Casey's Food Partnerships Drive Authenticity

 

Mix and match meal component bundling is a hallmark of grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat platform of success.  Consumers love snacks and consider them at times a meal replacement, appetizer, of many times treat for the end of the meal according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Understanding that retail food partnerships can drive trial, top-line sales and bottom-line profits while edifying the brands authenticity. Casey's General Stores recently teamed up with premium hot sauce brand Lola's Fine Hot Sauce to bring some spiciness to the convenience store operator's snack category with three new products, new Zesty Jalapeño Peanuts, Zesty Jalapeño Cashews, and Zesty Jalapeño Pretzels.

There is no doubt that Casey’s is zeroing in on grocerant niche prepared foods sales to drive growth. Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat food, Casey’s CEO called “the jewels of the Casey’s business,” the breakfast daypart has seen a comeback after taking a significant hit during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. A focus on bean-to-cup coffee has delivered big results, as has a renovated signature handheld item made with fresh dough.

Casey's Chief Merchandising Officer Tom Brennan, stated, "We are excited to introduce these new, tasty snacks with Lola's unique flavor into our Casey's snack offering across our over 2,400 stores," said. "Our guests expect convenient, delicious options at a great price when they stop at their local Casey's. By partnering with Lola's, we're able to deliver on that promise while supporting another business in our community."

The retail prices for the new spicy snacks are:

·         99 cents per pack for Casey's Zesty Jalapeño Peanuts;

·         $3.49 for Casey's Zesty Jalapeño Pretzels; and

·         $3.99 for Casey's Zesty Jalapeño Cashews.

Taufeek Shah, founder and CEO of Lola's Fine Hot Sauce, stated, "Our partnership with Casey's means a lot to our small, family-owned business. Our generational family recipe hot sauce has the perfect flavor with just the right amount of heat that the Casey's guests are looking for and is the perfect partnership"… "With both companies established right here in the Des Moines metro, it's incredible to see a growing, leading retailer like Casey's support local and diverse businesses. We couldn't be more thankful and humbled to be part of the Casey's family." 

Extending the Casey’s brands halo of “better-4-you’, Lola's products are made from all natural ingredients and are vegan, keto friendly and gluten free. In case you are not a regular reader of this blog, Casey's is the third-largest convenience store retailer and the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States.

Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a Grocerant ScoreCard, or for product positioning or placement assistance, or call our Grocerant Guru®.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or 253-759-7869