FMI Focuses On Foodservice With Its Newest ‘Power Of’ Report
“A nice seating area” is desired by Millennials and urban shoppers, according to the report. Fireside Market & Eatery in Winter Park, Colorado, an independent grocery store that opened in December, fills the bill (Read more about the store in the February edition of The Shelby Report of the West.)
The Food Marketing Institute’s newest “Power of” report takes an in-depth look at one of the hottest areas of the food retail store: foodservice.
The new “Power of Foodservice 2018,” prepared by 210 Analytics LLC and sponsored by Hussmann Corp. and The Shelby Report, offers insights that can be tailored to retailers of any size in any market.
Rick Stein, VP of fresh foods for FMI, said, “Our analysis emphasizes how the digitally engaged consumer is rewriting the menu for grocery foodservice, with 63 percent of shoppers using technology at least some of the time to help them decide where and what to eat for dinner. ‘The Power of Foodservice at Retail’ suggests restaurants are twice as likely to win the share of business when shoppers lack time or are not in the mood to cook, so there’s a real opportunity for food retailers to awaken the 68 percent of shoppers who say the grocery deli is simply not on their radar and to inspire the 32 percent who said their store doesn’t necessarily meet their culinary expectations.”
The introduction to the report says, “In today’s competitive environment, food retailers are looking for points of differentiation and areas of growth. With above-average annual dollar growth of 3.6 percent or greater, foodservice is being considered as a potential expansion area for additional space, SKU and labor allocation. To capitalize on the growth potential, this study aims to provide a deeper understanding of meal planning and execution, and foodservice buying habits, purchase motivations and preferences.”
Two common dinner mindsets were the focus of the study.
- When shoppers are in a rush to get dinner on the table, 52 percent prepare a meal that takes little time or effort, 33 percent buy from a restaurant and just 14 percent purchase foodservice items.
- When not in the mood to cook, 69 percent buy from a restaurant and 31 percent from retail foodservice.
Following is an overview of the top 10 findings from the report. In upcoming issues, The Shelby Report will take a more in-depth look at the top 10 to help retailers up their foodservice game.
1. Focus on conversion. While visiting the store multiple times per week, shoppers buy grocery deli prepared items only every three weeks. Combining scratch cooking with convenience items is the most popular dinner preparation technique at 55 percent—driving significant sales gains for value-added meat/produce and foodservice. A sole reliance on semi- or fully prepared items is less common, at 8 percent. Cross-promote foodservice items with center store to draw shoppers with time-saving solutions.
2. Strive to be top of mind. When in a rush or not in the mood to cook, shoppers are twice as likely to buy from restaurants. When shoppers lack for time, 52 percent prepare a quick meal; 33 percent buy from a restaurant; and 14 percent purchase grocery deli prepared. When shoppers are not in the mood to cook, 69 percent opt for restaurant food vs. 31 percent buying grocery deli prepared. Why are restaurants twice as likely to get the business in either scenario? Sixty-eight percent of shoppers say the grocery deli is simply not on their radar even though it is a perfectly good alternative, and 32 percent say their store’s foodservice offering doesn’t meet expectations.
3. Leverage technology to improve visibility and awareness of foodservice as a viable restaurant alternative.Nearly two-thirds of shoppers regularly use smartphones, tablets, computers or other technology to help them decide where and what to eat for dinner. Most stick to just researching dinner options, with online ordering and payment functionality being more important to technology-advanced users. Make sure shoppers find the grocery deli along with restaurant options.
4. Maximize your share of market. Half of shoppers purchase grocery deli prepared at outlets beyond their primary store. Supermarkets have the highest household penetration and purchase frequency for foodservice items. However, 50 percent of shoppers purchase grocery deli prepared beyond their primary store, and 50 percent say it is typically a substitute for home-cooked items. While potentially a higher ring and margin, being a known prepared food destination that can compete with restaurants for meal occasions will help lock in more of the dinner dollar vs. cannibalizing sales from other grocery departments.
5. Connect with shoppers. Email and text are the shopper-preferred methods of outreach to learn about deli promotions. Shoppers who more heavily rely on foodservice solutions are much more likely to opt in for email, social media or text outreach regarding deli promotions—opening the door for customized and loyalty-focused outreach.
6. Provide options for speed-focused shoppers: Fifty-two percent put speed as the first or second highest decision factor for a quick dinner out. These shoppers have a high interest in grab-and-go and heat-and-eat options, the ability to order ahead and a deli-dedicated checkout lane. A focus on speed often means lower emphasis on customization and a secondary role for nutrition.
7. Provide options for nutrition-focused shoppers who de-emphasize price and speed but value customization.Nutrition-focused shoppers are valuable, yielding above-average trips and spending. Top foodservice features include ingredient, quality and freshness information, transparency and healthier alternatives. Eight in 10 Americans have noticed menu calorie labeling and 30 percent say it influences their selections — signaling better-for-you alternatives may help cement future purchases.
8. Enhance in-store amenities to capture the heart of Millennials; elevate customer service to differentiate from restaurants. While less important than price, speed and nutrition, ambiance matters much more to Millennials and urban shoppers. Beyond the base need of cleanliness, important elements are customization, employee expertise and a nice seating area. The majority of shoppers see little difference in the knowledge displayed by grocery deli employees vs. quick-serve restaurant workers.
9. Targeted investment in expanded variety matched to the core consumer can win over consumers at mealtime. Shoppers with access to variety highly value it, underscoring the reality that foodservice can become a strong point of differentiation. Shoppers see variety as meats beyond chicken, seasonal items, rotation and chef-inspired meals of the day rather than cuisine variety alone. Four in 10 shoppers like having steady cuisine featured days (“Friday pizza day”), with rising interest along with greater usage. Customization is important to half of shoppers, and particularly frequent grocery deli buyers.
10. Consider meal kits along with made-to-order, self-serve buffets and grab-and-go to provide more time-saving solutions. Shoppers are interested in their primary store offering extensive foodservice solutions for immediate or later consumption, with elevated interest among frequent users. Meal kit awareness is high, but only 22 percent actually buy them. In contrast, more than half of shoppers are interested in meal kits from the primary store. Meal kit interest closely overlaps with convenience-seeking shoppers who frequently buy deli prepared, making store-developed meal kits a natural extension for foodservice.
