the prepared ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat food sector or what I call the grocerant sector.  I believe that differentiation does not mean different it means familiar within each food niche and this one is no different.  Consumers young and old are demanding more choice, fresher quality and more contemporary food options and convenience stores are stepping up. 

Niche and industry global leader 7-Eleven de-emphasize the roller grill and recently has introduced Fresh Bananas, Pizza, and Chicken Wings.   They are testing in new pilot stores their “latest insights into market trends to provide a range of 45 freshly prepared food products, including a hot breakfast menu and toasted sandwiches cooked to order.” This test includes a “café-esque range of hot lunch alternatives and will combine with Lavazza to offer barista-made coffee.” 

Sheetz & Wawa both offer a full range of prepared food choice including fresh salads and fruit options. Good companies do good things over and over again.  Recently Wawa CEO Howard Stoeckel detailed several efforts the convenience store chain is undertaking in during the economic slump the US is in, He stated "we're performing better than the vast majority of retailers,"  Fresh prepared ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat food products are strongly contributing to on-going sales and profit success.

Outside eyes can deliver top line sales and bottom line profits.  Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a grocerant program assessment, brand, product placement or positioning assistance.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant.