With health concerns still top of mind for many consumers, food safety is as big a priority as ever—and, according to Technomic’s Q2 2021 C-Store Consumer Marketbrief, concerns that food doesn’t look or taste fresh are among shoppers’ top deterrents to purchasing lunch at the c-store
Convenience-store retailers are continuing to raise the bar on offering top-quality foods at a competitive price, but for many, current market challenges, such as labor struggles and shifts in consumer behavior, present an obstacle. Fortunately, forefront tech solutions can help take the guesswork—and the hassle—out of maintaining food safety and freshness.
Streamlining labor-intensive tasks
For foodservice operators of all stripes, consumer perceptions of cleanliness and safety are inseparable from the business’ overall reputation. In addition to degrading shoppers’ trust, a food safety faux pas can undercut consumers’ perception of value overall. For example, while most consumers believe that c-stores are equally as capable of offering quality lunch items as restaurants are, 23% cite poor food quality as a deterrent to purchasing, according to Technomic’s Q2 2021 C-StoreMarketbrief.
Careful, consistent monitoring is key to getting food safety right. Amid labor challenges, however, many c-stores are operating on skeleton staffs, with employees shouldering multiple responsibilities at once. When employees’ time and attention is stretched thin—especially during high-traffic hours at the store—food freshness and safety can more easily become an afterthought. For this reason, automated technologies can help pick up the slack, making food safety a constant amid other variables.
Strategies for success during market recovery
In the face of such irregularity, retailers can benefit by seeking solutions to identify and prevent spoilage of surplus food. Solutions from TransAct Technologies, for example, offer a way to closely monitor food safety without sacrificing labor efficiency.
TransAct is a global leader in developing software-driven technology and printing solutions for high-growth markets. For foodservice industry needs, TransAct’s BOHA! Temp system records and monitors food and equipment temperatures and alerts employees when something is out of range—so that food safety never wavers. In addition, TransAct’s comprehensive BOHA! Labeling system paired with BOHA! WorkStation improves efficiency by yet another degree, ensuring labels on grab-and-go items are up to date and FDA compliant.
By automating food safety monitoring and labeling, retailers can bring quality and efficiency to their foodservice programs overall. To learn more about solutions from TransAct Technologies, click here.
This post is sponsored by TransAct Technologies