While regular readers of this blog already know that Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® has been championing the grocerant niche since 1991, the momentum we’re seeing today is unprecedented. Back then, he was helping legacy brands build non-traditional business alliances, testing fresh formats, and experimenting with mix-and-match meal solutions. Today, that same disruptive spirit is reshaping how and where consumers get their meals—and if your brand isn’t looking outside the box, it might already be trapped inside yesterday.
Is
Your Brand Generating New Electricity? Let’s get to the heart of the matter:
What’s your brand’s “new electricity”?
If your brand still relies on
traditional dine-in, heavy overhead, or menu items that aren’t portable,
customizable, or tech-enabled, it’s time for a Grocerant ScoreCard, a Program
Assessment, or at the very least—fresh outside eyes.
Today’s new electricity isn’t just
about new food items. It’s about platforms, partnerships, and distribution
models that bring relevant, consumer-centric value.
2024–2025
Food Facts: Consumer Behavior Is Moving Fast
Here are some hard truths from recent
industry reports and Foodservice
Solutions® proprietary tracking:
68.4% of all restaurant orders in 2024 were consumed off-premise. (NPD/CREST)
72% of Gen Z and Millennials say they prefer ordering meals from
apps versus in-store.
Fresh-Ready and Heat-N-Eat sales grew
18% year-over-year
across C-stores, grocery deli, and retail prepared meals.
Convenience is the #1 driver of food purchase decisions for the
sixth year in a row.
Digital touchpoints drive 38–52% of
total QSR and fast casual sales,
depending on brand maturity.
What’s changed? Consumers trust
technology. They value portability, transparency, time savings, and flavor-forward
food that aligns with their values—whether that’s health, sustainability,
or budget.
New
Electricity: It's More Than Food, It’s an Ecosystem
In my mind’s eye, the "new
electricity" must fuel top-line sales and bottom-line profits
while being efficient, scalable, and hyper-relevant to today’s consumer
lifestyles.
That includes:
Fresh, convenient food (Ready-2-Eat, Heat-N-Eat)
Autonomous delivery systems (like drone drop or robotic sidewalk
delivery)
Urban micro-farming partnerships (hyper-local seafood and produce)
Digital hand-held marketing and AI-enhanced personalization
Cashless, cashier-less retail
environments
(ex: Amazon Go, Circle K autonomous pods)
Smart packaging that supports traceability, reheating,
and branding
Better-for-you food positioning using familiar formats (chicken bowls,
veggie tacos, global sauces)
Just like Costco’s $1.50 hot dog
combo still drives foot traffic or Panera’s coffee subscription
created new daily rituals, every brand needs a magnet product or platform
that’s both relevant and revenue-generating.
It’s
Time for New Strategic Alliances
Think of it this way: You’re no longer
just in the foodservice business. You’re in the food accessibility business.
And in 2025, accessibility is about convenience, consistency, customization,
and community.
Does your brand have a third-party
ghost kitchen partner?
Do you offer bundled meals via grocery partners like Kroger Boost or Amazon
Fresh?
Are you building your brand into new daily rituals via technology,
subscriptions, or meal planning tools?
The future of food retailing is
blended.
Restaurants, C-stores, grocery delis, third-party aggregators, and
non-traditional channels are all playing on the same field. Brands that thrive
will be those that collaborate across sectors—not compete in silos.
Five
Forward-Looking Insights from the Grocerant Guru® for 2025 and Beyond
Here are five critical insights for
those looking to grow through the grocerant niche:
“Portability
is Profitability”
Products that travel well, reheat
easily, and are visually appealing on a screen win in digital-first
marketplaces. This includes bowls, handhelds, and bundled meal solutions with
beverages and sides.
“AI
Is the New Assistant Manager”
Whether it’s smart inventory tools,
dynamic menu pricing, or personalized marketing prompts, AI will become
essential at the unit level—not just the corporate office.
“Touchless
Is Timeless”
The pandemic normalized it, and now
it's a standard. From autonomous stores to voice-activated ordering,
convenience without contact will become a competitive requirement.
“Meal
Component Bundling Drives Daypart Expansion”
Think beyond lunch and dinner. Smart
bundling (entrée + beverage + snack) lets you tap into afternoon slump, breakfast-on-the-go,
and late-night cravings with minimal menu investment.
“Familiar
Flavors Will Globalize”
Rather than launching unfamiliar
dishes, winning grocerants will apply global spice profiles and sauces to
familiar formats (like quesadillas, wings, meatballs, noodles). Think Korean
BBQ wings or Tikka tacos.
Success
Does Leave Clues—Are You Reading Them?
At Foodservice Solutions®, we’ve
spent over three decades helping brands evolve from good to great by embracing
the grocerant mindset: blending quality, convenience, technology, and
customer understanding.
If your brand looks more like 2005 than
2025, it’s time for a change.
Let us help you identify, quantify, and
qualify new customer-facing food opportunities.
Call: 253-759-7869
Email: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us
Visit: www.FoodserviceSolutions.us
Your customers have evolved. Has your
brand?
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