Retail Food Evolution or Protectionism Do You Know Where You Are Heading?

Retail foodservice is evolving faster than the economy. Consumers are trying new formats, niche and outlets all seeking quality, affordable authentic meals or meal components. Retail food operators are evolving product mix and or menu mix in order to keep up with the changing consumer.  Family after family is expressing that they are now becoming exasperated, worried and directly affected by the prolonged economic down turn. McDonalds dropped the Angus burger line, Wendy’s said it must allocate more marketing dollars to its value menu. 7 Eleven is offering more food and drink items at $0.99 than ever before and growing store counts.

All the while grocery stores are providing more and more Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat meal component options. Chain Drug stores are now selling Ready-2-Eat fresh prepared food and Convenience stores continue up grading fresh and prepared meal offerings. Restaurateurs must rapidly readjust menus to reflect the increased in fresh prepared ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat meal competition and new points of food distribution.

If success leaves clues one key clue is follow the customer as fast as you can.  If you do not your brand may very well loose its consumer relevance.  During the past three years the grocerant niche has expanded and excelled.  Companies and brands that are or have been practicing brand protectionism are losing market share to those practicing brand evolution. New points of fresh food distribution are opening daily.  You have new competitors albeit some have questionable food quality, other very good quality. What have you changed of late?  How are you evolving? If you are practicing brand protectionism do you know why?

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a brand leveraging integration strategy.  Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant.