The number of consumers purchasing grab-and-go food continues to rise. In a 2017 Convenience Store News Consumer Insights Guide report from Technomic, grab-and-go/packaged food is the most popular type of prepared food, preferred by 42.6% of consumers.
One food item consumers request more than anything else is chicken. According to Technomic’s 2017 Center of the Plate: Poultry report, 91% of consumers eat chicken at least once a week and 88% believe chicken is healthier than other proteins.
This represents a huge opportunity for c-stores looking to capitalize on a high-profit foodservice category. Competition among c-stores coast-to-coast, however, is heating up as retailers vie to win over consumers by redefining and expanding convenience. Here’s how to add more on-the-go chicken items to your c-store’s menu as a significant sales contributor.
Handhelds and hot sandwiches
Handheld foods are becoming increasingly popular with consumers as snacks and breakfast fare. Handheld options dominated the top 10 retail-prepared snacks consumers would order at least occasionally if available, according to Technomic’s Retailer Meal Solutions Consumer Trend report. Sixty-two percent of consumers say they want c-stores to offer more hand-held foods that are ready to eat and kept warm on display.
Offering chicken products that are also portable can be a winning combination. Consider Brakebush’s fully cooked boneless, whole muscle fillets that are available breaded or unbreaded in a variety of flavor profiles. Take for example these craveable items:
- The new Flame-Grilled Chicken Burger is all-natural, gluten-free, coarse ground 3.5-oz. with no added water or binders.
- Breaded Boneless Wings in a variety of flavors and coatings, such as Buffalo-Style, Sriracha, Tappers, Tempura and more.
- Fully cooked Fiery Fingers® Breast Strips are made with breast meat and dusted in a fiery, buffalo-style coating.
Grab-and-go convenience
The desire for customization is driving demand of another big operational trend: made to order, according to a recent Convenience Store MarketBrief report from Technomic. And while c-store retailers are strategizing around both, high-quality grab-and-go food is still highly sought after.
Nearly two-thirds of c-store customers want more portable snacks and meals that are kept warm and ready to go. Today, 80% of consumers snack at least once a day and 37% believe any food can be considered a snack if the portion size is small, according to Technomic’s 2018 Snacking Occasion Consumer Trend report.
And they’re very clear about the types of hot foods they prefer. Pizza, sandwiches, chicken tenders/nuggets/wings, French fries, onion rings and hot dogs are the options consumers say they want to see more of in the c-store grab-and-go display. An eye on variety, as well as packaging that maintains food quality and temperature, will go a long way in satisfying these quick-visit consumers.
For c-store operators wanting to add more chicken to their menu, chicken under-the-bun and chicken grab-and-go items are perfect meal and snack choices that will satisfy customer cravings and help increase store profits.
This post is sponsored by Brakebush