Even with limited space, with the proper equipment, convenience store operators can quickly serve a wide variety of food options to customers.
By Amber Koontz, Editorial Intern
When it comes to adding a foodservice operation to a convenience store, one crucial element to consider is the amount of space you have at your disposal. The amount of space that you have will determine the size and amount of equipment you should buy. More often than not, business owners will find that they have too little space to fit everything they could need to make fresh foods for guests. But having limited space is no reason to panic.
Once you have considered your space, it is time to find equipment that can perform more than one of the services you need. Having a separate machine for every food item you want to serve is not an option when you have limited space, so it is crucial to find multiple uses for equipment. For example, when Rutter’s Farm Stores discovered a high speed impingement oven that turned out the best grilled cheese sandwich they knew they had a gem. The stores now use that same machine to make Reubens, quesadillas, cheeseburger patty melts and tuna melts, hot corned beef, brisket and pastrami sandwiches. Sometimes when it comes to maximizing equipment you need to think outside the box.
After you’ve discovered all the wonderful foods your equipment can make, you need to let your customers know what you can do for them, and you can do that by showcasing your food products. When deciding how you will showcase your food items, remember the space that you have. For limited space find a display that can accommodate a variety of foods at a variety of temperatures. Hot cases and cold cases are good options, as well as self-serve stations. Self-serve stations save space and time. A simple, well organized self-serve station allows customers to go to the station, find what they need quickly and be on their way.
Last, but certainly not least, you must be mindful that you are choosing equipment that helps you expedite service. Don’t lose business because you cannot provide what your customer desires quickly enough. Choose machines that have the ability to perform more than one task at a time or that perform each task quickly, because your competitors are already searching for ways to be faster than you.