Battling for Food Sales: Grocery stores, C-stores, Restaurants, and Drug store sectors.

Regional food retailers risk being marginalized by new concepts with smaller footprints, lower cost of goods and faster service.  Food retailers must understand the new dynamics in the industry and react properly in order to accelerate growth.  The focus is on the Grocerant niche.

Here is what we understand; consumer discontinuity in food retailing began in 2005 and continues. New points of distribution are growing, becoming smaller in size. 

“The future has already arrived; it’s just not evenly distributed.” A quote made famous by William Gibson sure comes to mind don’t you think.  Fresh prepared “better for you” food and food options are driving the grocerant niche and growing rapidly.

Successful convenience store operators the likes of Sheetz and Wawa once two notable regional players are now seeing 50,000+ unit 7 Eleven entering the fresh food meal niche and Casey’s General Stores continues to drive sales and frequency with fresh prepared food. 

Many restaurant companies the ilk of Darden and Brinker will undergo additional scrutiny in order to find a repositioned niche that will sustain them over time.  Legacy grocery stores that are seemingly stuck in the middle will simply fade away.  Wal-Mart’s supply chain advantage and industry research advantages will simply prove too much.  The added points of fresh prepared food distribution in the retail channel offered by Walgreens and Rite Aid will renew the local neighborhoods and rekindle community to that sector.

William Gibson quote: “The future has already arrived; it’s just not evenly distributed.” How many of you are prepared for 2014.  If you have been waiting to see what’s next?  If so you might have just missed the bus.

Interested in learning how the 5P’s of Food Marketing can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization contact us via Email us at: grocerant@q.com or visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant