Grocery Store Grocerant Success Requires Meal Integration

The foundation for food sales growth today can be found within the grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food sector as it is driving top line sales and bottom line profits in every sector of foodservice retail today according to Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru®.

Retailers today need to integrate a strategic path to Meals.  What does that mean?  No longer do most consumers think about stocking the pantry, the freezer, or the refrigerator food for a month, week, or tomorrow.   The mind-set of the 83.7% consumer today is what’s for dinner.  Consumers are focused on meals, meal periods, the next meal; it’s about eating fresh, saving time, and discovery according to our Grocerant Guru®.  

 In a recent study conducted by the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) found “that millennials love food but want food done their way. Fresh and healthy foods are at the top of their shopping lists, while prepared and portable foods are also very popular.”

PLMA found “75% of shoppers buy deli items in the supermarket where they do their regular grocery shopping, 77% buy dairy items and 59% buy bakery items simultaneously”. They are buying fresh, focused on specific meals.

It is critical that grocery stores integrated fresh meals as a consumer touch point integrating meal components from the dairy, deli and bakery departments according to our own Grocerant Guru®. PLMA found the millennials when in the grocery store 33% “always or frequently” purchase heat-and-eat food from the supermarket, 29% pick up prepared or ready-to-eat food, and 27% buy grab-and-go prepared food items from a source such as a supermarket or convenience store”..

The consumer is dynamic not static. Evolving with the consumer is very important when the consumer focus in on meals and meal components the retailer with fresh prepared ‘better for you’ bundled meals and or meal components will garner incremental business.

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