Retail Food Brand Manager can find jobs in the grocerant sector.

Unbounded opportunity for food marketing brand managers is developing in the Grocerant niche. The unheralded stellar performance produced by national private label product brand managers established metrics for future success. In a recent issue of Consumer Reports in a head-to-head qualitative blind taste test 29 store branded food products were tested. Get this, 23 of the 29 private label – store branded products scored as good as or better than the national brand.

Grocerant food that is ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat is now finding it’s way in large store formats like Safeway’s Lifestyle stores, HEB’s Central Market, Harris Teeter and Buehler’s. Utilizing traditional category management techniques all of these companies are seeing success. However those that have incorporated Brand Marketing into their food offerings and positioning strategy have seen increased customer frequency and niche margins rise.

The same is occurring in the Convenience store side with companies like AMPM bundling meal deals and new products, Racetrac improving coffee and Quick Trip growing with solid consistent product offerings.

Branding the food offerings by day part or entrée time will bring with it the opportunity to build top-line revenue and bottom-line profits. Watch for Brand Managers being hired in each of these channels.

Foodservice Solutions the global leader in the grocerant niche! Grocerant program assessments and product opportunity annalist available at Foodservice Solutions, Tacoma WA or leave a comment. http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant

http://www.foodservice.com/articles/show.cfm?contentid=4112&title=Restaurant Consumer Discontinuity

Visceral attractiveness in packaging can be “green”

Success does leave clues and the consumers are leaving clues at the cash register for those paying attention. The grocerant niche is booming. Ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat foods that are portable are a major contributor to that success.

Legacy restaurant chains at times are slow to keep up with the consumer Yum brands portfolio of companies and Wendy’s have yet to lead in green packaging and it may reflect in same store domestic year over year numbers. Quiznos on the other hand is playing into the consumer hand!

“Quiznos locations now feature several new types of packaging, including 100-percent compostable, wax-coated paper cups; pulp salad bowls made from renewable sugarcane; plastic lids made of 30-percent post-consumer-recycled PET bottles; napkins made from 100-percent recycled material and fibers (90 percent post-consumer); and catering lunch boxes made of 100-percent recycled paperboard (35 percent post-consumer). “

Burgerville USA continues to build top of mind consumer awareness with sustainable food programs and environmentally friendly recycled packaging throughout the operation.

Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma, WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche. More about us: http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant or leave a comment or question below. If you would like to read the latest interview of Steve Johnson on Grocerants here is the link: an interview of Steven Johnson at: www.goodfoodsales.blogspot.com/2009/12/grocerants-steven-johnson-shares-his.html or

http://www.foodservice.com/articles/show.cfm?contentid=4112&title=Restaurant Consumer Discontinuity

I phone for food, you can too!

The restaurant sector is not unlike the rest of the retail foodservice! Retail food companies with a focus on entrée or snacks that are hand held food for immediate consumption or fresh prepared meals that can be made portable are leading the way! Food that is prepared fresh with the option of portability ala the grocerant niche, is and will continue to propel both frequency and loyalty in all retail food sectors.

Technomic reports that “The proportion of consumers who order takeout 'on the go' from their car or elsewhere on their cell phone is growing rapidly. Nearly three out of 10 consumers (29 percent) who ordered takeout did so from their cell phone, almost twice the rate of on-the-go ordering just two years ago (16 percent).”

The reason that Technomic report is so important is: it shows just how integrated food portability is in the consumers daily life. Foodservice and technology go hand in hand. Food that is portable can go where ever your customers go!

Join me here on my blog for insights, information and inspiration. Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant.

Retail foodservice is more than sandwiches and burgers.

During the past 4 decades hamburgers drove sales and propelled the overall restaurant industry. Without a doubt the hamburger is now globally recognized as a penultimate American food. It is ready to eat, hand held and prepared to eat on the run; convenient, simple and affordable. Unfortunately the restaurant industry is showing a lack of innovation in new outlets or food products.

Might we have seen the tipping point now that, Bobby Flay, Emeril Legasse each have opened new gourmet burger restaurants. We have Wendy’s, McDonalds, Burger King, Sonic, In-N-Out Burger, and fast growing Fatburger, Smashburger and Five Guys with over 460 units opened or signed.

Simple and affordable is also arriving at C-stores, Grocery stores, Supermarkets in the form of Grocerant prepared ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat single and two person meals or meal components. The attraction here is it’s more than a “burger” the segment is filled with flavors from Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Greek, Japanese’s, and American fare.

The grocerant sector is about more choice for the consumer with items portioned for 1 or 2 people infused with traditional flavors known around the world which bring an added simplicity in serving. The innovation is in choice with items that range from: Fired Chicken, Asian Cappellini, Spaghetti & Meatballs to Chicken Pad Thai Noodle or a Reuben Chicken Breast.

While the sandwich sector and hamburgers may rule the day in the Restaurant industry, consumers are finding flavor, choice and portability options in the grocerant sector of Convenience stores, Supermarkets, Mobile Trucks, Grocery Stores and Take-Away foods from restaurants.

Join me here on my blog for insights, information and inspiration. Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant.

Convenience stores bask in the Halo of fresh prepared food!

Foodservice Solutions long established prepared food position has been revalidated by NPD! Grocerant style fresh prepared food that has propelled top line sales and bottom line profits for Harris Tetter, Central Market and Whole Foods, continues its reach into the convenience store sector.

According to The NPD Group’s Convenience Store Monitor research which tracks 49,000 convenience store shoppers in the US. “In the third quarter 2009, more than half of fresh prepared food buyers at c-stores chose the store because of the foodservice offering”.

In addition “Fresh prepared food buyers also averaged 7.8 visits over a 30-day period vs. 5.66 for all c-store shoppers, according to the third quarter analysis of survey data. Additionally, fresh food buyers on average purchased 4.1 products vs. 1.64 products bought by all c-store shoppers, and their average check was $1.65 higher than all c-store shoppers. “

Wawa, Sheetz and QuickChek are companies that lead the way with high food sales and customer frequency. 7 Eleven which is in test with fresh prepared breakfast items and lunch/dinner items is set to regain ground and marketshare. That is if they can convince franchisee’s to roll roll roll away the roller grill. Legacy presentation will lead to legacy results.

Join me here on my blog for insights, information and inspiration. Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant Read Steve’s article on Roller Grills at:

http://www.foodservice.com/articles/show.cfm?contentid=5512&title=Roll, Roll, Roll, Away Roller Grill!

Are bundled grocerant food components going to be the food that defines a family meal?

What is in a family meal today? Can food research companies unravel what is today’s traditional family meal? I recently went looking for answers from some of the food industry leading research companies. Each has a series of benchmark studies all “best in class” yet seems to answer or categorize only what product consumers are eating, when they are eating. Yet none could address what we found have witnessed or hear of as the “new family meal paradigm”. Here are three examples of which we have seen first hand:

1. Single family dinner occasions with meal components from McDonalds & Taco Time for children 14 years olds and dinner for adults from Whole foods prepared meal section. This is dinner, is it a family meal. We say yes since they all eat together.

2. During a recent visit to NYC after a meeting we went to a business associates home ordered food in. His wife, myself and him, we ordered from three separate companies (Italian Chinese, Greek) one was pickup next door. I was assured this was not unusual in their household.

3. Studies on Take & Bake pizza show it is the sole food item only 60% of the time. Generally complemented with prepared food from other outlets, who can we find out what and from where?

Statistical analyst can track each of the sales, but do we get a clear picture of the family meal. We are in search of examples, stories, or case studies on new “defined” household units and what they eat and when. Please submit your example to Stevejohnson77@msn.com

Join me here on my blog for insights, information and inspiration. Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant or www.foodservice.com/articles/show.cfm?contentid=4112&title=Restaurant Consumer Discontinuity

Are you price positioning your food properly?

George Bernard Shaw said, “There is no love sincerer than the love of food.”

There is no greater gift than customers that love your food, and will pay for it-but at what price? Food price value equilibrium continues it’s resetting? How low is your company going to go? Are you price positioning your food properly? Here is my formula for establishing customer focused price:

Price + Quality + Service + Portability = Value

Incremental Value = Constantly Changing Menu (Seasonally / Sustainability with creditability).

Now, lets look at what is happening at different companies, price and channel of distribution are clearly challenging each other this is about share of stomach. While Subway started the focus on the $5 foot-long we can see just where it has gone.

1. T.G. I. Fridays announced it will offer Jack Daniel's® Burgers and Jack Daniel's® Chicken Sandwiches for $5 and will offer $5 off all Jack Daniel's® Grill entrees for a limited time at approximately 600 US based participating restaurants.

2. Steve Davis, Arby’s CMO said $5 has become a magic number for fast food.

3. Shane’s Rib Shack has a family meal (feeds 4) for $20.

4. Popeye’s now as value meals from $1.99 & $2.99

5. McDonalds has three mini meals for under $3.00

The economy continues in a quagmire so price can be a determining factor. Be mindful that price and value are not the same thing.  Brand marketers must be aware of the new product and price points that non-traditional competitive channels will introduce. Including attractive packaging, new product bundling options which in turn will contribute to establishing new long term price value models going forward. Watch just what is happening in the Grocerant niche via Grocery stores, Convenience Stores, Mobile trucks and Kiosks food outlets or follow this blog.

Join me here on my blog for insights, information and inspiration. www.FoodserviceSolutions.us of Tacoma, WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche providing Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat program assessments aka Grocerant Niche assessments. 1-253-759-7869 or linkedin.com/in/grocerant or leave a comment below.