Fresh, Quality Food Wins at Cstores

Fresh, Quality Food Wins at C-Stores
Technomic's Convenience Store Market Intelligence Report focuses on how convenience
stores fit into the overall foodservice picture. Convenience-store foodservice is a $10.9
billion industry and a key area of opportunity for convenience stores across the country.
Fifty-seven percent of consumers say they have purchased prepared foods from
convenience stores. Roughly a third of consumers who visit convenience stores for
fresh-food items purchase them at least once a week from convenience stores.
"Prepared food is a growth opportunity for convenience stores willing to raise the bar on
quality and key attributes sought by today's consumers," says Technomic Senior Director
Donna Hood Crecca. “Consumers say they would visit convenience stores more often for
prepared foods if those foodservice areas were improved upon. Customizing their
offerings and a more appealing décor and atmosphere could enhance the experience."
To help operators and manufacturers stay on top of current trends and evolving
consumer needs, Technomic has developed the Convenience Store Market Intelligence
Report. Other consumer insights found in the report include:
Three-fourths of consumers (76 percent) who purchase prepared foods from
convenience stores report that these locations provide a convenient option.
Two-fifths of consumers say they would visit convenience stores for prepared
foods more often if freshness and quality were improved.
Convenience stores top other types of retail locations for breakfast patronage, and
convenience stores are the only segment to see a significant increase in breakfast
patronage over the past few years. This is likely driven by coffee purchases.
Entrées account for more than half of c-store menu items, with their share of the
menu expanding significantly to 51 percent in the second quarter of 2013 from 47
percent a year earlier. Sandwich remains the top breakfast entrée.
Source: “Fresh, Quality Food Wins at C-Stores.” UniPro Foodservice NetNews. May 5, 2014.
CRAVE is Upper Lakes Foods’ exclusive convenience store solution program. C-store customers want taste, freshness,
quality, and above all, convenience. Our 100% customizable three step system has a solution for every operation.
We’ve done the research, we’ve studied the trends, we want to help your operation become a cut above the rest.