Fresh Fruit is Fast Food C-Stores Are Getting ‘Better For You’

QSR stands for Quick Service Restaurants as most everyone knows.  There is a commonality between Quick Service Restaurants and Convenience stores and that commonality is speed of service.  Today that speed is only the foundation of commonality. Each sector focus on Ready-2-Eat or Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food too drive sales.

Just in case you are not a regular reader of this blog, over the past five years the C-store sector has outperformed the restaurant sector in year over year same store sales growth, new customer counts, and fresh prepared food sales.  Casey General Store is just one example of success and you must note that Casey’s General Stores has 1,780+ stores it’s not a small chain.  How may restaurant chains can boast a 21% growth rate over the past two years alone?

The C-store sector is beaming with success stories. Tedeschi Food Shops Inc. has added fresh fruit to its convenience stores. Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru™ said “Fresh Fruit is Fast Food” and it’s clear that fresh fruit will not impede speed of service but rather create a halo around product offerings that fast food can be “better for you”.

McDonald's Corp. on the other hand is going back to basics testing “speedy lunch” at some of its south Florida units.  At “participating restaurants in the region McDonalds will provide customers with timers when they pay for their drive-thru orders. The timers are to be returned to McDonald's crew members when their food arrives. If customers don't receive their meal within 60 seconds after paying, they will receive a complimentary lunch item on a future visit.”

Consider this; fast service with fresh fruit as a mix and match meal component, Oh that’s exactly what Tedeschi is doing.  Success does leave clues and five years of the C-store sector has out preformed the restaurant sector.  I believe that restaurants need more than just fast service. Fresh Fruit is Fast Food.

Outside eyes can deliver top sales and bottom line profits.  Invite www.FoodserviceSolutions.us  to provide brand and product positioning assistance or a grocerant program assessment. Have you completed a Grocerant Scorecard? Contact: 253-759-7869 or Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us