While many consumers have resumed some of their normal routines from before the pandemic — such as commuting to work and sending their kids to school—they may bring different demands to the table. When purchasing convenience-store foods for breakfast, they want to get in and out of the store as quickly as possible while still having a selection of high-quality items to choose from. And as they juggle busy schedules, all-day breakfast offerings can be a draw for consumers who need a quick, delicious meal any time of day.
According to Technomic’s 2019 Breakfast Consumer Trend Report, two in five consumers strongly agree that they enjoy eating breakfast foods at nontraditional times, and 31% say they now purchase breakfast outside of morning hours more often. In addition, 60% of consumers say they skip their morning meal at least once each work week, so it’s likely they’ll want to satisfy their breakfast cravings at an unconventional hour.
In short, all-day breakfast is a great way to lock in sales from consumers running on any schedule—and offering breakfast options that suit their particular preferences can keep them coming back. Here are three top trends in breakfast foods that can help drive sales.
Better-for-you favorites
Health has always been top of mind for many consumers, and it’s remained a high priority during the pandemic. For c-stores, this could mean menuing high-protein options and offerings made with real ingredients—and marketing them as such.
E.A. Sween’s four new breakfast sandwiches offer elevated flavors and premium packaging to communicate quality at a glance. This includes the Egg, Turkey Sausage & Cheese on a Focaccia Roll option, which packs a protein punch while boasting the benefit of leaner turkey sausage for health-conscious consumers.
Vegetarian options
Whether their consumers are adhering to a plant-based diet, looking to cut down on their meat consumption or just looking for a lighter option, every c-store should have a great vegetarian breakfast option in their repertoire.
E.A. Sween’s Egg, Cheese & Green Chile Salsa on a Ciabatta Roll sandwich is an excellent option. Not only is it meat-free, but it also offers bold, Mexican-inspired flavor that consumers will love: According to Technomic’s Q1 2020 C-Store Consumer Marketbrief, 51% of consumers say they’d likely purchase a Mexican-style breakfast sandwiches from a c-store if offered.
Premium products
When it comes to breakfast sandwiches, it isn’t just what’s on the inside that counts. Technomic’s Q1 2020 C-Store Consumer Marketbrief found that croissant sandwiches are consumers’ No. 1 most-preferred breakfast sandwich, followed by biscuit sandwiches. In other words, c-store breakfast sandwich sales are largely driven by quality breads.
Still, while consumers crave quality, they also value speed and convenience. In fact, the longest time those preferring made-to-order breakfast are willing to wait for hot breakfast items to be prepared and served is 10 minutes. Fortunately, E.A. Sween’s breakfast Market Sandwiches provide the appeal of a high-quality sandwich in an individual microwave- and warmer-safe package. E.A. Sween’s Omelet with Ham & Cheese on a Croissant and Sausage & Jalapeno Bacon with Egg & Cheese on a Biscuit sandwiches are perfect for satisfying consumers’ cravings for a buttery, bakery-fresh sandwich without the fuss.
No matter when consumers order their breakfast food or what they crave, E.A. Sween offers a solution that’s sure to satisfy. To learn more about how E.A. Sween’s new breakfast Market Sandwiches can drive breakfast-food sales all day long, visit www.marketsandwich.com.
This post is sponsored by E.A. Sween