Thursday, August 15, 2019

Choice Market Leaves Labor Shortages for Profits


Regular readers of this blog know about Choice Market the Denver, CO based convenience store that does not compete with restaurants, grocery stores, or other convenience stores for labor.  Without skipping a beat with freshness with it come to Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food Choice Market is a mini-mart in a vending machine according Tacoma, WA based Grocerant Guru®, Steven Johnson.
Choice Market is a 2,500-square-foot grocerant outlet filled with Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food that opened in 2017.  Choice Market focused on one of the hallmarks of the grocerant niche food that is ‘better-4-you” that are made locally.  They offer made-to-order sandwiches and meals and a product mix that is “90% better-for-you products; 10% traditional c-store and large CPG brands,” according to founder and CEO Mike Fogarty.
Reducing labor is key to keeping prices down so Choice has found an even smaller, more convenient way to reach customers. “The Choice Mini-Mart vending program combines quick service, fresh quality food from local vendors and the latest technology in a machine that is kept at the perfect temperature and is stocked with fresh, local snacks, fruit, sandwiches, salads, jerky and more. Prices range from $3 to $6 for snacks and drinks and $7 to $11 for meal solutions.” That is fresh food fast according to Johnson.  
Currently there are two Choice Mini-Mart vending machines in operations at Denver’s newest music venue, the Mission Ballroom. Here is how it works; “customers slide a credit card to unlock the door and access the food and drinks inside. Once they’ve taken an item and shut the door, they will be charged for the items removed. Users have the option of entering their email to get a receipt.”
Fogarty continued “Choice Mini-Mart is a natural extension of our omnichannel strategy and fully aligns with our mission to make good food accessible and convenient,….These vending machines are a perfect fit for airports, hospitals, breweries, offices and other institutions that are looking to provide their time-constrained customers and employees with fresh and delicious food.”
Fogarty’s business model was inspired by growing up going to East Coast-based Wawa convenience stores and spending time in Europe with where small-format grocery stores are popular. “I would frequent these small markets that were on almost every corner,” he said. “They were thoughtfully curated, and full of great local products. When I came back to the States, I felt this format was missing in our growing cities and really started to rethink what a convenience store can and should be.”
Choice Mini-Marts, elevate possibility to grow the brand’s reach fast and for less and looks very promising. Are you selling fresh food fast?  Does your retail outlet look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Why?
Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday that tomorrow?  Visit www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may have the clue you need to propel your continued success.

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