Food consumers accepting smaller footprints and legacy operators respond.



When 4 PM rolls around most Americans start wondering, What am I going to have for dinner? It is as easy today particularly in urban setting to pick up your dinner or a component of dinner at an independent food truck or one operated by a national restaurant chain the ilk of California Pizza Kitchen or Burger King.

However from Fayetteville, Arkansas to Oakland, California global retail foodservice operators are rolling out retail outlets much smaller than existing units in an attempt to become closer to the consumer.

Fresh & Easy has been shopping for new space in Northern California and it is reported that “The new and smaller formats would likely be about 5,000 square feet. Fresh & Easy's traditional markets range in size from 10,000 to 15,000 square feet.” There clear goal is to integrate into more neighborhoods with grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat food.

Last week Walmart opened a 3,500 square foot store in Fayetteville albeit a college campus store the opportunity to test while cultivating the grab-N-go grocerant niche market. Positions the worlds largest retailer to compete in the grocerant niche for years to come. If success leaves clues these on-going developments just may be key to your future success.

Outside eyes can deliver top line sales and bottom line profits. Invite Foodservice Solutions® to provide brand and product positioning assistance or a grocerant program assessment. Since 1991 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 or twitter.com/grocerant

Competitive non-traditional pressure may squeeze the QSR niche.



Is the golden ear of chain restaurants over or are convenience stores simply evolving into QSR’s? Growth within the grocerant sector of ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat prepared food sector continues to expand. Drug stores chains Walgreens, Rite Aide, Dollar Stores, Amazon, Sears and Target are now selling fresh prepared food.

The NPD Groups .Bonnie Riggs, told Convenience Store News. "The vast majority of c-stores' business is takeout, which accounts for 95 percent of all visits, with the greatest percent of the business occurring at the morning meal and snacks, but lunch meal business is growing strongly," she said.

The C-store sector’s overall lunch business was up 4 % conveniences stores that are selling fresh prepared food they are up even more. The c-store industry's largest niche is snack business, which has remained stable. "In this downturn, 'flat' is the new up," she said.

The big news is that, the number of quick-service restaurants declined 1 percent, or 2,521 units, from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010, according to NPD's Spring 2010 ReCount, a census of U.S. commercial restaurant locations.

Even worse, visits to U.S. restaurants declined 3 percent for the year ended May 2010. Plus, consumer spending at restaurants declined “1 percent, the first decline in dollars NPD reported since it began tracking the foodservice industry nearly 35 years ago.” Success does leave clues and repositioning while focusing the evolving consumer is clue number one.

Outside eyes can deliver top line sales and bottom line profits. Invite Foodservice Solutions® to provide brand and product positioning assistance or a grocerant program assessment. Since 1991 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 or twitter.com/grocerant

Heat-N-Eat and Ready-2-Eat niche is the driver of retail foodservice today.



Ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat fresh prepared food that can be portable is now being sold at traditional restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, C-stores and dollar stores. Blend in new avenues food of distribution, with traditional products packaged with a “twist” and witness sales success.

Baby boomers continue to drive sales of new grocerant food products, demographic shifts particularly empty nesters living longer and living is smaller family units than ever before will continue to drive this change for years to come.

Richard Cope was quoted saying “as people are working longer into retirement, there is a greater need for products geared towards vitality and health in a more senior workforce. “At the moment energy drinks, foods and snacks are marketed towards the youth market,” he said, “but they will become more about getting people through the day at an older age.”

We are entering a new era in food retailing; it is bringing new products and new avenues of distribution. Men are increasingly shopping for the family looking at products for the first time or for new products that either caters to traditional male preferences or new family focused products. Cope wonders “While retailers may presume they are pitching to women shopping for families, Cope questions whether there is a need for more masculine takes on health and value. Times are evolving and the grocerant niche is leading the pack in foodservice.

Outside eyes can deliver top line sales and bottom line profits. Invite Foodservice Solutions® to provide brand and product positioning assistance or a grocerant program assessment. Since 1991 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 or twitter.com/grocerant

Restaurants can pick up clues from documented success.



Milford Prewitt published an article this past June in titled: Dishing Out Brand Awareness. In that article where is listed many chains success in non-traditional points of distribution. Here are some of the examples his listed:

"White Castle hamburgers, Nathan's Famous hot dogs and T.G.I. Friday's potpourri of drink mixes, recipe books and bar decorations have a long history of an array of licensed product on store shelves and a host of other restaurant chains have followed suit, including:

• Potato chips, condiments and an assortment of microwavable French fry cuts bearing Burger King's logo can be found in club stores and supermarkets around the country.

• With more than 500 units, the Mrs. Fields cookie chain has teamed up with Klondike bar for a dual-branded ice cream sandwich, now in its seventh year of licensing in supermarkets and club stores.

• Dallas-based Brinker International's Italian dinner house concept, Macaroni Grill, has assigned a third-party manufacturer to license a line of frozen Italian dishes, featuring the chain's signature lasagna.

• In addition to the non-traditional lip balms and toys IHOP is developing, the family dining chain is also reportedly seeking a partner for a line of ice cream or frozen novelties that may go under the Rooty Tooty Fresh N' Fruity brand.

• Lauded for its quirky taglines to encourage poultry consumption—the most renowned of which is "Eat mor chikin"—the 1,800-unit, Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A sandwich chain has stuffed teddy cows, T-shirts, aprons and trucker caps with that slogan and other funny tags for sale at specialty and club stores.

• Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, the Tampa, Fla.-based operators of the 800-unit Checkers and Rally's drive-through burger brands, has contracted with IMC Licensing of Louisville, Ky., to license its signature burgers and fries to the grocery store channel.

• Jamba Juice, celebrating its 20th anniversary, named Julie Washington vice president of consumer products, licensing and growth initiatives. With more than 730 units, Jamba Juice already has a licensing program with such partners as Think Wow Toys (toy blender), Oregon Ice Cream (frozen novelty products), Headline Entertainment (apparel) and The Inventure Group (frozen smoothie kits).'

Additional new avenues of distribution are developing for Restaurant fresh and prepared food products. Have you identified all your options? Are you taking leveraging your brand? Here is a link to his article:

http://www.licensemag.com/licensemag/Food/Dishing-Out-Brand-Awareness/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/672996

Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. For product or brand positioning assistance contact Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant or on Facebook at Steven Johnson, GOOGLE: Steven Johnson Grocerants or twitter.com/grocerant

Winn-Dixie from chapter 11 too the grocerant chapter.



If success were ever to leave clues Peter Lynch Winn-Dixie CEO utilizing a cross-functional team sure picked up all the right clues. Under Lynch’s sound leadership Winn-Dixie will be buoyed by positive consumer response to the newly remodeled and re-positioned units.

Entering the grocerant niche filled with fresh and prepared Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat foods with both feet took intense research, a consumer focus and a heap of wisdom by Lynch. With a regional decentralized focus, local and sustainable products Winn-Dixie is off to a great start.

Transformational times call for a transformational leader Lynch is all of that. His team’s ability to vertically integrate grocerant niche filled fresh and prepared Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat foods into the weekly and daily strategic marketing plan is complementary too contemporary consumer preference. In a recent visit to Winn-Dixie I witnessed isles filled and smiles on both customers and employees. Success does leave clues, and the grocerant niche is a big driver of success.

Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. For product or brand positioning assistance contact Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant or on Facebook at Steven Johnson, GOOGLE: Steven Johnson Grocerants or twitter.com/grocerant

Morning menu magic, Quick-Chek fresh food with quality built in.



Hand held food for immediate consumption has been the main stay for QSR’s throughout the world. The convenience store sector has been turning up the heat with grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh and prepared food for several years and continues to lead all foodservice sectors with year or year same store sales increases.

There is not a company out there doing as good of job with new product introductions or LTO’s as Quick-Chek. Beginning Monday January 31st, Quick-Chek will offer “two breakfast subs at all its 125 locations throughout New Jersey and southern New York. The Breakfast Club contains scrambled eggs, ham, bacon, cheddar cheese and tomato with roasted tomato and garlic spread on a sub roll. The Cowboy "Steak & Eggs" contains scrambled eggs, shredded beef, provolone cheese and Bourbon BBQ sauce on a sub roll.

In addition, Quick-Chek will now feature built fresh-to-order Breakfast Burritos in a 10-inch tortilla. Recipes include Home Style Skillet with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash brown potatoes and shredded cheddar cheese; and Egg & Cheese with scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese.”



That is morning menu magic. The convenience store sector has utilized grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh and prepared particularly quality hand held food for immediate consumption to re-image itself with the consumers.

Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. For product or brand positioning assistance contact Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant or on Facebook at Steven Johnson, GOOGLE: Steven Johnson Grocerants or twitter.com/grocerant

Chain Restaurant success during times of turbulent economic disruption is not uncommon.



Counter intuitive as it may appear at first glance a smart marketing focused CEO is better than an MBA CEO during times of consumer or economic disruption. Julia A. Stewart Chairman and CEO of DineEquity, Inc. Operator of the worlds largest full-service restaurant company (Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP restaurant brands) is as good as it gets.

Julia understands that the consumer is not static, they are dynamic. Her ability to drive top line sales and bottom line profits during times of turbulent economic disruption by vertically integrating LTO’s, brand relevant messaging is proven. She understands Foodservice Solutions® 5 P’s of food marketing: Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability and Price. Dine Equity to out perform all other full service restaurant companies in recent years.

Domino’s stellar results during the same turbulent economic disruption again place the focus on vertically integrating marketing, product and messaging. While the industry faces increased competition from non-traditional food retailers. It’s time for legacy restaurant chain operators to quite spinning poor results, blaming the economy or blaming other competitive pressures. By following the MBA CEO credo of “First Do No Harm” second spin the results; short term results may be fine. However, since 2005 the percent of household income spent at restaurants has been on decline. It’s time for innovation.

Innovation, new products, new concept positions have provided the platform of chain restaurant success over the past 35 years. The grocerant niche filled with Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food niche is the single booming sector within food retailing. It’s time for legacy restaurant chains to standup and standout with consumer focused contemporized vertically integrated marketing programs.

There are a plethora of legacy companies from fern-bars, burger casual chains, seafood sectors all waiting too see what’s next. Hedge Fund investors allow your marketing teams a chance at the helm once again. If not you just might be back at the table with fewer units, lower sales and a weaker brand.

Let me give you one of Julia’s success clues: Short term hot button tactics rarely work even short term. Quit waiting, focus on the customer, customer touch points and leverage vertically integrated strategy with marketing. I for one want the restaurant sector to lead food retail once again.

Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. For product or brand positioning assistance contact Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant or on Facebook at Steven Johnson, GOOGLE: Steven Johnson Grocerants or twitter.com/grocerant