“Millennials are a critical consumer group to the foodservice industry, and finding ways to market to them can be difficult because they have high and varied expectations,” says Sara Monnette, director of consumer research for Technomic. Consumers’ positive outlook of the future indicates that they may increase spending on foodservice within the next year, according [...]
Technomic is updating its 2007 landmark study of the Retailer Meal Solutions segment to fit changing trends. Restaurants and retailers have a long history of competing over consumers’ share of stomach. That competition becomes particularly intense late in the day, when busy families must decide what’s for dinner. If money is tight, retailers often win [...]
The Washington, DC-based National Chicken Council forecasts that while production of this convenience store menu mainstay will drop by 1.7%, prices will be going up. “This is only the fourth time in five decades that production has gone down,” said Bill Roenigk, senior vice president and chief economist for the National Chicken Council. We are [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
IDDBA scholarship program deadline is April 1, while the application deadline for the IDDBA Food Safety Certification Reimbursement Program is set for June 1. The next application deadline for the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) scholarship program has been set for April 1, 2012. The IDDBA offers scholarships to employees of IDDBA-member companies in amounts ranging [...]
Certified foodservice managers have shown that they are competent and disciplined, and they tend to display outstanding human resources management skills. By Dr. Nancy Caldarola, Education Director, NACS CAFÉ Foodservice has taken a prominent place in convenience stores. This segment has grown from a humble cup of coffee to a wide array of fresh sandwiches, [...]
Customers can choose from more than 500 varieties. Rutter’s Farm Stores has added macaroni and cheese to the menu, and it could take customers quite a while to decide which version of it they like the best. When all of the variations of toppings and meaty additions are tallied, Rutter’s provides its customers with more [...]
Santa Claus, Elmo, Cookie Monster and the Nestle Quik Bunny are among the attendees at Nice N Easy ribbon cutting event. Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes, a convenience store chain in upstate New York, held an official ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration at its newest store located at 5565 Bartell Road in Brewerton. The [...]
“Chester’s success can be attributed to our commitment to our retailers,” says Chester’s spokesperson. Chester’s International LLC, a fried chicken foodservice provider in the convenience store industry, has opened its 200th store of the year. The milestone was crossed with three recent openings: Sunmart Store #115 in Fargo, N.D., Bailey’s in Franklin Furnace, Ohio and [...]
Foodservice customers are becoming value-conscious, a reflection of current economic conditions. Consumers are now expecting better value in terms of price, service, consistency and food quality. By John Lofstock, Editor. Bringing consumers into convenience stores to buy food requires a great offering at a good price. But with all the competition for share of stomach, [...]
Retailers weigh in on how the program has helped their business. The necessity of food safety in retail dairy, deli, and bakery departments is increasingly apparent every day. For that reason, the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) Food Safety Certification Reimbursement Program reimburses a portion of expenses to IDDBA-member retailer companies that certify dairy, deli, and [...]
Brenton Investment Corp. is set to build a new prototype design as it sets its sights on growth through new builds. By Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. With 11 years under its belt and 13 successful convenience stores throughout southern Louisiana, Brenton Investment Corp. is ready to grow its fleet of Hit-n-Run Food Stores beginning with [...]
APW Wyott shows off their new Expert Series Product Line including the HRS Tru-Heat Roller Grill, All in One Roller Grill and Re-Therm Cabinet. These products can help retailers increase performance within the profitable roller grill category.
A top-notch pie and artistic appeal help differentiate the offering for this important foodservice segment. By Howard Riell, Associate Editor. Pizza, a perennial favorite of American culture, is grabbing headlines as some restaurateurs and retailers devise gourmet versions with a variety of innovative toppings and crusts. And while that’s all well and good, c-store shoppers [...]