From Signature Dish to Frozen Food Court: Grocerant Guru® Shares How Restaurant Brands Win at Retail

 

Don’t let the statistics fool you: While up to 80% of small food launches may fail, the odds flip in your favor when you follow a clear path — backed by consumer insights, strategic partnerships, and the right mindset. That's the message from Johnson & Wales University experts at this year’s National Restaurant Association Show.

As consumers increasingly choose grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat meals over traditional dine-in experiences, restaurant operators have a golden opportunity to expand their brand relevance and consumer reach by entering grocery and retail channels according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

“What works on a plate can work on a shelf — with the right process,” says Jeff Binczyk, Director of the Larry Friedman Center for Entrepreneurship. “Retail success comes down to positioning, preparation, and partnership.”

Food marketing facts confirm this opportunity:

·       🔸 63% of consumers say they want restaurant-quality food at home without the hassle of cooking from scratch.

·       🔸 76% of Gen Z and Millennials say their favorite restaurant brands should be available in grocery stores.

·       🔸 Over 50% of all meals today are consumed at home, yet 65% of consumers don’t know what’s for dinner at 4 PM — creating fertile ground for branded meal solutions.

·       🔸 Brands that extend into grocery average a 21% boost in brand awareness and a 17% lift in total revenue, according to Datassential.

·       🔸 “Mix-and-match” meal solutions from known restaurant brands help retailers capture more share of stomach, the all-important metric in modern food marketing.

 

✅ Five Steps to Retail Success – From the Grocerant Guru®

1.       Design with the Consumer in Mind
Use your restaurant as a test kitchen to identify a product with broad appeal. Remember, today’s shoppers want flavor adventure, convenience, and health cues.

2.       Differentiate or Disappear
AI-powered analysis of competitor reviews on Yelp or Google can show gaps and unmet needs. Stand out or get passed over — because shelf space is earned, not given.

3.       Partner for Production & Profit
Co-manufacturers, research chefs, and compliance consultants can help you scale your product without sacrificing quality. No successful retail brand is built in isolation.

4.       Use Brand Equity as a Launchpad
Cross-promote in your restaurant. Bundle meals with grocery coupons. Use social media to bridge in-store fans to in-home fans. Your existing customers are your first buyers.

5.       Build for Shelf, Not Just Taste
Focus on packaging that’s functional, regulatory-compliant, and visually compelling. According to Mintel, 84% of shoppers say packaging influences their trial decisions.

 

🚫 Five Pitfalls to Avoid – A Warning from the Grocerant Guru®

1.       Avoid “Do-It-All-Yourself” Syndrome
While keeping profits may sound great, inexperience in food manufacturing or distribution often leads to costly errors and missed deadlines.

2.       Don’t Underestimate Labeling & Compliance
USDA and FDA rules are nuanced and evolving. Seek guidance early. The most common cause of product recalls? Labeling errors.

3.       Don’t Skip Shelf-Life and Sensory Testing
Great flavor on Day 1 doesn’t guarantee a good experience after freezing or refrigeration. Real-world tests avoid real-world failures.

4.       Stop Targeting “Everyone”
Successful grocery brands target a clearly defined consumer with specific benefits. Trying to appeal to everyone will dilute your message — and your results.

5.       Avoid Bland Packaging
The grocery shelf is a battlefield. If your product doesn’t stand out visually and emotionally, it won’t make it into the cart. Think: visual storytelling, functional benefits, QR codes linking to recipes.

“At the end of the day,” says Lynn Tripp, Associate Professor of Food Science, “grocery success isn’t just about taste — it’s about story, strategy, and staying power.”

 

Why Now? Why You?

Consumers trust their favorite restaurants. In fact, 71% of shoppers say they’re more likely to buy a packaged food product if it’s from a restaurant they’ve dined at. That’s an unmatched edge over private label and unknown challenger brands.

According to the Grocerant Guru®:

“The real battlefield in food today is for the consumer’s next meal — wherever they choose to eat it. Expanding into new points of distribution isn’t just smart. It’s survival. It's how you grow share of stomach, not just share of wallet.”

According to the Grocerant Guru®: 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
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