Stewart’s Shops Looking for Next Generation of Customers

 

Looking a customer ahead is vital if you plan to grow your business over time.  At the intersection of technology advances and consumers the automobile industry is changing and consumers are testing, buying, and migrating from gasoline vehicles to electric vehicles and Stewart Shops want to roll out the welcome mat to those migrating to EV.

Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® stated, “Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food is a key driver of convenience store brand adoption.  All C-stores need to reevaluate how to message to consumers that they are welcome inside the store.”

Recently, Stewart’s Shops introduced electric vehicle chargers (EVCs) to five of its locations, having begun installation of its first store’s units, expected to be in service by the fall. That’s looking a customer ahead.

So, Stewart’s Shops broke ground on its first NYPA EVolve Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Station on July 1 in Schodack, N.Y. The chargers are powerful enough to provide a full charge to an electric vehicle in just 15 to 30 minutes. The DC (Direct Current) fast chargers have three types of plugs to fit ports on various models of electric vehicles.

EVolve New York’s chargers are available to all non-Tesla electric vehicles. Some charging stations will also have a Tesla Adapter. Stewart’s Shops currently has three Tesla supercharging stations throughout New York with plans to expand the program by installing two more by the end of 2021.

Pay attention to this part, the EVCs are expected to bring customers inside during charging to not only shop the store, but also have enough time to enjoy a hot or cold food item before departing with a fully charged battery. Are you selling grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared to tomorrows EV drivers?

They are close to being ready, as the Stewart’s Shops charging station in Schodack will be fully operational by September 2021 and is just one of five EV charging stations that Stewart’s Shops plans to open by the end of the year. The Schodack EV charging station is an extension of Stewart’s Shops current EV Charging program.

As part of NYPA’s EVolve New York Clean Energy Initiative, Stewart’s plans for other charging stations at Stewart’s Shops locations throughout New York state in Moreau, Latham, Keene and Clifton Park.

The new charging stations are not the only steps Stewart’s Shops is taking to become more sustainable. Stewart’s Shops uses solar energy at offsite location in Halfmoon and Castle Creek, N.Y., and its manufacturing plant has 2,400 individual solar panels on the rooftop that offset 75% of the power at 50 locations.

Yet, there is more, Stewart’s Shops recycles more than six tons of its cardboard daily and reuses items like totes, dairy cases, ice cream baskets, and bread trays used to make deliveries to reduce waste.

Branding begins with an invitation, at Stewarts, customers can get a discount on their coffee when they use their reusable mugs and Stewart’s also straws, as well.

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how our Grocerant Guru® can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization?  Email us at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or visit: us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter