Steven Johnson is the Grocerant Guru®
at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® who has been researching, pontificating
on the growth, profitability, consumer migration from legacy food retail models
too the Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food grocerant niche since
1991.
The way consumers eat is changing. In
the modern world, getting food is more convenient thanks to things like mobile
ordering apps and meal delivery services such as Yumble. This makes it easier for those who
do want to stay in to have a good meal without having to worry about cooking.
(This is a Guest Blog post provided by Oliva Chang.)
But, according to a recent Nielsen
study, Americans are choosing to dine out in greater numbers than ever before.
This is one factor contributing to the increasing popularity of grocerants, which are essentially grocery stores
offering both shopping and dining options.
This emerging business model offers
several major benefits to consumers. Convenience is a major one. Although
people are now more interested in dining out than they once were, they still
need to buy groceries from time to time. Being able to do both in one location
helps them save time. This is very helpful in an age where constant
connectivity has resulted in busy lifestyles.
Additionally, statistics indicate
traditional restaurant menu prices have been rising, while grocery prices have not.
Grocery stores that allow shoppers to purchase items and dine right there in
the store may therefore save consumers money.
The following trends help to further
explain why and how the grocerant model has become popular in recent years:
Spending Habits
Unlike previous generations, the vast
majority of millennials would rather spend money on experiences instead of products. The grocerant model
simply caters to their preferences. This trend is likely to continue, given
that studies confirm having experiences makes people
happier than owning possessions.
Social Media
Social media has given the average
consumer greater opportunities than ever to share their opinions on the food
they eat. Going to a restaurant or your local grocery store and sharing a
picture of a meal (along with a brief review) on Instagram allows anyone to
indulge their inner food critic.
Social Awareness
A recent study indicates consumers now
prefer to connect with brands that prioritize sustainability. On top of that, the number of farmers markets in the
United States has risen substantially in recent years.
Consumers no longer feel satisfied
heading to grocery stores to buy products without knowing anything about their
origins, the manufacturing process, the supply chain, and various other factors
that impact how sustainable a product may be. They’d rather dine at spots where
they can learn about how their food reached their plate.
A traditional grocery store typically
won’t offer this information, while a grocerant often can and will. It’s also
worth noting that dining out can produce less waste than buying groceries,
which often use up substantial resources for packaging.
On-Demand Services
It’s clear to see the ways in which
on-demand food delivery apps have changed the way consumers eat. Instead of
cooking their own meals, people want meals delivered straight to them. A
grocerant can offer this service.
These are merely a few reasons people
have begun embracing grocerants in record numbers. Traditional grocery stores
should take notice. In order to stay competitive, they’ll have to shift their
business models to meet changing consumer expectations.
If you would like to be a guest blogger, feel free to
reach out to the team at www.FoodserviceSolutions.us or Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us
Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a
Grocerant Program Assessment, Grocerant ScoreCard, or for product positioning
or placement assistance, or call our Grocerant Guru®. Since 1991 www.FoodserviceSolutions.us of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in
the Grocerant niche. Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or
253-759-7869
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