How Convenience Stores Are Winning at Beverages: Leaving Restaurants Playing Catch-Up

 

Convenience stores have become an integral part of our daily lives, with over 152,000 stores across the United States. These stores play a pivotal role for consumers, and their impact extends beyond just quick snacks and essentials. Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®, wants explore just how convenience stores are dominating the beverage market, leaving restaurants scrambling to keep up. 

1.      Fact: According to Lori Buss Stillman, vice president of research and education at NACS, 93% of Americans live within 10 minutes of a convenience store. 

2.       Insight: Half of the U.S. population over the age of 14 shops at a convenience store every day. When people treat themselves, they often seek a snack as part of their convenience trip. 

3.       Fact: The No. 1 trip driver for convenience store shoppers is a carbonated beverage. Insight: Shoppers are not only looking for their favorite soda but also something to complement it. 

4.       Fact: 75% of salty snack shoppers visit a convenience store once a week.

5.       Fact: One in five salty snack shoppers are in a c-store every day. 

6.       Fact: 48% of candy shoppers visit a convenience store once a week. 

7.       Fact: 25% of candy shoppers are in a c-store every day. 

8.       Fact: 11.8% of all inside sales come from the candy and snacks category. 

9.       Insight: Media, Pa.-based Wawa Inc. aims to become a go-to food retailer. They encourage customers to pick up not only foodservice items but also candy bars, energy bars, or bags of chips. It's about building a complete shopping basket. 

10.   Insight: La Crosse, Wis.-based Kwik Trip Inc. capitalizes on candy and snacks. Their bakery offerings and private-label line position them well. Additionally, their loyalty program, drives sales—especially among Generation Z. 

11.   Insight: Manufacturers and suppliers must make it easy for retailers to introduce innovative products. Listening to retailers' needs and understanding their stores is crucial.

12.   Trends: Freeze-dried candy, mashups, and Asian-infused brands are exciting innovations that bring customers back to the category. 

13.   Insight: Finding space for new products can be challenging. Data plays a vital role in making informed decisions. It removes emotion and ensures efficient merchandising. 

Think about this, convenience stores continue to evolve, offering more than just convenience. As restaurants strive to catch up, these stores remain at the forefront of beverage sales, meeting consumer demands effectively. Whether it's a quick soda or a snack, convenience stores have mastered the art of satisfying our cravings. The next time you grab a candy bar or energy drink, you’re part of a larger trend, one that convenience store have perfected.

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

Dunkin’ Donuts New Electricity = Partnerships

Success does leave clues and at the beginning of this year Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® called 2018 the year of partnerships. Chain restaurants the ilk of Dunkin’ Donuts continue to prove Johnson to be spot on as Dunkin’ expands product innovation within its relationship with Coca-Cola.

What is the key driver for foodservice moving forward?  In the minds-eye of Johnson, there is one dominate element that will power success within retail foodservice over the coming years.  Johnson calls it the new electricity that is partnerships specifically strategic partnerships.   

The new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh food, sous vide meal components, portable meals, meal kits, sustainable oils, urban farming (produce, seafood, etc.), autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, cash-less payments, digital hand held marketing.

Retailers the ilk of Supermarkets, Restaurants, Conveniences Stores, Dollar Stores, and Department Stores that selling food and want to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing portable prepared fresh food.  That will require brands to embrace new fresh food partnerships more now than ever before according to Johnson.

Dunkin’ Donuts addition of Cookies & Cream to its popular and fast-growing line of bottled, ready-to-drink iced coffee beverages produced and distributed by The Coca-Cola Company is another example of how to expand your brands reach.

Cookies & Cream is available now at grocery stores, convenience, drug store and mass retail channels, and at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants throughout the U.S, Cookies & Cream joins Dunkin’s other RTD coffee flavor offerings: Original, Mocha, Espresso and French Vanilla.

Are you trapped doing what you have always done and doing it the same way?  Where is your new electricity coming from?  Interested in learning how www.FoodserviceSolutions.us 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.

Dunkin’ Fortifies it’s Brand

Edifying a brand with contemporized relevance is a sure way to build top line sales and bottom line profits according to Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru® Steven Johnson.  That is exactly what Dunkin Donuts did when it created Energy Punch.

Dunkin’ Energy Punch Powered by Monster Energy offers Dunkin’ Donuts’ guests a cool new choice for staying energized as the temperatures rise. The new beverage combines one can of Monster Energy mixed with either classic Blue Raspberry or Strawberry fruited flavors, served over ice. Select areas including Metro New York will offer Dunkin’ Energy Punch Powered by NOS Energy Drink.

Dunkin’ Energy Punch began as a creation developed by a couple of Dunkin’ franchisees in New Hampshire. Excitement for the beverage continued to grow and Dunkin’ Energy Punch made its way to thousands of participating Dunkin’ restaurants in New England, Miami and West Palm Be

To help keep guests energized all summer long, Dunkin’ Donuts is now offering Dunkin’ Energy Punch at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide. Co-branding and food and beverage fortification to empower a ‘better-for-you’ outcome are the undercurrents driving grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh foods continued growth.

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 the clue you need to propel your continued success