Memorial Day Travel Food Favorites: A Grocerant Guru’s Guide to Snacking Across America

 

Memorial Day weekend is about to set new records — not just for travel, but for tasty road trip bites, hotel-room feasts, and foodie-favorite restaurants across the country. According to AAA, over 45 million Americans will hit the roads, rails, and runways from May 22 to May 26. That's a whole lot of mouths to feed!

Whether you're road-tripping to the beach or cruising toward cooler destinations, this Grocerant Guru® has your travel food favorites mapped out for the top ten Memorial Day destinations. Let’s pack those coolers, fill those minibars, and make reservations—because great food isn’t just part of the journey. It is the journey.

 

1. Orlando, FL – The Land of Magic and Munchies

·       Car Snack: Cubano Wraps – Easy to handle, hearty with ham, roast pork, and pickles. Magic Kingdom approved!

·       Room Food: Publix Sub (aka “Pub Sub”) – Grab one on the way to the hotel and thank us later.

·       Foodie Favorite: The Ravenous Pig – Elevated Southern cuisine with a gastropub twist.

 

2. Seattle, WA – Sip, Snack & Set Sail

·       Car Snack: Smoked Salmon Jerky – Portable Pacific Northwest goodness.

·       Room Food: Teriyaki Bento Box – A Seattle staple that travels well from curbside to comfort.

·       Foodie Favorite: Canlis – Iconic fine dining with sweeping views and next-level bites.

 

3. New York, NY – The City That Never Skips a Snack

·       Car Snack: Everything Bagel Chips & Lox Dip – Big Apple flavor in every bite.

·       Room Food: Pastrami Sandwich from Katz’s Delicatessen – Order ahead, eat like a local legend.

·       Foodie Favorite: Via Carota – Italian that feels like a vacation in every course.

 

4. Las Vegas, NV – Viva Las Viddles!

·       Car Snack: Buffet-Inspired Snack Mix – Think spicy nuts, dried fruit, and wasabi peas.

·       Room Food: Gourmet Pizza Slice – Snag a slice from Secret Pizza at The Cosmopolitan.

·       Foodie Favorite: é by José Andrés – A hidden gem for the ultimate food show.

 

5. Miami, FL – Sun, Sand & Sandwiches

·       Car Snack: Plantain Chips & Guac To-Go – Tropical crunch on the run.

·       Room Food: Ceviche Bowl from a Local Latin Market – Fresh and fiery.

·       Foodie Favorite: Mandolin Aegean Bistro – A Mediterranean escape tucked in the Design District.

 

6. San Francisco, CA – Bay Area Bites

·       Car Snack: Sourdough Pretzel Nuggets – A nod to the city's bread legacy.

·       Room Food: Mission-Style Burrito – Stuffed, wrapped, and room-ready.

·       Foodie Favorite: Zuni Café – The roast chicken dreams are made of.

 

7. Anchorage, AK – Chill Vibes, Hot Eats

·       Car Snack: Reindeer Sausage Bites – A local classic with a wild twist.

·       Room Food: Smoked Halibut Spread & Crackers – Flavor that keeps well.

·       Foodie Favorite: Snow City Café – Known for breakfast, but worth eating all day.

 

8. Chicago, IL – Deep Dish and Deeper Flavor

·       Car Snack: Garrett Popcorn Mix (CaramelCrisp + CheeseCorn) – Chicago’s snack royalty.

·       Room Food: Italian Beef Sandwich, dipped and wrapped – Wet, wild, and wonderful.

·       Foodie Favorite: Girl & The Goat – A carnivore’s dream with veggie brilliance.

 

9. Denver, CO – Mile High Munchies

·       Car Snack: Trail Mix with Local Roasted Nuts & Chocolate Chunks – Elevate your energy.

·       Room Food: Green Chile Enchiladas – Spicy, cheesy, cozy.

·       Foodie Favorite: Mercantile Dining & Provision – Seasonal, sensational, and seriously smart.

 

10. Boston, MA – Chowdah & Cheers

·       Car Snack: Lobster Roll Chips – Yes, they exist. Yes, they’re wicked good.

·       Room Food: Fenway Frank with a Local Beer – Ballpark spirit, room service ease.

·       Foodie Favorite: Neptune Oyster – Tiny place, giant flavors. The lobster roll is a must.

 

🧳 Final Bite from the Grocerant Guru:
Whether you’re navigating traffic or taking off from the tarmac, don’t just eat to fill the tank — eat to fuel the fun. Memorial Day isn’t just the unofficial start of summer. It’s your passport to portable flavor and grocerant greatness.

Pack smart, snack often, and remember: in the world of food-forward travel, the next bite is always the best one. 🍴

Grocers vs. Restaurants: Can Kids Eat Free Platforms Succeed Everywhere?

 

Kids Eat Free promotions have long been a cornerstone for family-oriented restaurants like IHOP and Denny’s, offering a compelling traffic-driving incentive for parents. However, as guest traffic declines across restaurant categories, this once-exclusive restaurant strategy is now being adopted by non-traditional fresh food retailers, convenience stores (C-stores), and even grocery store delis. Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® thinks it’s time to delve into whether this strategy works across all sectors, updated with food industry facts and new insights into marketing to children.

Kids Eat Free: Is It Right for Your Business?

The immediate answer to whether these promotions work is simple: yes, they drive traffic. However, a better question is whether this strategy aligns with your business goals. "Free" is always appealing and can pull in customers, but profitability must remain a priority. Restaurants are now joined by grocers experimenting with similar tactics.

Take Kroger’s innovative Kids Fresh Friends program. Launched last year, the program provides kids with a card enabling them to get a free piece of fruit each visit. Ken McClure, customer communication manager for The Kroger Co., reported that in its first eight weeks, the program distributed nearly 40,000 pieces of fruit—close to 5,000 pieces per week. The initiative shows how grocers can leverage these strategies not just to attract families but also to subtly drive sales in other categories. Meanwhile, United Supermarkets in Texas and national chains like Whole Foods and PCC Markets offer kids free healthy snacks such as apples, oranges, and bananas every day.

Restaurants, Grocery Stores, and C-Stores: Tailoring the Approach

The Kids Eat Free model may not always guarantee customer loyalty. Restaurants typically add strings to the deal, such as requiring an adult meal purchase or limiting the number of free meals to two children per adult. These provisions aim to mitigate potential losses, but overuse of such promotions can devalue the product. For example, if families perceive kids’ meals as worth $0 today, why should they feel comfortable paying $5 tomorrow? Worse, ongoing promotions can create dependency, prompting backlash when they’re discontinued.

C-stores and grocery store delis could carve out a more sustainable model by bundling value-added options with healthy snacks or meal components. For example, offering “Lunchbox Builder Kits” featuring fresh fruits, mini sandwiches, and a juice box for free with an adult meal purchase could appeal to parents while driving cross-category sales.

Marketing to Kids: Key Insights Across Channels

1.       Convenience Stores:

o    Snack-centric branding with “fun-sized” or “grab-and-go” healthy snacks targets kids and parents alike.

o    Tie-ins with popular sports or cartoon characters can build interest and make healthier options enticing.

o    Loyalty programs for families could reward repeat purchases while promoting value and excitement.

2.       Restaurants:

o    Balancing indulgence with health-conscious offerings can cater to parents seeking occasional treats for kids.

o    Interactive experiences, such as coloring menus or themed meal nights, enhance engagement and increase dwell time.

o    Seasonal promotions like “Kids Eat Free Summer Specials” can drive urgency without creating dependency.

3.       Grocery Store Delis:

o    Building family-centric deli meal bundles with complementary items for parents and free snacks for kids can deliver convenience.

o    Engaging in-store displays showcasing kids' favorite meals or snacks next to healthy options subtly reinforces better choices.

o    Digital campaigns highlighting back-to-school lunch solutions attract busy parents and ensure cross-category sales boosts.

The Economics of "Free"

While the success of a Kids Eat Free platform may vary, planning is essential. Here are actionable tips for implementing this promotion:

·         Cost Analysis: Calculate exactly how much extra traffic is needed to break even. Track food costs and guest-count spikes to monitor return on investment.

·         Marketing Outreach: Ensure the promotion is well-publicized through social media, local radio, or direct mail to maximize reach.

·         Strategic Duration: Limit promotions to specific time frames, like summer months or school vacation periods, to keep expectations in check.

Long-term Opportunities

Instead of viewing Kids Eat Free as a temporary traffic solution, businesses can integrate it into loyalty-building strategies. Programs like Kroger’s Fresh Friends can be scaled by emphasizing health, sustainability, and convenience. Similarly, innovative promotions in grocery stores and delis can position these sectors as viable alternatives to restaurants for affordable family dining.

As families continue to juggle rising costs and packed schedules, the Kids Eat Free platform—when paired with fresh food innovation and strategic marketing—has the potential to transform not just dining occasions but how families source convenient and affordable meals.

Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday than tomorrow?  Visit GrocerantGuru.com 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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Kids Matter

With Summer Almost Here it’s Road Trip Food Time

 

Just what do you like to snack on?  This summer as families load into the car to visit family, National Parks, the Beach, or a Ballpark there is a very good chance they will be buying food to consumer in the car on the way or one the way home according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Kids are starting to get out of school and families are gearing up for summertime fun. They're also making sure snacks are packed for their road trips, and included in soirees and outdoor escapes. A new report found that “road trippers under 40 years old are twice as likely to prioritize finding the snacks they want over clean bathrooms on their stops.”  Our Grocerant Guru® understand that but does not want to be remined of that fact (haha).

Now that experts are predicting a surge in summer travel comparable to pre-pandemic levels, Frito-Lay and Quaker's first-ever joint U.S. Summer Snack Index sheds light on consumer preferences and habits to ensure unforgettable memories this season. Here is a look at what they found:

"Food is an important centerpiece for the joy that summertime brings," said Denise Lefebvre, senior vice president, PepsiCo Foods R&D. "At Frito-Lay and Quaker, we are deeply invested in understanding what our consumers want so they can have the right flavors, variety, snack styles and even packaging options all season."

Frito-Lay and Quaker's Summer Snack Index marks more than four years since Frito-Lay first issued its inaugural trend report. As snacking continues to play a large role in the lives of Americans — 49 percent of which note enjoying three or more snacks per day — the recurring report is an important yardstick for the evolution of food preferences and purchasing decisions through the lens of evolving consumer behavior, the brands stated.

"Americans snack more in the summer, whether they're inside, outdoors or on the move. From boosting road trip morale to complementing an outdoor potluck, today's data confirms the integral role that snacks will play in many of this season's shared moments and activities," Lefebvre added.

Here's what the annual report revealed:

Ready For Road Trips

·         Planning snacks before hitting the road can "greatly reduce the stress" of a long road trip, according to 85 percent of Americans. That's good news for those looking to embark on new snacking adventures, with nearly three out of four consumers declaring these trips as a chance to enjoy offerings they've never tried before.

·         Snacks are a priority pit stop. Road trippers under 40 years old are twice as likely to prioritize finding the snacks they want over clean bathrooms on their stops.

·         Americans note that snacks provide an important morale boost during road trips (43 percent) and are key to staying sane in traffic (39 percent). While 44 percent of people report hiding snacks to keep them from other passengers, nearly one-quarter say they have used snacks to break an awkward car silence.

·         Approximately 41 percent of respondents say they would rather have control over road trip snacks than the music. Millennials (46 percent) show the greatest preference for snack control, as do parents (49 percent) when compared to non-parents (36 percent).

The Ultimate Summer Soiree

·         Americans note "something for everyone" (74 percent) and "easy to share" (63 percent) are the ideal attributes for food and snacks this summer. When compared to "easy-to-make" dishes, shareability still comes out on top (72 percent vs. 28 percent).

·         Party guests note overcooking the food (70 percent), waiting too long to serve food (62 percent) and not having enough snacks or appetizers (51 percent) are the worst hosting mistakes.

·         Bringing uninvited guests to a party is considered this summer's worst party foul (63 percent), with baby boomers (70 percent) and Gen Zers (55 percent) showing the biggest spread of opinion on the faux pas.

Outdoor Escapes

·         When it comes to outdoor sports, more than half of snackers surveyed (53 percent) say post-game snacks are more important than winning the game. Women (59 percent) are more likely to be excited for the post-game snacks than men (46 percent).

·         Parents note being in charge of their children's after-game snacks is more stressful than getting their kids to the game on time (42 percent). Dads feel the most anxiety over the post-game ritual (46 percent) vs. moms (38 percent).

·         Nearly 60 percent of consumers say that snacks can make or break beach days, citing dropped snacks in the sand (42 percent) and running out of snacks (34 percent) as critical beach bummers.

·         Convenience is key, especially in the great outdoors. The survey found that consumers are more likely to purchase snacks that are conveniently packaged (79 percent), with individually wrapped snacks also preferred (52 percent). When selecting snacks for their children, parents noted variety (70 percent) was their top choice, with flavor and convenience tied for the second-most important attributes (64 percent).

Frito-Lay and Quaker's Summer Snack Index surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older from May 9 to May 15. More information about the survey is available here.” Now what are you selling that can be consumed in the car?

Foodservice Solutions® team is here to help you drive top line sales and bottom-line profits. Are you looking a customer ahead? Visit GrocerantGuru.com 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.