Freebies and deals abound. National Coffee Day is this Saturday, Sept. 29, and many businesses are kicking off the celebration early to maximize a chance to sample their brew to customers. While not all coffee chains have climbed on the National Coffee Day bandwagon—Starbucks, for example, has yet to announce its participation this year—many c-stores, [...]
To capture a greater share of the breakfast business, retailers are developing fresh bakery programs extensive enough to make their products destination-worthy in the morning and throughout the day. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. Few, if any, local supermarkets or mom-and-pops in the Iowa, Minnesota or Wisconsin market areas where Kwik Trip has its 358 [...]
There are few bargains when it comes to purchasing the right cooking equipment. Functionality and practicality must coincide with an affordable price tag. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor Just like the latest luxury car, a shiny, new piece of foodservice equipment can be hard to resist. But Brian Tucker, foodservice director for Lake, Fla.-based S [...]
“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 [...]
“Food is the future of (the c-store) industry,” says Jeff Lenard, NACS vice president to The Gazette, an Eastern Iowa newspaper. Food sales accounted for 16.9% of a record $195 billion of in-store sales at convenience stores in 2011, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), which means many c-store chains have been [...]
Technomic Inc. reports that sandwiches prove to be more successful items on lunch and dinner menus for the past two years. Sandwiches are a staple food item for both lunch and dinner menus at limited- and full-service restaurants, and more consumers report purchasing sandwiches away from home today compared to two years ago. “Today’s consumer [...]
Rutter’s Farm Stores puts two new products on its lunch and dinner menus to give customers more choices. Rutter’s Farm Stores, based in York, Pa., plans to please its loyal customers with the addition of steak chips and quesadillas to its lunch and dinner menus to further help retain and gain customers. The company’s new steak [...]
Customers recognize Rutter’s for its milk, quick service lunch and breakfast, and coffee program. York, Pa.-based Rutter’s once again was voted to the top for the 2012 Best of York contest. Voted on by readers of the York Daily Record, Rutter’s again placed first in Best Milk and Best Quick Service Lunch. Rutter’s also placed [...]
Convenience stores are embracing the latest equipment as they look to keep up with QSRs and fast casual restaurants. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor. In the summer, customers line up from morning until evening at Maverik convenience stores to take the f’real machine for a spin. From the time the North Salt Lake City-based chain [...]
Given that the morning daypart is such a high-growth segment, it should be no surprise that the industry’s leading retailers are focusing a lot of effort on solidifying their offerings. By John Lofstock, Editor. Americans are more amenable to buying meals at convenience stores, but won’t budge when it comes to quality, price or convenience [...]
Taco Bell tests a “first meal” option and an upscale “Cantina Bell” menu. Taco Bell, usually known as the go-to-place for a late night “fourth meal” craving for cheap tacos and gorditas, is rolling out “first meal” or breakfast, the Huffington Post reported. Following a five year test, Taco Bell is set to debut an [...]
Franchise opportunities with Dunkin’ Donuts are still available in Ottumwa, Iowa. Dunkin’ Donuts has signed a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchisee, Savoureux Corp., for 12 new restaurants in North Omaha, Neb. and Sioux City, Iowa, with the first restaurant planned to open in 2013. Savoureux Corp. is led by NFL greats and former [...]
Customers in the D.C. region can get their Whoppers delivered right to their door. Burger King is testing delivery at about 10 locations in Maryland and Virginia, the Washington Post reported. Burger delivery, while a new phenomenon in the U.S. is old-hat in Asia and parts of Europe. Burger King officials told the Washington Post, [...]
New SUBWAY restaurants are expected to create a total of 25,000 full and part-time jobs in 2012. Through the opening of more than 2,400 restaurants worldwide, including 1,100 new locations just in the U.S. and Canada alone, the SUBWAY restaurant chain created approximately 24,000 new foodservice job and career opportunities in 2011. By opening an [...]
Can alcohol sales and an expanded array of food choices provide the boost White Castle is seeking? QSR chain White Castle, a 90-year-old hamburger chain that sells square “slider” burgers, has begun serving beer and wine in an Indiana location as part of a test program, the Chicago Tribune reported. And White Castle is not [...]