Cumberland Farms Food Focus is ‘Farmhouse Fresh To Go’

 

Cumberland Farms like so many other convenience stores continue to expand its grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh food options.  That evolution is occurring at the intersection of fresh food and technology and will prove to be a driver of incremental success according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

When Cumberland Farms opened its new location at in Middlebury, Conn., in late September it was like opening a new page in a book according to Johnson. The new store features the company’s innovative design, equipment and menu — all of which were created to expand the food choices and enhance the guest experience.

Larger than many other c-stores, spanning more than 4,400 square feet, they have eight gas fueling stations across four islands, 32 parking spots and the convenience of curbside pickup/order-ahead capabilities for pizza with the SmartPay Rewards app and are set to drive top line sales and bottom-line profits at scale with this new location.

With an extensive expanded variety of food and beverage items, the new Cumberland Farms l features its Farmhouse Fresh To Go concept, which includes a wide selection of breakfast and lunch sandwiches made daily in its own kitchen. In addition, Cumberland Farms Farmhouse line of baked goods, ice cream and snacks are available.

George Fournier, president of EG America, stated, “We’re excited to expand our presence in New Haven County with the opening of our new Middlebury store,” … “Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy our brand-new store, an expansive array of food and beverage options, and the friendly service we are known for.”

In case you did not know, Cumberland Farms has grown into a network of nearly 600 convenience stores across eight states. Today, Cumberland Farms continues to reflect the values it was built upon: providing fast, friendly service to customers by providing the best possible products at affordable prices.

Don’t over reach. Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how Foodservice Solutions® 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 us on our social media sites by clicking the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

Wawa Reigns Supreme

Regular readers know that leaders lead and when it come to the c-store channel Wawa’s leadership shines through breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night. While there are no Wawa stores on the West Coast Tacoma, WA based Grocerant Guru® Steven Johnson of Foodservice Solutions® knows that Wawa’s food quality, service and pricing are the three key driving of their success. 

In the report released at the 2017 NACS Show in Chicago, Nielsen named the top ranked c-stores by brand equity. Wawa, Pa.-based Wawa had the highest equity among convenience stores in 2017, followed by Westborough, Mass.-based Cumberland Farms, with Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz Inc. and La Crosse, Wis.-based Kwik Trip Inc. also ranking in the top five in the United States.

Fresh food matters, according to Nielsen, one third of convenience shoppers expect to purchase fresh food in the convenience channel in the future. And when it comes to foodservice, convenience retailers should focus on differentiating the destination by offering fresh ready-to-eat/healthy foods, as quality is the biggest claimed barrier for purchasing fresh food in c-stores.

In addition Nielsen found that shopping experience/satisfaction can increase with focus on store operations around good customer service, store cleanliness, quick in-and-out, and product availability.

"Now more than ever, consumers value convenience.

As a result, retailers are placing big bets across a variety of hot button topics to differentiate themselves and drive growth," said Nikhil Sharma, vice president consumer and shopper analytics, Nielsen. Wow you have to love the fact that our Grocerant Guru® has been telling you that in our blog since 2009. 

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.

New Cumberland Farms designed to rival fast-casual restaurants

When Westborough, Mass based Cumberland Farms opened its first "next generation" convenience store in Florida last month the team at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® new that Cumberland Farms was elevating it’s foodservice once again. In fact our own Grocerant Guru®, Steven Johnson stated “Cumberland Farms Debuts 'Next-Generation' Stores offerings will look more like a fast-casual restaurant than a legacy convenience Store.”

This new prototype designed store will focus on new equipment and new food offerings, all designed to edify the customer convenience and offer an expanded menu that will challenge restaurants with both quality and price according to Johnson.

Cumberland Farms CEO Ari Haseotes  Stated "We are excited to introduce the future of Cumberland Farms to Titusville, FL …. "We currently operate 14 stores across Brevard County and have plans to expand in Florida over the next several years. We hope our self-service ordering terminals make us even more convenient and that customers enjoy our new food and beverage offerings." This new 5,000-square-foot location offers several new food and beverage menu items that Cumberland Farms had not previously offered.

The new items include beverages the ilk of smoothies, frozen espresso and milkshakes are available, along with specialty coffee drinks, including espresso, cappuccino and lattes. Food items the ilk of ciabatta sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, frittatas and melts. All of these items can be ordered quickly and easily on self-service ordering terminals.

The new will have a focus on technology that will be tested as well. This new store will continue to offer indoor community counters and outdoor patio seating as part of the updated architectural features. What is your company testing; New food, New Technology, New Beverages Need Help?

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

Cumberland Farms Winning Customers with Quality and PRICE

Without doubt the undercurrents of evolving foodservice success within the food industry today can be traced back directly too Foodservice Solutions® FIVE P’s of Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food.  Developed by Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru™ Steven Johnson in 1994; then introduced, implemented, and integrated by foodservice companies including Full Service Restaurants, Chain Drug Stores, Grocery Stores,  QSR’s, and C-Store clients.  The 5 P’s are:

Cumberland Farms is a 600+ retail company focused on growing both the top and bottom line while simultaneously edifying its relationship with consumers introduced a new fresh food called "Come to Your Coffee Senses."

The Cumberland Farms new ad is built on the success they have found over the past year offering coffee specials at an inviting price point 99 Cents. This ad leverages both portability & price integrating branded product, placement, and packaging into a branded invitation.

David Heilbronner, senior manager of brand strategy for Cumberland Farms stated "We wanted to create a message and campaign that spoke to the insanity of overpaying for coffee," … "The character in our commercial has a visceral response to all of this, as he is simply flabbergasted over the fact that anyone would pay more than 99 cents for a cup of coffee at one of those other places."

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.