Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Fresh Food Meets Fast Food: Walmart and Burger King Team Up to Redefine Convenience for Today’s Consumer

 


In a move that’s as bold as a flame-grilled Whopper, Walmart has joined forces with Burger King to launch a game-changing partnership designed to reimagine what convenience, value, and freshness mean in the modern food landscape according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Since its quiet beginnings in August 2024, this alliance has grown into a powerful consumer-first initiative—uniting two household names to serve up more than just burgers and groceries. Together, they’re proving that fresh food is fast food in the eyes of today’s on-the-go, value-savvy shopper.


The New Standard for Convenience

The average consumer is looking for more than low prices—they’re demanding flexibility, quality, and real-time rewards for their loyalty. Walmart is answering that call with Walmart+, a premium membership that now includes irresistible perks from Burger King. During this year’s Walmart+ Week (April 28–May 4), members can enjoy a free Croissan’wich or Whopper Jr. with any $1 purchase—a taste of what’s to come from a partnership that’s already delivering daily benefits.

Walmart+ members now enjoy 25% off every Burger King order, plus a free flame-grilled Whopper every three months with any purchase. These benefits go beyond the expected. They’re redefining how people think about their food—not just as a necessity, but as an experience that combines value with indulgence, all wrapped in the convenience of everyday life.

A Partnership With Purpose

“Our members live dynamic lives, and we’re constantly looking to meet them where they are—whether that’s streaming their favorite shows with Paramount+ or grabbing a hot meal between soccer practice and errands,” said Seth Dallaire, now Walmart’s EVP and Chief Growth Officer. “We’re taking cues from our members and building a program that reflects how they truly live.”

It’s not just about selling more—it's about building better lives. By linking arms with Burger King, Walmart is offering members more than discounts. They’re offering freedom—freedom from food fatigue, budget stress, and the time-consuming nature of traditional meal planning. As food costs continue to rise, this partnership delivers tangible relief, giving families ways to stretch their budgets without compromising on quality or flavor.


Consumer-First, Industry-Defining

This partnership is not just a win for consumers—it’s a signal to the entire retail and QSR (quick-service restaurant) industries. At a time when Amazon is bundling Grubhub into its Prime offering, Walmart and Burger King are doing something smarter: they’re integrating physical retail, digital convenience, and fast food in a seamless, lifestyle-oriented package. The digital spend by Walmart+ members has already surged over 50% in the last year, proving that customers respond to innovation that simplifies their lives.

Burger King echoes the sentiment. “Walmart+ and Burger King share a similar purpose: to provide guests with high-quality products, value, and convenience,” said a spokesperson. “It’s a natural fit—and it’s only the beginning.”



What’s Next?

The collaboration isn’t slowing down. With future deals already in the pipeline, Walmart+ and Burger King are committed to evolving the partnership to meet the changing needs of their loyal customers. Whether it's a quick breakfast before work, a family dinner on the fly, or a guilt-free splurge thanks to exclusive savings, this is more than a promotion—it’s a movement.

And for the food industry, it’s a signal that fresh, fast, and affordable aren’t competing concepts—they’re converging. Welcome to the new age of consumer convenience, where your next great meal is just one scan, tap, or drive-thru away.

Fresh food is fast food. Fast food is Walmart+.

Drive Sales. Boost Profits. Stay a Step Ahead.

The Foodservice Solutions® team is dedicated to helping you grow your top-line sales and bottom-line profits.

Are you looking a customer ahead? We have the strategies to get you there.

🌎 Visit GrocerantGuru.com
📩 Contact us: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us



Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Pantry or Takeout? What’s for Dinner? Why the Takeout Trend is Winning the Mealtime Battle

 


From busy weeknights to lazy Sundays, the modern consumer is shifting away from the stocked pantry and toward the convenience of takeout. Time pressures, missing ingredients, and diverse family preferences are driving a nationwide mealtime migration according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Here’s what the data reveals—and why takeout isn’t just a convenience, it’s a lifestyle.

 


The Pantry Problem: Time, Waste, and Missing Ingredients

Cooking from the pantry sounds ideal—until it’s 5:15 PM and you realize you’re out of garlic, your chicken’s still frozen, and your teen refuses to eat what you planned. According to NielsenIQ, 63% of meals in U.S. households are still prepped at home, but that number is trending down year over year as convenience and flexibility beat planning.

Key Stats:

·       $1,500/year: The average value of unused groceries wasted per household (ReFED).

·       69%: Shoppers who abandon cooking plans due to missing ingredients (Instacart).

·       41 minutes: Average grocery shopping trip, not including prep or cooking (FMI).

 


Takeout: The Customizable, Time-Saving Hero

Takeout offers speed, predictability, and family peace. In fact, time is now a more important purchase driver than price in the food space (Technomic). With menu customization and order tracking, takeout is today’s dinner safety net.

Consumer Benefits of Takeout:

·       No ingredient shopping.

·       Everyone gets what they like.

·       Meal ready in 30–40 minutes.

·       No dishes.

And now, where takeout is sourced is just as important as what’s being ordered.

 


Where America Gets Takeout (2024):

Source

% of Takeout Orders

Notes

Restaurants

60%

Full-service and QSRs dominate dinner.

Grocery/Deli

20%

Increasingly popular for lunch & dinner, especially with hot bar meals.

Convenience Stores (C-stores)

15%

Surging with breakfast and snack buyers.

Third-Party Ghost Kitchens & Meal Kits

5%

Growing via delivery-only brands and virtual restaurants.

 


Time of Day: Takeout by the Clock

Breakfast: 6 AM – 10 AM

Busy mornings call for convenience.

·       Top buyers: Gen Z, Millennials, blue-collar shift workers.

·       Avg. check: $5–$9 (coffee + handheld item).

·       Where from: Coffee chains (Starbucks, Dunkin’), C-stores (Wawa, Sheetz), grocery delis.

·       Growth trend: 21% YoY increase in breakfast sandwich and coffee takeout (Technomic).

Lunch: 11 AM – 2 PM

The domain of quick-service and fast-casual.

·       Top buyers: Office workers, hybrid employees, college students.

·       Avg. check: $10–$14.

·       Where from: Fast-casual chains (Chipotle, Panera), grocery hot bars, C-stores (7-Eleven, Casey’s), and food trucks.

·       Notable trend: 54% of lunch takeout is pre-ordered online (NPD Group).

Dinner: 4 PM – 8 PM

The takeout main event.

·       Top buyers: Families with kids, working couples.

·       Avg. check: $18–$32.

·       Where from: Local restaurants, pizza chains, grocery meal kits, and full-service restaurants via DoorDash/Uber Eats.

·       Why takeout wins: 61% of Americans don’t know what’s for dinner at 4 PM (Hartman Group).

Snacks: All Day, Peaks at 3 PM & 9 PM

The spontaneous indulgence.

·       Top buyers: Gen Z and Millennials.

·       Avg. check: $3–$7.

·       Where from: C-stores, delivery apps (for desserts, boba, or fries), grocery grab-and-go.

·       Surging category: 31% YoY growth in snack-focused takeout items (fries, chicken bites, smoothies).

 


Takeout Trends That Win the Table

Takeout’s domination isn’t just about avoiding dishes—it’s about satisfying diverse cravings, saving time, and reducing the mental load of meal planning. With multiple channels now competing to serve the same consumer, brand flexibility and product mix are essential.

Who’s Leading the Takeout Revolution:

1.       Grocery Deli Departments – Offering full meals, family bundles, and customization.

2.       Convenience Stores – Upgraded food programs, breakfast dominance, 24/7 access.

3.       Quick-Service Restaurants (QSRs) – Speed and app-based loyalty.

4.       Third-Party Delivery Platforms – Aggregating all of the above with user-friendly interfaces.

 


Final Bite: Convenience Is King

Today’s consumer doesn’t ask “What’s for dinner?”—they ask “Where can I get what I want, fast, and without cooking?” With time scarcity and flavor variety ruling the day, takeout has emerged as the modern pantry. It offers choice, speed, and comfort—and that’s a recipe the pantry just can’t match.

Success Leaves Clues—Are You Ready to Find Yours?

One key insight that continues to drive success is this: "The consumer is dynamic, not static." This principle is the foundation of our work at Foodservice Solutions®, where Steven Johnson, the Grocerant Guru®, has been helping brands stay relevant in an ever-evolving market.

Want to strengthen your brand’s connection with today’s consumers? Let’s talk. Call 253-759-7869 for more information.

Stay Ahead of the Competition with Fresh Ideas

Is your food marketing keeping up with tomorrow’s trends—or stuck in yesterday’s playbook? If you're ready for fresh ideations that set your brand apart, we’re here to help.

At Foodservice Solutions®, we specialize in consumer-driven retail food strategies that enhance convenience, differentiation, and individualization—key factors in driving growth.

👉 Email us at Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us
👉 Connect with us on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter



Monday, April 28, 2025

Del Taco Embraces the Grocerant Trend with Value-Driven El Big Boxes and Bold Brand Refresh

 


In today’s rapidly evolving foodservice landscape, consumers are craving more than just flavor—they want value, flexibility, convenience, and brand experiences that resonate with their lifestyle. Del Taco, a brand with deep roots in California cool and a track record of menu innovation, has struck all the right notes with its latest campaign and product launch. As the Grocerant Guru®, I see this as a strategic and savvy shift into the grocerant niche—a convergence of grocery-store quality, restaurant-style innovation, and quick-service convenience that consumers are migrating toward in record numbers.

The Rise of the Grocerant Consumer

Let’s put this in context. According to recent data, more than 65% of consumers now seek bundled meals or combo deals when choosing takeout or drive-thru options. The demand is clear: today’s customer wants “ready-2-eat” and “heat-N-eat” meals that deliver value and flavor in one grab-and-go package. And the grocerant niche—where restaurants adopt grocery store convenience and grocery stores embrace restaurant-quality food—is growing exponentially, with an estimated $32 billion in sales growth in 2024 alone, up from $28.5 billion in 2023.


Del Taco’s Bold Move: “El Big Boxes” & Brand Evolution

Del Taco’s newly launched El Big Boxes are more than just combo meals—they are a clever intersection of portion control, flavor variety, and portability. Each box offers a curated mix of core Del Taco items designed for maximum craveability and value, all while embracing consumer demand for mix-and-match customization.

·       $5 Clásico El Big Box hits the value sweet spot with a burrito, quesadilla, fries, and drink.

·       $7 Mex Faves El Big Box layers in more flavor and protein variety.

·       $9 Ameri-Mex El Big Box boldly combines Mexican favorites with American classics like the Double De Cheeseburger.

This meal bundling not only encourages larger check averages but also taps into a critical consumer trend: personalized convenience. Whether you’re looking to feed a family or satisfy a solo craving, Del Taco has bundled the best of both worlds into an easy-to-carry solution.

Takeout, Drive-Thru, and the Speed of Service

Quick-service restaurants live and die by drive-thru performance. With the average American now spending more than 70% of QSR dollars through drive-thru or pickup channels, speed and simplicity are king. Del Taco’s boxed meals not only help reduce order friction at the window, but they also streamline kitchen operations by limiting custom builds. That’s a win for customers and crews alike.

Want a Larger Share of Stomach


Targeting the Grocerant Migrator

This strategic pivot speaks directly to a new class of customer I’ve coined the Grocerant Migrator—tech-savvy, time-starved, and hyper-focused on value and variety. These customers are looking for restaurant-quality experiences without the dine-in downtime. Del Taco’s El Big Boxes, paired with their Mango Pineapple Popper Beverages, hit this target demographic hard—with visually appealing, Instagram-ready offerings that bring in both the lunch crowd and the after-school snackers.

A “Del Yeah” Attitude That Resonates

Del Taco isn’t just changing what’s on the menu—they’re revamping the entire brand vibe. With a quirky and confident new ad campaign featuring a fictional music group, the Del Yeah’s, and a refreshed brand aesthetic, the company is going all in on memorable, shareable marketing. In the grocerant space, where brand experience equals brand loyalty, this kind of storytelling isn’t just fun—it’s functional.

Final Thought from the Grocerant Guru®

Del Taco gets it. They’ve seen the data. They’ve read the room. And they understand that the future of fast food doesn’t just live in taste—it lives in bundling, portability, personalization, and entertainment. By leaning into grocerant principles with their El Big Boxes and playful brand evolution, Del Taco is positioning itself not just to compete—but to lead the next wave of customer-focused QSR innovation.

So the next time someone asks if the grocerant niche is real, tell them to look no further than the nearest Del Taco. Del Yeah, it is.

Hungry for more grocerant insights? Stay tuned for the next installment from The Grocerant Guru®—where food meets the future.

Drive Sales. Boost Profits. Stay a Step Ahead.

The Foodservice Solutions® team is dedicated to helping you grow your top-line sales and bottom-line profits.

Are you looking a customer ahead? We have the strategies to get you there.

🌎 Visit GrocerantGuru.com
📩 Contact us: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us



Sunday, April 27, 2025

Grocerant Guru®: Time is the New Currency of Customer Happiness

 


In today’s retail landscape, food isn’t just sustenance—it’s strategy. From grocers and c-stores to food-forward retailers, the battle for consumer loyalty is being fought in refrigerated aisles and grab-and-go displays. Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®, has been closely tracking the intersection of consumer behavior and food marketing, and HappyOrNot’s “Retail’s Biggest CX Trends in 2025” report hits on the pressure points—and the profit paths—that matter most.

Time is the New Currency of Customer Happiness

Consumers aren’t just shopping with their wallets anymore—they’re shopping with their clocks. According to the report, early mornings from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. are now the emotional high tide of the retail day. With over 57 million global consumer responses in 2024 analyzed, these early hours represent golden windows to connect.

For operators, this is a clarion call to deploy fresh, portable, and craveable breakfast bundles right when shoppers are most receptive. Whether it's a protein-packed parfait combo or a curated breakfast taco trio, aligning with the “emotional availability” of the morning shopper is now a CX imperative. Conversely, evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. show dips in satisfaction—an opportunity to rethink evening offerings, from stress-reducing snacks to quick, comfort-centric dinners.


Meal Bundling: The Multigenerational Sweet Spot

Mix-and-match meals are more than a merchandising gimmick—they’re a CX multiplier. Retailers implementing modular bundling strategies (think: build-your-own bento boxes or global-inspired snack kits) are seeing up to 18% increases in average basket size and a 7% boost in happiness scores.

Let’s break it down generationally:

·       Gen Z loves the visual and viral. Think bold packaging, fusion flavors, and share-worthy snack flights. Happy hour isn’t a cocktail—it’s a midday sushi burrito and matcha combo they can post on TikTok.

·       Millennials? They want it all: speed, value, and a little adventure. Smart bundling caters to their on-the-go lives with globally inspired grain bowls and custom wraps that satisfy curiosity and convenience.

·       Gen X leans into flexibility and family-first formats. They’re curating for crews, so buildable dinner kits with interchangeable proteins and sides are a homerun.

·       Boomers gravitate toward comfort with a twist—updated classics like meatloaf sliders with artisan slaw or soup-and-salad duos with nostalgic appeal and healthful upgrades.

This isn't just about food—it’s about feelings. Bundling delivers the illusion of control, the comfort of choice, and the joy of discovery—all in one.


Impulse & Incentives: The Emotional Engine of Retail

The data also reveals a 22% surge in impulse food buys during peak happy hours, especially when tied to well-placed loyalty prompts or digital rewards. That’s emotional merchandising at work. Imagine a hot breakfast sandwich combo that pings your app with a surprise reward at 7:15 a.m.—that’s not just a transaction, that’s a moment of delight.

Retailers who leverage real-time CX data—overlaying it with SKU-level sales and behavioral patterns—will outmaneuver those still thinking in planogram silos. It’s not just about what’s stocked. It’s when, how, and for whom it’s offered.


2025 Strategy Playbook: Curate, Customize, Connect

Retailers poised to win the 2025 customer experience game are those thinking like chefs, data scientists, and anthropologists. They’re asking:

·       What does a "happy basket" look like for a 7 a.m. Gen Z commuter?

·       How do I turn a 6:30 p.m. shopper’s stress into satisfaction?

·       Can bundling reduce decision fatigue and build brand love?

Food is emotional currency. With the tools of real-time feedback and generational insights, grocers can transform food zones into profit-rich, happiness-driven micro-environments.

As Tim Waterton, CRO at HappyOrNot, puts it: “Bundling taps into both the practical and emotional aspects of food shopping, creating the personalization and joy that traditional food marketing often overlooks.”

I couldn’t agree more.

About the Grocerant Guru®

As a leading foodservice strategist and retail futurist, the Grocerant Guru® decodes trends at the intersection of food, convenience, and consumer behavior. His work helps retailers reimagine their foodservice offerings, unlocking new growth through emotionally intelligent food marketing.

Let’s Build a Partnership for Growth

Looking for the right partner to drive sales and amplify your marketing impact? Success leaves clues—and we may have the exact insight you need to propel your business forward.

Explore innovative food marketing and business development strategies with Foodservice Solutions®.

📩 Contact us at Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us