The grocerant niche is Fresh and Easy!



Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA 5P’s of food marketing Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability and Price are the key elements in elevating retail foodservice ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat fresh and prepared food programs.

Tesco’s Fresh & Easy continues to under go consumer relevant changes. Every time we learn of new changes to product mix and category advances we can see successful elements of Foodservice Solutions® 5P’s of food marketing.

Tesco’s understanding of the relationship of beverage products and food sales at present is contributing too their ongoing development and focus on success. Over regulation and bureaucratic hoopla in California with regard to beverage sales could delay, postpone or derail ongoing development within the Grocerant niche.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Memorial Day 2011

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions®  or Google Grocerants





Gen Y likes portable ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat foods.



Focused on the future, food retailers must pay attention to Gen Y shoppers. With a highlight on quick, easy, and a seeming laser focus on simplicity Gen Y fits perfectly in the grocerant niche. The grocerant niche will develop with and mature with this particular group of consumers.

With the level of “outside” noise ever increasing the opportunity for distraction and new areas of interest are simply shifting. Gen Y’s like saving time and increasing flavor profiles, with alternative food selection retail options and all of that will contribute greatly to the development of the grocerant niche. On the go people want on the go solutions.

William Gibson quote: “The future has already arrived; it’s just not evenly distributed.” Food retailers that understand that the benchmarks and drivers of food retailing have changed will be winning food retailers.

What will never change is evolving definitions of hot button issues on “sustainability”, "local" and “green” each will expand until they become as generic as organic. Value will continue to play a pivotal role with the success of food retail brands, particularly in ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat grocerant prepared foods.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

The foodservice consumer in on the move and heading to the grocerant niche.



Foodservice consumer discontinuity is the focus on much attention from consultants to chain executives. . As an industry our concern is and should be share of stomach, first by company, second by niche-market share and third the restaurant industry overall.

The economy is not our largest problem it is competition for share of stomach; specifically by the ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat prepared meal section of the grocery stores and C-stores battling restaurants for share of stomach. I call that space the Grocerant section.

That battle has been under reported however noted first by Foodservice Solutions. 2005; was the first year that recorded a consumer increase in percent household spending for food in grocery stores and away from restaurants in 25 years. We here at Foodservice Solutions have been discussing this fact since 2005 and studying the grocerant niche since 1997.

Restaurants, Grocery stores and the Convenience store sectors are all competing for share of stomach and the consumers are attracted to the options presented by within the Grocerant niche. Is your company in need of a grocerant niche assessment, national or global grocerant c-level overview?

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Convenience stores learned menu bundling from Quick Serve Restaurants.



Grocerant prepared ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat food is booming in the Northeast United States within the convenience store sector. According to Convenience Store news;” Rutter's Farm Stores recently expanded its fresh-food menu to include turkey wings and sliders, which are available in all 36 of its stores that offer touchscreen ordering. The wings, which are $1.39 each and can be ordered one, two or three at a time, comprise 2.25 ounces of meat that is marinated and then fried. They can be ordered with original, buffalo or spicy seasoning, according to the convenience chain.”

What I like is the fact that Rutter’s utilizes restaurant industry bundling options for items; “ new sliders offer a hamburger or fried chicken patty served on a fresh-baked roll. Yellow American cheese, pickle and onion can be added at no additional cost. Sliders can be ordered in quantities of one ($1.29); three ($3.39); six ($5.94); or 12 ($9.96) at a time.

QuickChek, Wawa, Sheetz and Rutter’s all have a strong fresh fast quality food program. Products that are priced with many would say is at a competitive advantage or many Quick Serve Restaurants. Recently we discussed all of the new product in test at 7 Eleven. This sector in currying favor with consumer and retailers are responding.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Is home cooking the new normal grocerant ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat.



What’s for dinner? If your cooking for an at home family meal for two, four, or five family members, chances are very good your buying several ready-2-eat or heat-N-eat foods. Grocery stores, convenience stores and restaurants are all bundling fresh prepared meal components for the home cook. The home cook is responding buying individualized components.

Foodservice branded and private label food manufactures are all vying for your attention. Ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat foods from Swiss steak, meatloaf, baked salmon, rotisserie chicken, pizza and lasagna fresh prepared, portioned and portable in portions for 1,2, or 5 are not available at most foodservice retail location.

Most exciting is the opportunity for new start-up’s and regional manufactures to produce sustainable business built on local, fresh and unique flavor profiles. Legacy national brand manufactures are experiencing an increased consolidation and acquisition activities. They have taken there eye off the customer and increasing new points of distribution.

Consumer are responding buying meal components in new food channels, experiencing new flavor profiles all the while individualizing the family meal. The foodservice industry is evolving with the consumer. Those companies looking for opportunity for growth times have never been better.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Pueblo’s grocerant prepared food is perfectly positioned and building top line sales.



Clean well stocked stores that are beaming with patrons always are solid platforms for success. Pueblo is no exception. If your eye’s on the grocerant prepared food niche, Pueblo is one company that should be on your must visit list.

Professionally presented with clean, restaurant quality food presentation skill set, Pueblo clearly understands the positive halo affect a solid grocerant prepared ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat food program can have on the entire brand.

Time starved with diverse appetites after years of exposure to multi-cultural flavors profiles today’s consumer want prepared meal components that can be individualized not just family sized. Pueblo’s prepared food program does just that. With detailed attention to service, cleanliness and food quality its clear Pueblo is focused on growing this booming niche within foodservice retail.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit Bing or google  grocerant,http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson,

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Grocerants create happy meal times, by expanding the melting pot!

Grocerants allow customers to select from Italian, French, Russian or Greek and utilize the components at home any way they like. The new American meal can be a composite of any prepared food components that the individual may want and they can mix and pair them any way as well. Our society is a composed for people from all over the world, with different cultures, traditions and flavor preferences. The new American meal is a melting pot of flavor and choice.

Prepared ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat foods are now available for all comers and can be found at Convenience stores, Grocery stores, Restaurants, Mobile trucks all just waiting for the taking.

Consumers have been exposed to a plethora of flavors and have not the time to master the skill of cooking each. This growing trend is empowering the consumer to establish new customs and traditions in eating better, more flavorful food. The Grocerant niche is about convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization.

Success leaves clues: Foodservice Solutions in Tacoma, WA has been gathering them just for you! For a Grocerant program opportunity assessment contact Steve Johnson of Foodservice Solutions or leave a comment.

Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma, WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche. More about us: http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant or leave a comment or question below. If you would like to read the latest interview of Steve Johnson on Grocerants here is the link: an interview of Steven Johnson at: www.goodfoodsales.blogspot.com/2009/12/grocerants-steven-johnson-shares-his.html

Traditional foods build top line growth while repositioning the brand



Consultants at Foodservice Solutions® knew sales would boom if you cut the apple first; then placed it into a different channel sliced and packaged sold as Apple Fries at Burger King and Fresh Better For You Wedges at McDonalds. If you were raised in Washington State you might have known there would be winners and they are the Apple farmer, the healthier consumer (kids) and the QSR niche via TOP LINE SALES & BOTTOM LINE PROFITS for all.

Winston Churchill once stated: “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results”.

With 20,000+ new SKU’s introduced into food retailing each year, many do not fly and fall to the wayside. If a company has a product that does not sell, and is not profitable at minimum a dramatic review is needed. Category managers look at flat categories and brainstorm on how to generate new interest in the product.

Grocerant products are a multi-channel products consisting of traditional foods prepared fresh that are ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat foods that are/can be portable; found in grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants, supermarkets, mobile food units and kiosk.

We are seeing each niche create its own answer for convenient ready-2-eat foods; and when they do the consumer rewards them with purchases and increased frequency. Utilizing traditional food and food product but updating with a new twist the grocerant niche booming around the world.

Success does leave clues, watch this niche grow and provide each niche the lift it’s been looking for. Consumers want ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat food more often than in the past by all age groups and income levels.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Grocerant foodservice customers expect Digital Signage with visceral attractive graphics.

Wal-Mart recently added digital signage to select end caps within their stores. I had a friend remark that after a recent visit to Wal-Mart she was impressed and please to see how viscerally attractive the store was.  Digital Visceral attractiveness is now a contemporary standard in retailing.

British Petroleum is installing Digital Signage at the Pump and in the store at over 1,000 units.   Digital signage is not an operational efficiency it is now a required step in the consumer’s path of contemporary progress. The consumer is not static they are dynamic all retailers must keep pace with the customer.

Supermarkets, Convenience stores and Restaurants all must avoid unwittingly practicing Brand Protectionism and saying no to items that consumer comes to expect.  Visceral attractiveness is now as important as cleanliness and service. The Grocerant sector is leveraging digital informational tools to build a strong consumer base.

I was reminded as well that the NY Hilton hotel has had CNN in its elevator now for over 12 years.  Visceral information is not new nor is it going away. Don’t let your brand unwittingly practice “Brand Protectionism”.”

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Are you Ready-2-Eat, you may want to try Publix’s new hybrid grocerant style store.



With grocerant ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat fresh and prepared food driving top line growth in all sectors of food retailing. Publix has opened a new “hybrid” store filled with grocerant attributes in Naples, Florida.

The grocerant experience starts with a café offering coffees, tea, gelato, gelato smoothies and fresh baked pastries. When you based in Tacoma, WA that café with coffee is a great big welcome.

In addition you can find a large variety of fresh prepared appetizers, entrees and side dishes all developed and prepared by in-house chefs for take-away or on site consumption back in the store’s “Wi-Fi equipped café”. If you like pan-Asian food there is a “Pacific Wok station where you can get Ready-2-Eat fresh prepared Asian food for Take-Away or again on site consumption.

Safeway’s lifestyle stores, Whole Foods, and Kroger;  Publix’s is now focused on the grocerant niche.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven

It’s 4PM and What’s for Dinner? Walgreens



Walgreens continues to expand the depth and direction of the Grocerant niche. The grocerant niche is a result of the blurring of the line between restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, and drug stores all selling fresh prepared, portable convenient meal solutions. Targeted at the time-starved consumer with Ready-2-Eat or Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food components that are “better for you”, portable and portioned for one or two. Walgreens gets it and is positioning for a much larger share of the food retailing dollar.

In a pilot program rolled out in the San Francisco bay area you can now find fresh fruits and vegetables, salads, sushi , sandwiches and Heat-N-Eat meat loaf. In addition Walgreens spokesman Robert Elifinger stated “ Our San Francisco area customers are already buying a lot of food in our stores, and there are requests for more product offerings," he said.

In addition to the items listed above - and Walgreens' more traditional offerings, including candy, potato chips and soda - there'll be meats, wraps, soups "and other on-the-go meal options, as well as convenient alternatives for tonight's meal,"

With this new market test underway, Walgreens is now testing fresh food in New York via Duane-Reade, Chicago and the San Francisco bay area. For all of my regular readers you have heard it hear before but this trend is sweeping the country from coast to coast.

These expanded points of distribution may well challenge many a legacy fresh food retailer including chain restaurants, grocery stores and convenience stores for market share.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven

MoGro is mobile Ready-2-Eat or Heat-N-Eat produce on the Go.



Rick Schniders a past president of Sysco understand food retailing. He understand delivery systems and the trucking business. It’s obvious while at Sysco he witnessed the growth in better for you food sales and the growth of the grocerant niche.

Rick has now developed MoGro a mobile grocery company that sell a “sells a variety of frozen, refrigerated and fresh produce twice a week to the Santo Domingo Pueblo community in New Mexico. In addition to groceries, there are also nutrition workshops and a monthly fitness class.”

Retail foodservice has become about more than just a meal. MoGro is a great example of educating while elevating a company, it products and the community about the benefits of good food, and food that is good for you.

Without doubt retail food service is undergoing a vast transformation. MoGro is another example of a mobile retail food company that are sprouting up across the country. Urban agriculture brings better for you food into under served communities. MoGro is help lead the way.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven

KFC swings back into the Grocerant niche, just where they belong.



Harking back to the days KFC was called Kentucky Fried Chicken. When KFC was garnering new customer daily with Take-Out buckets of Ready-2-Eat chicken. The world fell in love with a time saving alternative to cooking. Could that have been the beginning of the rise of the Grocerant niche?

NRN reports that “KFC took marketing to new heights this week when the Colonel himself (a stunt double, of course) rappelled 38 stories to deliver lunch to a group of window washers working nearly 40 stories up at Chicago’s River Bend building.

The stunt was a promotion to launch the chain’s new $5 Everyday Meals, which offer combinations of chicken, sides, biscuits, and a drink for $5. Wanting to make an impact with the new deal, KFC asked consumers via social media channels which “out-of the-bucket” occupations were most in need of an extreme hand delivered meal. In the end, skyscraper window washers was the leading response”

It’s great to see that KFC is getting back to its roots utilizing Foodservice Solutions® 5 P’s of food marketing: Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability and Price. In our ever evolving foodservice world, the 5 P’s of food marketing are becoming even more important. Welcome back KFC! It looks to us at Foodservice Solutions® your refocusing on the grocerant niche and the customer.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven

Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru to speak at the NRA Show Sunday May 22, 2PM.



Foodservice Solutions® Steven Johnson to speak on a panel in May at the NRA Show on Channel Blurring, his topic is: The rise of the grocerant. The rise of grocerants, c-stores, food trucks and other outlets is giving consumers many new foodservice choices. Moderator Bill Cross, vp restaurant brand licensing, Broad Street Licensing Group, will be joined by Julie Washington, vp & general manager-consumer products, Jamba Juice and retailing expert Steven Johnson, president, Foodservice Solutions® will provide the information you need to win in this quickly changing world.

Steven Johnson has been a restaurant franchisee and concept developer, is globally recognized for his blog “The Grocerant.” An industry expert in alternative channels of food distribution, he is President of Foodservice Solutions® specializing in the “grocerant” niche in both fresh and prepared foods. The “grocerant” concept includes grocery stores offering Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat foods too convenience stores, restaurants and now even the drug store sector. The foundation of Johnson’s work in the channel are the 5 P’s of food marketing: Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability and Price.

Johnson holds a Master of Science in Food Marketing with distinction from Saint Joseph’s University, a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of San Francisco. He is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Business School Honor Society. Johnson has received numerous awards including 3 EMMEY, awarded by 3M for “Outside the box” thinking and team leadership.

Food retailing caught between confluence of the economy and gas prices.



Bonnie Riggs, senior NPD restaurant industry analyst and author of The Changing Consumer Mindset: What it Means to the Restaurant Industry. Riggs is noted for her timeliness and accuracy on restaurant trends and predictions.

Riggs found “Three-fourths (76 percent) of the consumers surveyed for the study fall into the cautious, controlled spender group, which include adults in all demographic groups but skew toward the unemployed, less affluent, and retirees. These consumers are still reducing restaurant visits, trading down, and ordering fewer items. While these consumers anticipate that they will be less restrictive with their restaurant visits when the economy recovers, they do not expect the economy to recover any time soon.

A smaller group of the respondents (24 percent) appear relatively unaffected by the recession. They are optimistic in general and have been less inclined to moderate their restaurant behavior, although this group did trade down in segment visits since 2007. They cross all demographic groups but are more likely to be employed and live in affluent households.

There is considerable disparity between the views of optimists and controlled spenders regarding enticement to visit restaurants more often, Optimists place much more importance on service and a relaxing atmosphere than controlled spenders, who are more concerned with price and value.”

Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat food continues to do well as do those companies focusing on the grocerant niche. It’s clear in order for the entire food retail industry to regain customer and momentum the economy / unemployment rate must drop and gasoline price must do the same.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven

The Pantry is finding success within the Grocerant niche.



The grocerant niche continues to drive top line growth and bottom line profits in every sector of retail foodservice. In June 2010 The Pantry launched a “Fresh Initiative” introducing fresh prepared “better for you” grocerant niche food products to select units. Following positive results they expanded from one market in Raleigh by adding additional stores in Charlotte.

President and Chief Executive officer Terry Marks stated during the Q2 conference call “We continue to be encouraged by the Fresh Initiative with the Charlotte and Raleigh markets leading the way” So much so that The Pantry is expanding the Fresh initiative from 100 units to 400 units by the end of this year. Birmingham, Alabama will be the next market.

When Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh and prepared food is thrown into the mix, consumer frequency and customer loyalty both increase food retailer after food retailer are finding out. Foodservice Solutions® 5 P’s of food marketing: Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability and Price; continue too play a key role in developing successful consumer relevant retail food programs.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Are your customers comfortable?



"Food is not about impressing people. It's about making them feel comfortable."
Ina Garten, 'The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook'

Technomic warns food retailers after viewing the results of its most recent consumer sentiment and behavior survey “sensitive to the risks of downsizing”. Bob Goldin, Executive Vice President of Technomic, believes that the rapid rise in gas prices, now at record highs, has raised consumer sensitivity to price increases in grocery stores and restaurants. Goldin says “Consumers are deeply concerned about the price of gas, which they expect to continue to rise. As a result, they are very likely to reduce their spending on groceries and restaurant meals and increase their reliance on coupons and deals.”

The survey found “50 percent of consumers believe packaged food sizes have gotten smaller and 32 percent believe the same thing has happened with restaurant portions. The two main reasons why consumers think package and/or portion sizes have gotten smaller are the desires of food and restaurant companies to enhance profitability and to keep retail prices the same when costs rise; only 10 percent attribute the downsizing to improving the products' healthfulness.”

Foodservice Solutions® 5 P’s of food marketing: Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability and Price; are extreamly important in maintaining equilibrium in consumer comfort. Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh and prepared food is thrown into the mix, consumer frequency and customer loyalty will both increase. Understanding and maintaining customer focused comfort level should be top of mind for all retailers.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Wendy’s Copy-Cat Marketing disappoints Wall Street again.



Searching for top line sales growth and bottom line profits utilizing legacy Copy-Cat marketing and positioning strategy reminiscent of the late 70’s and mid-80’s simply does not work today in retail foodservice.

Increasing Top line Revenue, Customer Continuity & Bottom line Profits requires much more consumer focus. Rebuilding a consumer retail food brand includes an interactive participatory consumer focus utilizing all aspects of your menu and operational strengths. Wendy’s has done that with a focus on the past. Its time they look at where the consumer is moving and reposition their brand respectively.

Cultivating a brand is more important that managing a brand; and it appears that Wendy’s has forgotten that. . Brands are dynamic not static, they develop and grow with the consumer. Identifying distinctive differentiated programs, positioning and consumable’s by day part that reflect the brand, industry trends, consumer preferences of today requires research not from the past but the present with a focus on the consumer.

Creating or identifying distinctive differentiated food consumable’s as an entity with identity by day part with consumer contemporary relevance should be Wendy’s only goal. The food value proposition equilibrium for the consumer today balances; better for you, flavor, and traditional products all blended into something with a twist. In industry speak, differentiated does not mean different to the consumer it means familiar.

Understanding the unique balance between palate, price, pleasure and the consumer’s drive for qualitative distinctive differentiated new food consumables requires utilization of all Foodservice Solutions® 5 P’s of food marketing: Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability and Price.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven

Foodservice competition intensities within grocery store, C-store, restaurant, and drug store sectors.



Regional food retailers risk being marginalized by new concepts with smaller footprints, lower cost of goods and faster service. Food retailers must understand the new dynamics in the industry and react properly in order too accelerate growth. The focus is on the Grocerant niche.

Here is what we understand; consumer discontinuity in food retailing began in 2005 and continues. New points of distribution are growing, becoming smaller in size.

“The future has already arrived; it’s just not evenly distributed.” A quote made famous by William Gibson sure comes to mind don’t you think. Fresh prepared “better for you” food and food options are driving the grocerant niche and growing rapidly.

Successful convenience store operators the likes of Sheetz and Wawa once two notable regional players are now seeing 38,000 unit 7 Eleven entering the fresh food meal niche and Casey’s General Stores continues to drive sales and frequency.

Many restaurant companies the ilk of Darden and Brinker will need to undergo continue and additional scrutiny in order to find a repositioned niche that will sustain them over time. Legacy grocery stores that are seemingly stuck in the middle will simply fade away. Wal-Mart’s supply chain advantage and industry research advantages will simply prove too much. The added points of fresh prepared food distribution in the retail channel offered by Walgreens and Rite Aid will renew the local neighborhoods and rekindle community to that sector.

William Gibson quote: “The future has already arrived; it’s just not evenly distributed.” How many of you are prepared for 2010. If you have been waiting to see what’s next? If so you might have just missed the bus.



Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Happy Mothers Day



When you’re Ready-2-Eat or Heat-N-Eat your next meal Circle K may be the way.



The grocerant niche is booming and the playing field is expanding. Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh and prepared food had more than caught on. It is now driving growth in all retail sectors. From coast to coast we are witnessing solid success. Walgreens and CVS have begun selling fresh Ready-2-Eat food while expanding their offerings of Heat-N-Eat food.

In Arizona Circle K “recently introduced "Dinner in No Time," a line of pizza and pasta dishes that are half-baked and sold in oven-ready, disposable dishes.

According to a report by the In-Store Marketing Institute, the line retails for $6.99 and is merchandised in the refrigerated food case. In March, stores used door decals, posters, pump toppers and cooler clings to promote the new food offerings.

The "Dinner in No Time" brand also is currently receiving marquee treatment on the home page of the Arizona region's Web site, which links visitors to a dedicated splash page that proclaims, "Here's arguably the greatest convenience store convenience since beer by the case!"

The entrees are the latest addition to Circle K's Take Away Cafe business, which seeks to offer a dining alternative to quick-service restaurants such as McDonald's, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

The Rise of the Grocerant Niche at the NRA Show Sunday May 22, 2PM.



Foodservice Solutions® Steven Johnson to speak on a panel in May at the NRA Show on Channel Blurring, his topic is: The rise of the grocerant. The rise of grocerants, c-stores, food trucks and other outlets is giving consumers many new foodservice choices. Moderator Bill Cross, vp restaurant brand licensing, Broad Street Licensing Group, will be joined by Julie Washington, vp & general manager-consumer products, Jamba Juice and retailing expert Steven Johnson, president, Foodservice Solutions® will provide the information you need to win in this quickly changing world.

Steven Johnson has been a restaurant franchisee and concept developer, is globally recognized for his blog “The Grocerant.” An industry expert in alternative channels of food distribution, he is President of Foodservice Solutions® specializing in the “grocerant” niche in both fresh and prepared foods. The “grocerant” concept includes grocery stores offering Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat foods too convenience stores, restaurants and now even the drug store sector. The foundation of Johnson’s work in the channel are the 5 P’s of food marketing: Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability and Price.

Johnson holds a Master of Science in Food Marketing with distinction from Saint Joseph’s University, a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of San Francisco. He is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Business School Honor Society. Johnson has received numerous awards including 3 EMMEY, awarded by 3M for “Outside the box” thinking and team leadership.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Customization and Personalization continue to drive Starbucks.



Differentiation individualization via customization are driving the ongoing success of both the Grocerant niche and Starbucks. Foodservice Solutions® 5 P’s of food marketing: Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability and Price; continue too play a key role on how food is being sold, packaged and delivered. When Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh and prepared food is thrown into the mix, consumer frequency and customer loyalty both increase.

Starbucks “however you want it Frappuccino is in the process of rolling out globally. “With the worldwide introduction, customers at every participating store around the world will be able to personalize their Frappuccino drink to their lifestyle and taste preferences. Customers can choose the type of milk, intensity of coffee and any combination of syrups or toppings, according to the company.”

Success does leave clues and Starbucks continues to focus on the customer with personalization and customization. That is one of the main reasons they continue to be successful with the grocerant niche.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Foodservice Solutions crafting success in ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat grocerant fresh prepared food niche.



The grocerant niche is a result of the blurring of the line between restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, and drug stores all selling fresh prepared, portable convenient meal solutions. Targeted at the time-starved consumer with ready-2-eat or heat-N-eat fresh prepared food components that are “better for you”, portable and portioned for one or two.

These meal components can be bundled into a meal of the consumer’s choice. Grocerant food refers to any retail food item that is ready-2-eat or heat-N-eat / reheat sold in a Grocery store, Convenience store Restaurant or Drug Stores that is in a To-go or Take Away format. Most retail companies goal is to create a collections of branded private label entrée and side dishes that have niche leading identity.

Traditionally these items can be found in grocery stores in the deli / lifestyle section, C-stores in the prepared food area and prepackaged, ready to eat items and in restaurants under the To-go, takeout or take away or delivery section. If success leaves clues we have garnered that most retailers are having success developing a reputation for their unique flavor profiles, right size packaging, while creating a halo of better for you around their offerings.

Around the world we are now seeing Grocerant sections in department’s stores and kiosk in malls in Europe / Asia and airports around the world. The items can range from entrees to side items and deserts. Some examples of items range from crab puff pastries fried chicken, mash potatoes, cream spinach, to liver and onions, pizza, hot dogs, steak, prime rib, various casseroles (hot-dish) to salads, side salads pie, cake and any single proportioned deserts.

Consumer believe that grocerant prepared ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat foods contribute to making life just a little easier.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Focusing on the Consumer, why are you cooking and for whom?



Food innovation blends experimentation with contemporary relevance. The outcome is a unique point of differentiation that relates directly to the targeted consumer. I believe that differentiation does not mean different it means familiar with a twist.

With all the talk today about posting calories, excessive salt there is one thing that we all must keep top of mind; customers eat FOOD that taste good. For all of the pontification and legislative maneuvers to change the food you are selling to your customers beware! If you want your customers to come back, the food had better taste good. Food success is in the minds eye of the consumer and their palate.

Better for you food means many different things to each segmented group of consumers. Each new menu or product may have one or more new “required constraint” targeted at a specific niche few will be all things for all groups. The one universal attribute or success clue in food innovation is: it better taste good!

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson

Smile or You’re Fried Seven Lessons for Managers of Service by Robert Fitzgerald.



The price, value, service equilibrium is resetting in Grocery stores, Restaurants and Convenience- stores. Each is reconfiguring their ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat Grocerant fresh prepared niche food product lineup. Each sector is looking for new product, packaging and consumer price points that will drive traffic. All have noticed a discontinuity in consumer food shopping behavior and all are fighting for share of stomach. Contributing to this displacement is a focus by restaurant chain leaders on short term market metrics and away from the consumer. Which in turn has caused a loss is consumer traffic.

The consumer then turned to the grocery store Deli and hot food section filled ready-to-eat & ready-to-heat prepared food. The problem is the grocery stores were not readies for it the influx of consumer. Customer service was a bad as it could b and in many cases continues to get worse. They have simply dropped the ball. Food quality is slipping and they do not understand customer service in the prepared ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat grocerant niche! The consumers will not stay long if service is not improved rapidly.

The battle for the consumer dollar continues. I would like to suggest and recommend Robert Fitzgerald’s book: Smile or You’re Fried Seven Lessons for Managers of Service. Seven lessons of that can and should be utilized daily by managers who just might need some practical help.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven Johnson