Better for You Mix & Match Meal Bundling Drives C-store Sales

Success does leave clues and convenience stores ability to expand menu / meal options with salty foods that are ‘better-for-you’ is a key driver driving top-line sales and bottom-line profits according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

According to market research firm Packaged Facts, U.S. demand for salty snacks at the manufacturer level is forecast to grow 3% annually from 2017 to 2022. The simple fact is consumers like salty snacks and consider them great additions to a meal particularly when they have the ‘halo’ of ‘better-for-you’ around them.

Cara Brosius, research analyst of consumer and commercial goods, MarketResearch.com, said demand for salty snacks is growing because of the “snackification” of American diets. …“Most consumers snack multiple times each day, and a growing number are replacing entire meals with snacks or eating snacks with main meals,” 

Johnson stated that most Americans grew up visiting fast food outlets that offered bundled meals that included salty french fries.  Johnson continued consumers like salt and salty foods, that is one of the reasons that 82.3% of all restaurant meals sold in the US are sold at fast food outlets.  

Mix & match meal bundling are hallmarks driving growth within the grocerant niche within every sector of retail food sale’s according to Johnson.  

Once again Johnson reiterated as regular readers know Gen Z and millennials are especially driving growth within the grocerant niche, as they have fast-paced, on-the-go lifestyles that demand portable and ready-to-eat foods and it is how they grew up eating.

In order to appeal to young consumers, it is important to edify your relationship with both Gen Z and Millennials so offering more snacks that provide health benefits, such as added protein and plant-based ingredients that are salty is a sure way to win.

Transparency is important, for example, Kettle Brand potato chips introduced a “Tater Tracker” feature on its website that allows consumers to input the product code on their bag of chips to track the farmer who sourced the potatoes used in that particular bag.

C-stores have the advantage in adding more CPG options from the ‘better-for-you’ category over chain restaurants elevating consumer choice within mix & match meal component bunding options.  Products that are sustainable, local, bold in flavor that reflect the neighborhood around you store are key to garnering incremental customers according to Johnson.

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

Mix & Match Bundled Meal Components Prepared Fresh Boost Sales

Consumers are dynamic not static, times change, and consumers evolve according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  However, back in the day when Alice May Brock said: “Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian, wine and tarragon make it French, sour cream makes it Russian, lemon and cinnamon make it Greek, soy sauce makes it Chinese, garlic makes it good.”  She was right.  Today, consumer mix and match those items into one customized family meal and that’s is What’s for Dinner.

What Alice May Brock was envisioning, is today’s convenient meal participation, differentiation, and individualization.  Each continue to be a pillar of the grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food sales success in the minds-eye of the consumer.  According to Johnson they are also is the recipe for incremental retail food success in 2018 and 2019. Foodservice Solutions® October, 2018 Grocerant ScoreCards indicate that 83.2% dinners service at home have at least one fresh prepared meal component.

Meal components allow customers to select from Italian, American, French, Russian or Greek and utilize the components at home any way they like.  The new American meal can be a composite of any prepared food components that the individual may want and they can mix and pair them any way as well. 

Despite the undercurrents of political rhetoric, the United States is a melting pot of people from all over the world, with different cultures, traditions, and flavor preferences.  The new American meal is a melting pot of flavor and empowered choice.  Meal components that can be mix and matched for home consumption are integral to retail foodservice success.

Fresh prepared and portable Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat foods are now available for all.  Consumers however are now expecting to find grocerant fresh prepared meal components just about anywhere they shop.   Including furniture stores the ilk of Ikea, Convenience stores, Drug stores, Grocery stores, Restaurants, Mobile trucks and they expect them to just be waiting for the taking.  When developing new menu items do you consider where the food will be consumed?

Consumers have been exposed to a plethora of flavors and have not the time to master the skill of cooking each.  The rapidly growing grocerant trend is empowering the consumer to establish new customs and traditions in eating better, more flavorful food.  The Grocerant niche is about convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization.

Here is our success clue for today: 83.7% of consumers what to eat their meal in front of their 65 Inch HDTV.  However, they are willing and want to buy their favorite meal component from a restaurant, brand, grocery, drug store, or furniture store of their choosing and mix and match the components into a perfect family meal.  

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a brand leveraging 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

Dunkin’s Mobile Grab-N-Go Drive’s Customer Flow

Regular readers of this blog understand the strength and key drivers of grocerant niche growth and Dunkin Donuts new prototype emphasizes those attributes.  The team at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® believes that Nancy Luna of Nation’s Restaurant News captured some of the visceral customer touch points in her recent NRN article. We have added out view and included some of Nancy’s NRN article photos to drive home our points.

Dunkin’s store of the future edifies consumer increasing demand for fast service, quick payments, and grocerant niche mix and match meal component bundling all while edifying customer choice with relevance according to Steven Johnson our Grocerant Guru® convenience, takeout and tech

The relevance comes in as pointed out by Nancy in the form of a pickup counter for mobile orders, nitrogen-infused cold brew and tabletop outlets to power devices all focused on convenience, takeout and technology that edifies speed of service. 

Dunkin’ Donuts plans to open 50 of these store of the future units by the end of 2018 according to the company. While calling itself a beverage first company these new units underscoring the interplay between food and beverages creating a platform that enables mix and match meal component bundling superiority to that of McDonald’s and Starbucks.  

The new eight-tap beverage system empowers choice including cold-brew coffee infused with nitrogen which continues to garner new customers. This new display will prove inviting to consumers and elevate product sampling according to Johnson.

The Donut display puts the doughnuts out front, instead of behind the counter like in traditional locations.  Combine that with an expanded to-go section is stocked with a variety of snacks and merchandise, such as bottled drinks, yogurt parfaits, nutrition bars, coffee mugs, beef jerky and mints the grocerant niche mix and match bundling will enhance the consumer experience.

Mobile order and pay add relevance to Gen Z and Millennials as the mobile pickup counter enable consumers to simple skip the line when they pay online. How is your brand expanding consumer choice?

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

Subway to Wrap Up Incremental Success in 2018

Building top line sales and bottom line profits over time requires new products, new price points, customer buy-in according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  At Subway the new electricity to fuel sales is a trio of wrap sandwiches according to Suzanne Greco, Subway’s CEO. 

Subway research team understands that the consumer is dynamic not static and many traditional Subway consumers have been migration to ‘Wraps’.  Thus why not try to bring them back.  The new Signature Wraps are being sold for $6.99. Ok so they look a bit like a burrito, and they have double the meat of a typical 6-inch sandwich kinda makes you think of another faltering fast food giant doesn’t. .

Greco recently stated “They taste indulgent, so people like them,” ..“We’re really excited about it. No one else is selling a wrap for a meal.” Well we all know that may be a bit misleading but we know what she means.

Greco continues  “Customers are looking for new products, or products with more protein,” “I think a lot of people are looking for this.”  The new wraps come in three options:

1.       Chipotle Southwest Steak & Cheese, with a tomato basil wrap, Monterey cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, jalapenos, guacamole

2.       Chipotle Southwest sauce; Turkey Bacon & Guacamole, with turkey, bacon, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, guacamole, ranch dressing and tomato basil wrap,

3.       Savory Rotisserie-Style Chicken Caesar, with Caesar sauce, rotisserie chicken, cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and a spinach wrap.

Edifying it place within the grocerant Ready-2-Eat Mix & Match portable food niche each of the wraps is customizable. The new wraps have been integrated into the Subway’s catering platters and Go Box Meals.

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.

Why do Grocery Stores Continue to Stumble with Fresh Prepared Food

Grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared has been the leading driver of top line sales and bottom line profits within every sector of retail foodservice for over 8 years yet grocery stores continue to stumble with it?  Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® and his team at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® understands why?  Do you?

Let’s look at the results from a recent survey of consumers on grocery store prepared food:

1.       When asked “What percentage of shoppers encounter incidences of failure in their grocer’s
prepared foods area when purchasing prepared chicken products? The Survey found 48%, which is a big number of miss-steps. 

2.       When asked to rate the meals that they picked-up at the grocery store deli they rated it a C, which we know does not drive repeat business.

3.       Of those who experience a problem in the prepared foods department, how many will stop shopping that retailer’s deli for a period of time?

4.       We were surprised that the number was only 38%, clearly most problems were resolved so I guess we found a bright spot. When asked What do real shoppers say about how to make a meal using products from the
grocer’s deli? The findings were a complete wake-up call consumers responded “We were lost – we didn’t know how to put the prepared foods together.”

Regular readers of this blog know that the line between food retail segments has become blurred in the minds-eye of the consumer.  Simply put grocerant offerings (the combination of grocery stores and restaurants) where consumer can buy food to eat while out and about or buy to take home).

Customer migration from the old cook from scratch and from sit-down restaurants combine to drive a shifting landscape we can expect many changes to the food and hospitality industry; it’s anticipated that by 2020, 70 per cent of restaurant businesses will be outside traditional walls, as customers migrate to prepared meals for home consumption.

Millennials in search of food discovery are leading the way for grocerant fresh prepared food as the seek out ethnic grocery store fresh prepared meals. These retail stores attract Millennials wanting to connect to their cultural roots and curious foodies interested in stepping outside their palate’s comfort zone all the while seeking authentic fresh food.

One thing is clear grocery stores must refresh service deli with true fresh prepare d food rather than continuing to try to make fresh prepared food a CPG product as they have done since 1997.  Cleary that has not worked as there are now 50% fewer traditional grocery stores today than just 12 years ago.

Consumers are not looking for innovation in new foods they are seeking authentic fresh food offering and currently the restaurant sector is doing a much beet job of that.  If success leaves clues and it does, grocery stores will need to not build restaurants but offer authentic fresh food faster in order to maintain market share.

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

Fast Food Price Points Matter at Taco Bueno

Grocerant niche Mix & Match meal bundling continues to drive retail foodservice success according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. Regular reader of this blog know that when you combined with a value price point with Ready-2-Eat meal components it has become the dominate driver of the fast food success platform. 

One company that understands mix & match value price point competition is Taco Bueno. For those of you who don’t know Taco Bueno is a Texas-based Tex-Mex fast food chain that announced it is bringing back its popular $5 Box, offering die-hard customers delicious combinations at a compelling price.

This time around Taco Bueno is edifying the $5 Box with two combination options are available:

1.       The $5 Muchaco Box includes one beef muchaco, one party crispy beef taco, one party bean burrito, one small bag of chips with the all new crispy chips and all new signature queso, and a 22-ounce drink.

2.       The $5 Combo Burrito Box includes one combo burrito, one party bean burrito, one small bag of chips with the all new crispy chips and all new signature queso, and a 22-ounce drink.

Sarah Beddoe, chief marketing officer at Taco Bueno Restaurants stated “The return of the $5 Box is truly based on consumer demand. We’ve been receiving daily requests from our more than 500,000 Buenoheads via social media and other channels to bring it back. And we are listening.”

Consumers are dynamic not static and food retailers must by dynamic as well according to Johnson.  The retail foodservice price, value, service equilibrium is resting and food retailers must be mindful that part of the reset is customer relevance.  If you listen and respond to your customers you will come out on the winning side of success. 

Are you trapped doing what you have always done and doing it the same way?  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.

Church’s Chicken Expands Grocerant niche Mix & Match Meal Bundling

Do you want big results then your company must do big things in the minds-eye of the consumer.  Doing the same thing, the same way will get you the same results according to Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru®, Steven Johnson. 

That is most likely the reason that Church’s Chicken has adopted the proven formant of grocerant Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food marketing clues to success according to Johnson.  The $5 Real Big Deal is Church’s most customizable, highest value offering, and will be available at every Church’s restaurant across the nation leverage portability, price, and mix and match bundling to drive sales.

Hector Munoz, Executive Vice President & Global Chief Marketing Officer at Church’s Chicken stated  “While other restaurants are working to bring ever-more competitive pricing to the market, Church’s is winning by offering value in a new way … through an abundance of flavor and choice,”  “Our chicken and biscuits are only one dimension of the Church’s quality chicken  experience. We also feature a full complement of home-style sides that guests can fully explore without any change in price.”

Ok, he did state price was not a key driver.  However regular readers of this blog know he had to say that.  The fact is our Grocerant ScoreCards, have proven that price continues to be a leading factor in driving trial and customer adoption.

Munoz continued  “Real value is an experience guests can return to time and time again while also finding something new and fresh to enjoy,”… “The $5 Real Big Deal is putting our guests in charge, and allowing them to create entire meals—including sides—with a level of variety rarely seen in the industry.” We all know the value of Mix & Match bundling brings to the grocerant niche.

Church’s Chicken did edify our points when they went on to say “The $5 Real Big Deal was created in direct response to guest feedback to make value more accessible through additional variety at affordable price points. With multiple pieces of chicken, two sides, a biscuit, and a Jalapeño pepper, the deal provides a considerable amount of quality food at an unbeatable $5. Church’s executives believe the brand is enjoying unparalleled franchisee support for the new meal because of the value and control it provides guests, which is backed up by the in-market testing conducted over the past few months.”

Success does leave clues www.FoodserviceSolutions.us  is the global leader in grocerant niche business development.  We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities.  Has your company had a Grocerant ScoreCard completed a Grocerant Program Assessment, or new Grocerant niche product Ideation?  Want one?  Call 253-759-7869 Email: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us