Food Sales Restaurants Vs Convenience Stores Who is Winning

 

The lines between meals and snacks are disappearing, replaced by a wave of "mini meals" that cater to our busy, time-crunched lives. According to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®, convenience stores are perfectly positioned to win in the evolving retail food prepared food sales landscape, but they need to understand the key players: Gen Z and the “mini meal” revolution.

Pandemic Snacking Becomes a Permanent Trend: Snacking isn't just a pre-dinner treat anymore. It's become the "fourth daypart," fueled by convenience, a desire for comfort, and the need for health benefits. Think protein-packed snacks, energy-boosting options, and even flavor and texture add-ons to traditional meals.

Convenience is King (and Queen): With 80% of Americans feeling time-pressed, quick, easy, and satisfying options are crucial. This opens doors for convenience stores to provide the perfect in-between bites, especially for younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z.

Gen Z Holds the Snacking Power: This generation, with its $360 billion spending power, is a snacking powerhouse. They frequent convenience stores more than any other age group and are actively seeking new flavors and products, making them prime targets for CPG brands launching innovative snacks.

Who Wins? Convenience Stores with the Right Offerings: By understanding the evolving snacking trends and the influence of Gen Z, convenience stores can tailor their offerings perfectly. This means having a diverse range of products that are:

·         Convenient: Grab-and-go options that fit seamlessly into busy schedules.

·         Flavorful: Exciting taste profiles that keep customers coming back for more.

·         Value-driven: Affordable choices, especially relevant in today's inflationary climate.

Convenience stores that embrace these trends are well-positioned to become the go-to destination for the ever-growing mini-meal phenomenon. Remember, snacking isn't just a quick bite anymore; it's a fundamental shift in how we eat, and convenience stores have the potential to be the ultimate winners in this delicious revolution.

Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday than tomorrow?  Visit GrocerantGuru.com 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.