Sheetz, Wawa, and Rutter’s Farm Stores Lead Fast-Food Frequency

Foodservice Solutions® industry leadership in the Grocerant Niche (retail outlets selling Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food.) has since 1991 documented the success and leadership of C-store sector leaders Sheetz, Wawa, and Rutter’s. 

In a new report from The NPD Group QSR Plus Retail Market Monitor concluded that “As convenience and grocery stores improve the quality of their foodservice offerings, an increasing number of consumers are choosing to visit these retail outlets for their prepared meals and snacks in addition to quick-service restaurants (QSRs)”. 

The report found that “The number of fast-food purchases made at retail outlets (Grocery/C-store) per customer from the March 2015 through June 2015 time period is more than six visits higher than those made to QSRs in an average four-week period.

Foodservice Solutions® Share of Stomach (see below) is an example of how a consumer eats, shops, or prepares a meal.  They shop and eat everywhere utilizing mix and match meal components to compile a family meal or dinner for one. 

The NPD report confirmed that “The majority of consumers use multiple channels, retail outlets and QSRs when purchasing prepared meals and snacks. The report went on to say “Less than 25 percent of QSR customers only go to traditional QSR outlets in a four-week period, and most QSR customers use all available retail channels to meet their quick-service meal requirements.”

Like a page out of our own book Bonnie Riggs, NPD's restaurant industry analyst stated "The lines between retail foodservice and QSRs are blurring for consumers, and these channels are competing for visits from consumers looking for a quick meal or snack."…"Consumers use QSRs, convenience and grocery stores interchangeably for fast food, particularly when they find the same quality and variety," 

Today, C-stores hold the highest shares of coffee, snacks, breakfast foods, soft drinks and Mexican foods. Riggs went on to say “QSRs that offer morning meals are the most likely to feel the impact of c-stores on their customer base”.  Foodservice Solutions® understands the grocerant niche customer and can help your restaurant team drive top line sales and bottom line profits. 

Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a Grocerant Scorecard or a Grocerant Program Assessment.  Since 1991 www.FoodserviceSolutions.us  of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant   Call: 253-759-7869 or Email: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us