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,…
Coffee Driving Bakery Sales
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…
With Foodservice Equipment, Cheap Can Be Costly
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…
Millennial Consumers More Likely To Make Foodservice Purchases
“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 Sales Make Up For High Gas Prices In Today’s C-Store Market
“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…
Preparing Sandwiches The Ways Consumers Want Them
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 Offers More Options On Its Menu
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…
Rutter’s Takes Top Slots In Best of York Voting
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…
New Food Technology is Hot (and Cool)
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…
Emphasizing a Strong Breakfast Business
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…