No longer
do consumers drive by a C-store to go to a fast food restaurant according to
Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at
Tacoma, WA based Foodservice
Solutions®. In fact, Johnson says that grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat
and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food has become destination dining for many of
the 65.4% of American households that have one or two members.
In new
research from Datassential, found the following 10 trends are having the
greatest impact on the category right now and will sustain into 2019:
1. Find
the Right Balance Between Taste & Nutrition
The shift
to healthy eating continues to hit the foodservice market, and that includes
c-stores. Taste is the top driver for away-from-home purchases. However, health
and wellness was the fastest-growing driver between 2012 and 2016.
2. Customization
Counts
C-store
customers value a wide variety of choices in how they can top a prepared food
product. According to Datassential’s Keynote Report: C-Stores,
condiments serve as an indicator of quality and can be a way to both increase
the perceived range of offerings and allow for more consumer customization.
3. Simplicity
Satisfies
Some of
the highest-rated limited-time offers (LTOs) are basic concepts, like QuickChek’s Salt &
Pepper Fries, which was recently featured in Convenience
Store News' "What Hot on C-store
Menus?" department.
4. Global
Flavor Adds Variety
Ethnic
items such as egg rolls, empanadas and sushi are craveable to c-store
consumers. Adding global flavors to ubiquitous items is another way to add a
taste of the world and increase variety.
5. Take
Advantage of the Impulse Buy
Forty-three
percent of c-store visitors buy something they hadn't planned on purchasing.
6. Continue
to Use the F Word: Fresh
Don't
just add the callout; have fresh food available — fruits, veggies,
salads, etc.
7. Put
Pizza in the Breakfast Plan
According
to Datassential's 2018 SNAP! Keynote: Pizza, breakfast pizzas are
trending on menus. Grab the morning-rush crowd by offering a fresh, hot slice.
8. Market
Desserts as a Snack
Mini
desserts have potential as a c-store snack that people will grab on the go.
Forty-three percent of consumers are interested, but only 27 percent of
c-stores offer them (as of 2017).
9. Make
It Mini
In 2016,
62 percent of consumers were interested in seeing hot appetizer/finger foods at
convenience stores. That was up from just 19 percent in 2012.
10. Snacking
Is Big for C-store Food
As a
snacking source, c-stores rank higher than vending machines in purchase history
and consideration.
Interested
in learning how Foodservice Solutions 5P’s
of Food Marketing can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform
for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation
and individualization? Email us at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or
visit: www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for
more information.
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