I don’t believe the menu-labeling regulations case is fully closed; lobbyists and legislators will continue to fight to make concessions for convenience retailers. But I also think it’s time to stop focusing on D.C. and instead consider what this could really mean for you and your guests.
Researchers have been tracking consumer behavior on this topic since calorie-count mandates hit New York, Philadelphia and other big cities a few years ago. At most, they’ve seen small declines in calorie consumption, and primarily among more educated consumers. That’s it. It seems to me the law is just as much about making foodservice operators conscious of the nutritional content of their foods as it is their customers.
So what good could come out of this possibly inconsequential, definitely expensive law? We all know the arguments against the inclusion of c-store chains with 20 stores or more, but a consumer isn’t going to understand—nor care—if it’s unfair. What they will see are c-stores acting, marketing, menuing and being treated like restaurants. How might that change their foodservice decisions—even subconsciously—to include you more often?
Many c-stores are already on their way to meeting the December deadline. Let’s look to them for how to get this done; to suppliers for help gathering the data; and even to our CPG partners, who have decades of experience with how consumers react to having nutritional info.
Am I just seeking a silver lining? Sure, and I encourage you to join me.
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