Catering Fertile Ground for Grocery Stores a Battle Ground for Restaurants

Increasingly consumers rate supermarket Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food as “restaurant quality”.  With the holiday season in full swing many grocery stores are integrating a catering and fresh prepared food marketing this year into their mainstream media.  

The grocery catering opportunity is largely untapped.  Datassentials has reported that 77% of shoppers have never used a supermarket catering service.  Offices parties once the norm for restaurants and hotels entertaining are fast becoming customers of supermarkets and hosting the party or event in the office.  

Whole Foods, Metropolitan Market, Central Market, Wegman’s, and Safeway are but a few companies offering quality bundled meal mix and match options. At Publix and Metropolitan Market you can order on-line a “Turn-Key” event package. 

Regular readers of this blog know we have highlighted Publix Super Markets catering service, Aprons Event Planning Catering, which takes care of all aspects of party planning.  Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru™ stated “Grocery stores have a built in advantage in bundling quality mix and match catering services over restaurants.

Grocery stores offerings now extend beyond quality fresh food.  They can provide setup, serving, cleanup, delivery, floral and full beverage service (liquor) in many states.” In the case of Publix they even take care of arranging venues and rental of tables, linens and flatware for special events.

Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food is fast becoming a staple at home for dinner, at home for the holidays, and at the office.  The competition for customers is growing.  Restaurants, hotels and grocery stores are all offering mix and match meal components and catering services.

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