Many convenience stores are evolving their foodservice programs to meet today’s changing environment—from rethinking the soda fountain to adding curbside pickup. Customers are looking for convenient, tasty and satisfying food as they continue to work from home or resume their commutes. In both scenarios, c-stores are ideally positioned to help customers fuel up in a hurry.
A flavorful food program offers the opportunity to drive revenue—especially when it offers something special. Portable, portion-controlled condiments can be a valuable addition. Here are three ways single-serve condiments help bring flavor (and fans) to your food program.
1. They meet grab-and-go lifestyles.
More than half of adults surveyed by the National Restaurant Association said purchasing takeout or delivery is “essential to their way of life.” C-stores can play a vital role in satisfying the hunger of these convenience-seeking consumers. The demand for food that’s packaged and ready to eat is only increasing, and so are the revenue opportunities. As customer preferences shift away from condiment stations and other shared formats, single-serve condiments help make grab-and-go items more convenient and appealing.
2. They allow customization.
Even if you’ve streamlined your foodservice menu and offer only a limited number of items, your customers will want to make each item their own. Condiments make that possible. A dash of hot sauce on a breakfast sandwich or an afternoon taquito can make all the difference in creating a flavorful and memorable dining experience that customers will crave and come back for.
Not only does such customization boost the perceived value of the food program, but it also meets today’s expectations: 41% of consumers think increased personalization is always a good thing—a number that reaches 60% among Gen Z and young millennial consumers.1
3. They help you cater to different heat and flavor preferences.
Different demographics prefer different heat levels: Baby boomers prefer milder heat, while Gen Z and millennials say the spicier, the better!2 Offering a variety of condiments, including hot sauces, in on-the-go formats allows you to please any number of palates. TABASCO® brand Green Jalapeño Sauce, for example, offers mild heat with fresh jalapeño flavor, while TABASCO®brand Chipotle Pepper Sauce delivers a bolder and spicier flavor experience.
Consumers are asking for prepackaged condiments to be kept either front of house or behind the counter, spurred by both grab-and-go lifestyles and ongoing health and safety concerns, according to Datassential. And they love the TABASCO® Brand: 86% say TABASCO® Sauce makes any dish taste better, and 75% say that TABASCO® Mini Bottles make dining more fun. Packets and Minis offer delight, as well as utility.
Convenience store foodservice operators can gain share of stomach as consumers’ dining behaviors continue to evolve. Made with three simple ingredients, TABASCO®brand Original Red Sauce is still the gold standard when it comes to authenticity, flavor and brand recognition. All other sauces in the TABASCO® Family of Flavors® lineup are made with the same quality and integrity. Offer customization options customers crave in a grab-and-go world; explore our convenience solutions at TABASCOfoodservice.com.
[1] Datassential, Personalization and Food Report, June 2018
[2] Datassential, Condiments, Sauces, & Dressings Keynote Report, December 2018 This post is sponsored by TABASCO® Brand