Restaurant sector cedes sales to other food retail sectors.

Highly respected restaurant industry analyst from The NPD Group, Bonnie Riggs reported yesterday that restaurant industry sales in the United States “which struggled through a slow spring season and will likely see flat traffic for the next two years.”  Riggs has proven very accurate in her predictions.

Where are restaurant customers migrating?  Regular readers of this blog know; the grocerant niche. Restaurants are part of the grocerant niche.  However, the new entrants into ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat fresh and prepared food are garnering momentum energized by positive consumer response, top line sales and bottom line profits.  Restaurants are just beginning to understand the depth of competition.

The grocerant niche is a result of the blurring of the line between restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores and chain drug stores all selling fresh prepared, portable convenient meal solutions that are “better you,” portable and portioned for one or two.

Interestingly Riggs noted “Some segments, especially fast food, continue to be strong. The so-called quick service sector brings in 78% of restaurant traffic and enjoyed a 2% boost in the spring. But visits to mid-scale family dining establishments and casual spots slid 3% and 2%, respectively.

Given the fact that 50 percent of United States adults over the age of 18 years old, are single according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  The growth in ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat food should continue for some time.  Is your grocery store, restaurant, C-store bundling meal components by day-part?  What to know how to build both the top and bottom line in the grocerant niche?  Contact Foodservice Solutions® via Email at: grocerant@q.com

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.