Many convenience store retailers are cognizant of the trend toward healthier foods and are adding better-for-you items to their menus. By John Lofstock, Editor. More salads, fruits and vegetables are finding their way onto convenience store shelves—often for purchase in the morning, or as a late afternoon snack—much to the delight of an increasing number…
Satisfy Between-Meal Hunger
RITZ CRACKERFULS is now wrapped up in a striking new look designed to grab attention and boost between-meal snack sales. Ninety-five percent of consumers indulge in a snack at least once a day, either between meals or in place of a meal, according to Technomic Snacking Occasion Consumer Trend Report, 2010. RITZ CRACKERFULS offer an…
Pizza Occasions Grow With Key Sales Drivers
Innovation, convenience and versatility can boost your pizza sales in 2012. A new report by Technomic shows pizza consumption continues to rise. More than four in 10 (41%) consumers polled say they’re now eating pizza once a week, compared to 26% just two years ago. Pizza consumption has increased over the past two years as…
Pizza Gets Personal
C-store retailers can expect to see continued growth in the pizza category in 2012. “Pizza has good hold times, is a consumer favorite and is relatively easy to prepare. Sales will be up in 2012,” said Tim Powell, director for Chicago-based research firm Technomic. Trends to watch in 2012 include an increase in take-and-bake pizzas,…
Turning a Profit at the Roller Grill
One of the most maligned pieces of equipment in all of foodservice—the roller grill—remains the backbone of many c-store foodservice programs, offering an inexpensive, labor-friendly way for operators to expand their fresh-food offering at a time when other nonfoodservice categories are declining. Roller grill sales are estimated to account for roughly 10-15% of convenience foodservice…
Technomic Report Analyzes Snacking Habits
Snacking Occasion Consumer Trend Report shows customers are snacking more as meals get healthier. Consumers are snacking significantly more now than they were just two years ago. Almost half (48%) of consumers polled say they’re now snacking at least twice a day, compared to 25% in 2010. Restaurants are capitalizing on the growing snacking occasion…
Capturing Hispanic Customers
Offering quality customer service with bilingual employees and traditional foods can drive retail loyalty among the growing Hispanic population. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. Today, Hispanic food is mainstream and attractive to a wide array of demographics seeking spicier flavors, but the secret to keeping your Hispanic customers’ repeat business lies in more than just…
C-Store Foodservice Grows To $11.5 Billion
The number of stores with dedicated foodservice personnel has nearly doubled since 2007. In a sign that convenience store operators are successfully ramping up their foodservice efforts, industry consultants Technomic found that average unit volumes for c-stores offering prepared food and dispensed beverages (“true foodservice”) jumped to more than $136k in 2011, up from $123k…
Driving Foodservice Profitability
Taking steps to promote innovative products and value pricing can elevate the whole roller grill experience. By Heather Henstock, Contributing Editor. When consumers think of convenience store food, roller grill hot dogs are top of mind. Roller grills have developed a mixed reputation over the years, but they remain a staple of c-store foodservice programs…
Technomic Report Unveils Habits of Teens, Tweens
The report provides an overview of attitudes toward food preferences, dining-out behaviors with friends and family, snacking behavior, convenience-store patronage, technology usage and more. Tweens and teens influence the decision making of their friends and families, playing a large role in their dining choices. Fifty-eight percent of teens and 54% of tweens report that their…