Today’s consumers aren’t beholden to traditional mealtimes—hunger and cravings strike at any time, and convenience stores are a common destination when satisfying those cravings. Whether they’re looking for a full meal or a snack, consumers seek retailers and foodservice locations that have a variety of foods so that they know they’ll be able to find something they like—no matter what time of day it is.
All-day snacking and nontraditional mealtimes have become the norm. According to Technomic’s recent Breakfast Consumer Trend Report, 47% of consumers say they enjoy eating breakfast foods at nontraditional times, and 26% say they enjoy eating foods that are often associated with lunch or dinner for breakfast instead of traditional breakfast foods. In other words, all types of foods are sought by different consumers throughout the day—some want breakfast foods in the afternoon, while others prefer standard “lunch or dinner foods” for breakfast. For c-stores, that means it’s crucial to stock an array of foods during all dayparts as well as in between meals, so that no matter when someone wants something to eat, they’ll be able to find something that piques their interest.
Beyond a blurring of dayparts, consumers are increasingly looking for exciting flavors and foods when they stop to get something to eat. Technomic’s 2023 Flavor Consumer Trend Report found that 43% of consumers are more likely to try new and unique flavors than they were three years ago. And while 62% of consumers say they like trying new flavors of food from time to time, 23% say they prefer sticking to their favorite flavors and rarely try new ones. For retailers, this signals a need to stock both unique and traditional options for all dayparts.
Of course, convenience remains key for consumers stopping for a quick bite. Tornados® from Ruiz Foodservice meet every demand for a quick bite. They’re convenient and handheld, so they’re perfect for taking on-the-go, and they’re available in a wide variety of flavors—perfect for any type of craving throughout the day.
For breakfast food lovers, there are four choices, including Egg, Bacon, Cheese and Salsa; Egg, Sausage and Cheese; Supreme Omelet; and French Toast and Sausage. While they’re of course perfect for morning hours, they offer broad appeal for shoppers who stop later in the day and want something breakfast-y.
For lunch, dinner and snack time, there are 11 choices, ranging from Ultimate Beef Nachos Tornados® to Bacon & Cheddar Loaded Potato Skins Tornados®, Cheese & Pepperoni Tornados®, Southwestern Style Chicken Tornados® and many more.
As consumers continue to adhere to anytime-eating, capturing all-day traffic should be part of the planning of c-store foodservice lineups. Ensuring there’s a craveable, portable, delicious food item on hand for any flavor a consumer may want at any given time is a great way to do so, and for retailers wanting a one-stop shop for that variety, Ruiz Foodservice has everything needed. To learn more about Tornados® for every craving occasion, click here.
This post is sponsored by Ruiz Foodservice