Dash In the C-store with a Fast Casual Restaurant Appeal

In a hurry for a good fresh meal fast?  Well, in the Northeast you just might be going out to a convenience store called Dash-In according to Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru®, Steven Johnson based in Tacoma, WA.

For those of you who don’t know Dash In, it has close to 60 locations throughout Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, the company is “rapidly expanding, with a focus on a number of locations across the Mid-Atlantic region.” Dash In locations feature the company’s new “neighborhood stores” concept Johnson says that is has the look, feel, and menu of a fast-casual chain restaurant.  

The ‘neighborhood stores’ include an open kitchen in the center and a wide variety of made-to-order, fresh and grab-and-go items. Darleen Nascimento, director of brand marketing at Dash In stated “All of these neighborhood store elements are informed by our commitment to deliver fresh, quality food and a personal experience to our customers every time,”

These new Dash In neighborhood store in Midlothian, Va., is 5,600 square feet with 16 fueling positions. It includes an expansive beer and wine selection — with craft beer offered through a draft growler and crowler program.

All Dash In stores feature “quick bites,” such as breakfast sandwiches, sliders, pizza and wings. But select locations also offer “food market” items, including subs, quesadillas, wraps and salads.

“When adding new menu items, we review the current menu to determine if there are any gaps in terms of flavor profiles or styles and cross-reference those against emerging trends. Then we review how new dishes can be created from components that we currently source,” said Nascimento. “The wants of the customer and the need for executional ease for our employees are always top of mind. …”

In June, Dash In debuted the French Dip Sub, which features U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prime shaved steak, provolone cheese, caramelized onions, brown gravy and black pepper mayo on an Italian roll.

Dash In also debuted its “fresh bowl” concept the Fresh Bowl Chicken Salad is an all-white chicken salad tossed with dried cranberries, red onion, a hint of lime and a croissant on top of fresh romaine lettuce. The Fresh Bowl Tuna Salad features albacore tuna, red onions and hard-boiled eggs blended together on top of fresh romaine lettuce and tomatoes.

Additional new menu items include the BLTM — crispy, center-cut bacon, lettuce, tomato and fresh mozzarella on Texas Toast — and the Poutine Meatball Sub — meatballs tossed with brown gravy, cheddar cheese curds, Monterey Jack cheese and black pepper mayo on a garlic butter roll.

They recently launched a Thai Chicken Wrap. The wrap is made with diced, antibiotic-free chicken tenders, romaine lettuce, red onion, sliced cucumber, almond flakes and sesame dressing wrapped in a flour tortilla. 

Also well received by customers, she said, is the quesadilla line, which includes four offerings: Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadilla; Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla; Bacon, Egg and Cheese Quesadilla; and Sausage, Egg and Cheese Quesadilla. 

Just like many chain restaurants Dash In’s in-store pilot in September 2018 with No Kid Hungry, which provides nutritious meals to children, enabled Dash In customers to give back as well. Is your restaurant business model evolving as fast as many C-store business models? Are you growing food sales and 9.7%?

Foodservice Solutions® team is here to help you drive top line sales and bottom-line profits. Are you looking a customer ahead? Visit www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may the clue you need to propel your continued success.