Consumers are always on the lookout for a meal that delivers great value. But a meal being a great value these days doesn’t just mean it’s sold at a low price. Factors such as quality, taste/flavor, and convenience all contribute to a product’s value.
When talking about convenience store foodservice, it’s no different. For c-store retailers, ensuring foodservice options deliver a good value can help encourage repeat traffic and more frequent visits. In order to deliver that good value, though, it’s important to gain a full understanding of what consumers want and curate a selection of food products that give them just that.
How are consumers defining value?
According to Technomic’s recent Value & Pricing Consumer Trend Report, 41% of consumers say they have less money to spend at foodservice operations due to inflation. And when choosing where to dine, a full three-quarters of consumers say value is an important or extremely important factor.
At restaurants, portion size is a big contributor to what constitutes whether something is a good value—and that’s likely similar at c-stores. Consumers don’t want to pay higher prices for smaller portions—they want right-sized and right-priced options. Aside from prices, though, other attributes that create value include taste/flavor, quality, freshness, and variety.
For retailers, highlighting those attributes will be key to attract customers and keep them coming back. Customers also reported that of the different meal components—entrées, sides, beverages, and desserts—they expect the entrée to provide the most value. When building a foodservice offering, it’s crucial to take that into account. In other words, entrées that can deliver bigger portions while still being well-priced are likely to be popular, whereas sides, beverages, and desserts may be afforded more flexibility.
Curating a high-value foodservice offering
As value becomes increasingly important and competition among fast-casual dining locations and c-stores ramps up, retailers will need to be conscious of offering great prices, convenience, and deliciousness when choosing products and product lines to offer. Ajinomoto is proud to offer an array of brands with a variety of products to suit a range of cravings. From craveable appetizers and sides to hearty entrées, Ajinomoto Foodservice has the foods and flavors shoppers crave.
For those individuals looking for a quick snack or handheld bite, cheese curds, mozzarella sticks from Fred’s or mini tacos from the Posada brand are sure to hit the spot. And for customers seeking a more substantial meal, retailers can offer chicken, cheese and hatch chile burritos from Posada, as well as chicken potstickers with vegetable fried rice from the Golden Tiger line—and many more options.
By stocking a variety of products, portion sizes, and flavors—including bold, globally inspired options as well as familiar and comforting flavors—c-stores can ensure their customers find just what they’re looking for when hunger strikes without sacrificing great taste or prices.
To learn more about Ajinomoto’s catalog of craveworthy c-store foodservice options, visit https://ajinomotofoodservice.com/.
This post is sponsored by Ajinomoto