CONVENIENCE STORES MOVE IN ON FOODSERVICE

Published December 20, 2013 in Food Product Design

Posted in News, Market Trends, Market Research, Consumer Panels, Consumer Preference,Foodservice, Restaurant, Fast Casual, QSR, Fried Foods, Snack Foods, Convenience Foods, Retail,Quality, Taste, Menu

CHICAGO—One-third of consumers purchased prepared foods from a convenience store in lieu of dining at a restaurant, suggesting convenience stores are making inroads into foodservice, according to a new report from Technomic.

The report, "Consumer Brand Metrics - Convenience Store Foodservice Shopper Insights," surveyed an online panel of more than 4,000 convenience store shoppers to gain consumers' insights and better understand factors driving convenience-store food service buying behavior.
Results showed 34% of consumers said they would have visited a restaurant if they had not purchased prepared foods from a convenience store on their most recent visit; 26% said they would have visited a fast-food restaurant.

"Due to location and speed of service, c-stores are always going to be a dining option," said Darren Tristano, executive vice president, Technomic. "Recently, however, we've seen a concerted effort to improve the quality of food and service provided at these locations. If c-stores can continue enhancing these areas, they can look to drive traffic from restaurants."

Food quality and taste are just as important as convenience. Nine out of 10 convenience store foodservice users say the quality and taste of the food are among the important factors when deciding which convenience store to visit. Consumers were also swayed by pleasant, friendly service and a convenient location.

7-Eleven leads all chains measured for foodservice patronage. Two-fifths (39%) of convenience store foodservice users have purchased a foodservice item from 7-Eleven in the past two months.
Wawa's food and beverage earned highest ratings. Wawa's program received the highest composite scores across 11 food and beverage attributes, such as food quality, foodservice variety and the craveability of its menu items. Quik Trip, Sheetz, Stripes and Kwik Trip also earned high marks from consumers for these attributes.

Sources:

• Technomic: Technomic Report Reveals Foodservice Ratings for Leading Convenience-Store Chains

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Food Service Sector Analysis: Part 2 Top 25 Accounts

Food Service Sector Analysis: Part 2 Top 25 Accounts

Here are the top 25 International Restaurant Chains outside of US last year (2012) according to Euromonitor. 

7-Eleven: Convenience store known for drinks, snack items like sandwiches and, in some markets, pasta, dumplings and sausages.

Akindo Sushiro: Known for affordable sushi and conveyor belt, self-serve operation.

Costa Coffee: With its focus on quality, handmade coffee, Costa was the first U.K. coffeeshop to commit to sourcing Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee.

Dicos: Chinese quick-service chain that specializes in Western style food like fried chicken, burgers and fries.

Doutor Coffee Shop: Known for serving inexpensive, fast coffee and snacks like sandwiches and hot dogs to people on the move.

Enterprise Inns: A leased and tenanted pub company that collects rent from its pub operators. Tenants purchase alcohol and other products from Enterprise.

FamilyMart: Popular Japanese convenience store offering groceries, alcoholic beverages like sake and food such as onigiri, or rice balls.

Gusto: Family chain that serves both Japanese and Western foods. Steaks and hamburgers are some of the concept’s most popular dishes.

Gyoza no Ohsho: Japanese chain known for its dumplings, large portions and being fast and affordable.

Honke Kamadoya: A chain of supermarkets housing a popular Asian deli-style restaurant.

Hotto Motto: A takeaway bento chain specializing in freshly prepared food.  It opened its first overseas unit in China in 2010.

IKEA: Cafeterias in this home-goods store offer traditional Swedish food, with some variations, in the 40-plus countries IKEA serves.

JD Wetherspoon: A pub chain with a focus on value, a welcoming environment and responsible environmental policies

Jollibee: Serving American-style fast food with Filipino influences, Jollibee specializes in hamburgers and spaghetti.

Lawson: Although this c-store concept got its start in Ohio, it has thrived in its new home base of Japan, where it sells a number of prepared foods.

Matsuya: With operations in Shanghai and throughout Japan, this restaurant chain serves rice bowls and curry dishes.

Ministop: Billing itself as a “refreshment station,” this Japanese convenience store sells a number of prepared food products, including Sandwiches and bento boxes.

Mister Donut: Like Lawson, this chain was originally headquartered in the United States. It now serves its doughnuts, muffins, pastries and coffee mostly in its main market of Japan.

MOS Burger: A burger chain with units throughout East Asia. Its eponymous menu item is a top seller.

Paris Baguette: With major penetration in South Korea, this bakery brand focuses on quality, freshness and customer service. It has international stores in China and the United States.

Quick: This quick-service burger chain says it has adopted the American fast-food model for European tastes.

Saizeriya: A Japanese chain specializing in family-style Italian cuisine

Sukiya: This concept specializes in gyudon and donburi, which are rice-bowl dishes, as well as curry.

Sunkus: A convenience-store chain that also sells onigiri, or rice balls, and bento boxes.

Yoshinoya: A quick-service chain specializing in gyudon, or rice and -beef bowls.

Check out my new e-book entitled: "Social Media Marketing in Agri-Foods: Endless Profit and Painless Gain"

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7-ELEVEN ROLLS OUT HEALTH SNACKS SECTION

Published September 13, 2013 in Food Product Design

Posted in News, Chocolate, Consumer Preference, Convenience Foods, Retail, Demographic,Desserts, Dried Fruit, Flavor, Healthy, Healthy Foods, Labeling, Market Trends, Nuts, Nutrition, Quality,Snack Foods, Taste, Private Label

DALLAS—7-Eleven, Inc., has upped its healthy snacks game with the introduction of a new selection of gourmet, organic and better-for-you snacks, including dry-roasted edamame, organic trail mix, veggie chips and premium nut blends.

7-Eleven studied dining trends that indicate consumers are turning toward all-day snacking instead of the usual three meals a day. Although eating several smaller meals may be perceived as healthier and has been shown to aid in weight loss, and consumers express preferences for more nutritional snacks, the findings show they choose both better-for-you and indulgent snacks. The challenge, said 7-Eleven, is to find snacks that fill both needs.

7-Eleven stores now offer a broader assortment that reflects consumer desires for snacks made with premium ingredients and more healthful options at competitive prices. The new assortment includes the company's 7-Select private brand along with nationally-branded, upscale snacks, some making their debut at a convenience retailer.

"Better-for-you is one of the fastest-growing segments of the snacking category," said Rebecca Frechette, vice president of merchandising. "People are snacking throughout the day, and they're looking for ways to improve what they eat without sacrificing taste. Our selection includes our own 7-Select line of trail mixes and snacks alongside top-shelf and gourmet brands that you might not expect to find in a convenience store."

Sources:

• PR Newswire: Better Bites: New 7-Eleven® Snack Section Offers Gourmet, Better-for-You Selections

Check out my latest e-book entitled: "Social Media Marketing in Agri-Foods: Endless Profit and Painless Gain"

The book is available on Amazon and Kindle for $4.99 USD. Visit amazon/Kindle to order now:
http://www.amazon.ca/Social-Media-Marketing-Agri-Foods-ebook/dp/B00C42OB3E/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1364756966&sr=1-1

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