Food Retailers Looking A Customer Ahead at Beverage Sales

Do you sell water?  Do you sell Carbonated soft drinks?  Well, most food retailers do.  I know most of you have not given much time to thinking about how you sell your beverages but all of that is on the cusp of changing according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Now hear this; the San Francisco Airport Bans Sale of Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles Starting Aug. 20, bottled water in plastic containers or plastic-lined cartons will no longer be sold at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), as part of the ‘Zero Waste SFO’ program.

Most of you do not live or work in San Francisco, but take note times they are changing once again.  Most of you did not think the ban on plastic grocery bags would be a big thing.  Well more and more cities are banning plastic bags. So, if your not thinking about how you sell beverages you just might want to.

Here are the top five types of packaged beverages purchased at a c-store according to GasBuddy:

1. Carbonated soft drinks
2. Water
3. Coffee
4. Energy drinks and
5. Sports drinks

The GasBuddy study found that “Today’s consumers — especially millennials — are buying more food on the go, including snacks, drinks and prepared meals,” said Frank Beard, convenience retail analyst at GasBuddy. “Efficiency is paramount in today’s society, and convenience stores are providing the desired ease and choice of options for an evolving customer. C-stores are also responding to a growing desire for healthier options.”

The survey also revealed how greatly product preferences vary between generations. Water is the No. 1 beverage product purchased at a gas station c-store by 18-29-year-olds, while carbonated soft drinks topped the list for the 30-44 and 45-60 age groups.

Water was the number one beverage purchased by 18-29-year-olds. I ask if not in a plastic bottle how are you going to sell it?  In a branded re-fillable container?  

Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday that tomorrow?  Visit www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may have the clue you need to propel your continued success.