As they navigate the challenges of business closures and stay-at-home orders, consumers are going back to basics for their food and beverage purchases. In this new and unfamiliar world, coffee continues to be a popular mainstay even while coffee shops and cafés temporarily shut their doors. Though convenience store (c-store) retailers face countless unknowns, offering high-quality, competitively priced coffee is a smart decision to meet consumer demand. And to the uncertain consumer, coffee is familiar comfort.
But gone are the days when c-store coffee is unforgettably commonplace; today’s c-store caffeinated offerings can satisfy even the most critical coffee aficionados. The premium brews and ultra-customized selections that were once a coffee shop exclusive are becoming standard for the c-store coffee experience.
The trend positioned c-stores as formidable competitors on the coffee front well before the global pandemic and it will continue to bolster c-store profitability in the years to come. According to Technomic’s Q1 2020 C-Store Consumer MarketBrief, a majority of c-store customers purchase self-serve hot coffee at least once per week, making it one of the most frequently bought items. The report also revealed 48% of consumers say beverages like coffee are more important than food when deciding on the c-store to visit for breakfast.
Despite the current statistics proving coffee’s c-store retail viability, operators unable to predict day-to-day store volume right now may hesitate to keep a full carafe of hot coffee ready throughout the day. For this reason, c-stores should explore on-demand automated coffee systems, which eliminate guesswork, enabling operators to perfectly match daily demand. A bean-to-cup system, such as the Coffee Art C from Schaerer, grinds and brews a premium cup of coffee before consumers’ eyes, with guaranteed freshness and quality.
Plus, when operators are looking to optimize staff time, bean-to-cup technology offers a low-labor and low-touch cost model. An on-demand system like the Coffee Art C trims labor costs while improving coffee quality and expanding the variety of offerings. With today’s heightened public health concerns, it’s critical to implement frequent and rigorous cleanings of consumer-facing amenities, so labor efficiency and low-touch handling are a must.
According to Schaerer, using the Coffee Art C, employees only need to spend an average of two minutes per day on a machine, a significantly lower labor requirement than most drip coffee systems. The machine also quickly brews hot or cold coffee on demand, allowing consumers to dispense cold coffee onto ice with minimal ice melt. Using the machine’s two to three see-through hoppers, retailers can display a selection of roasts and offer one-touch customization.
In response to current events, many consumers are cutting back on unnecessary spending and will likely continue to moderate their budgets for months or years to come. One by-product of this will be re-thinking the daily coffee splurge at a premium coffee shop. A bean-to-cup brew from the c-store offers a fantastic alternative; it’s a convenient, high-quality cup at a friendlier price. C-store retailers can leverage consumers’ ongoing coffee needs with revised personal spending philosophies to convert and retain new daily customers.
The appeal of a really good cup of coffee isn’t going away. For retailers looking to meet this growing demand while minimizing labor and variable costs, the Schaerer Coffee Art C is a seamless addition to any c-store operation.
To learn how Schaerer’s Coffee Art C can help c-stores rebound in this uncertain market, visit schaerer.cspdailynews.com.
This post is sponsored by Schaerer