Harvest Market finds Success with Grocerant Fresh Food Fast

Retailer after retailer that expands into the grocerant niche filled with Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food discovers the undercurrents driving consumer adoption and migration from legacy CPG products to grocerant fresh according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Niemann Foods’ Harvest Market is no different last year when they elevated their fresh prepared food offerings in a remodeled store they saw customer migration first hand.  The repositioned location refocused on the farm-to-table movement to connect consumers with the producers of their food. One of the biggest draws in the 58,000 square-foot showplace is the USDA-certified butter-churning room – a first of its kind feature for a grocery store.

As Niemann’s first foodie-focused market filled with grocerant offerings and the chain’s first to include a restaurant, named The FarmhouseThe Farmhouse’s selections boast from-scratch, authentic food, which has been extremely well received by an appreciative base of loyal enthusiasts who happily share feedback with the store’s culinary teams.

Gerry Kettler, director of consumer affairs. Harvest Market stated  “Consumers help guide our menu, which plays heavily off peak-season specialties and farm-fresh ingredients sourced by local food makers and producers,”.

Interactive and participatory Harvest Market’s in-store Kitchen elevates the shopping experience as shoppers can smell the aroma and select from a wide variety of fresh food simmering on the stove, including a large selection of made-to-order, fresh prepared foods and fresh brewed coffee.

Expanding on the consumer interactive  Harvest Market’s  offers an instructional and educational space which houses many types of events, including food demonstrations, taste-testing and cooking classes. Interestingly, Kettler stated “ the twice-weekly cooking classes, priced at $10 per session, have been wildly popular with customers –  so much so that they’re sold out two to three months in advance.”

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.

Grocerant Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat Disruption

Most legacy grocery retailers are working under the assumption that five years from now 78% of their retail sales will come from grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food according to Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru®, Steven Johnson.

Back in the day supermarkets had one but wall of produce, small bakery, a deli counter,  while the main focus was CPG products from Kraft, Campbell’s, Hines, and Procter & Gamble.  You know the ‘pantry’ staples that were boxed, canned, and bottled products that last forever and your grandmother had used before you mother did.  Technology, improved supply chain and the ‘halo’ of ‘Better-for-You’ food information has changed all that according to Johnson.

Even the famed  Wall Street Journal reports “that a number of supermarkets and other food-selling retailers, like CVS, have redesigned or created new stores with less space for pre-packaged foods and more square-footage given over to in-store restaurants and freshly prepared meals.”

Companies the ilk of Dollar General are testing fresh food, Ikea is selling fresh food.  Both ShopRite and CVS, have stated that they are creating new stores that have cut down on the space for pre-packaged foods and more area for in-store restaurants and fresh prepared meals according to the Wall Street Journal. Here let look at some numbers:

1.       The sales volume for pre-packaged food and beverages fell 0.4% in the first quarter of 2017, the WSJ reports, citing a Nielsen report.

2.       Fresh meat sales grew 1.7%

3.       Produce grew 1.9%,

4.       Deli-prepared foods increased 4%.

Success does leave clues and it just might be time for you to 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

Zoës Kitchen Lite Meals & Snack Boxes

Small meals, lite meals, fresh food, fast food Zoës Kitchen, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant understands the importance consumers place on grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food that has the halo of ‘better-for-you’ according to Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru®, Steven Johnson.

This month Zoës Kitchen introduced a new line of Snack Boxes, new Quinoa Salad, along with a “Zoës for a Year” Facebook giveaway, along with an email and social media campaign providing tips and inspiration for Living Mediterranean. The new line of lite meals and snack boxes all have the ‘hallo’ of ‘better-for-you’ built into them.

Zoës Kitchen is a leader in Mediterranean cuisine, Zoës Kitchen is committed to elevating awareness and benefits of the region’s approach to nutrition and living by offering fresh, better-for-you dining options inspired by the countries and flavors of the Mediterranean. Here is part of the new line:

1.       Modern Mediterranean Snack Box: (Gluten free) grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, original hummus, cucumbers and tomatoes. A post-workout refuel option that’s high in protein with 36 grams.

2.       Hummus Duo & Veggies Snack Box: (Gluten free) original hummus, pesto hummus, cucumbers and tomatoes. A tasty vegetarian option that is only 390 calories and makes a great afternoon snack.

3.       Balanced Bites Snack Box: grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, pasta salad and mixed fruit. Great for kids on-the-go!

4.       Zoës NEW Quinoa Salad incorporates quinoa mixed with carrots, cabbage, green onion, red peppers, tomatoes, and celery, sprinkled with feta and tossed with a  zesty lemon vinaigrette.

Kevin Miles, CEO and president at Zoës Kitchen  stated “There is a growing demand for convenient snacking options that satisfy hunger as well as nutritional needs,” … “Whether it’s an afternoon snack at the office or a quick bite between school and soccer practice, snack boxes in addition to our Fresh-Take Tubs, are wholesome, fresh, on-the-go solutions that are perfect for our guests’ busy lifestyles.”

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a new menu product segment and brand and menu integration strategy.  Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant/ or twitter.com/grocerant