Bundling, Variety Could Buoy Roller Grill Sales in 2022 (C Store Decisions)

Written by Marilyn Odesser-Torpey for cstoredecisions.com

“I think they have a bit of an uphill battle relative to other c-store foodservice offerings because consumers are increasingly looking for c-store food offerings that are prepared on-site and customizable such as pizza, tacos or burritos,” (Ann) Golladay (associate director on the content team at Datassential) said. “Roller grill items have often been an impulse and value play.”

Odesser-Torpey writes that early 2021 saw a 41% increase over 2020’s for roller grills, as reported by C-store operators. In order to continue driving sales, retailers should consider new bundle deals for the roller grill that include drinks, sides, or even desserts. There are “opportunities to differentiate (yourself) from other stores in the community withy fun promotions and bundles … for a value price.”

Read the entire article at cstoredecisions.com

How Can C-Stores Better Market Their Roller Grill Offers (C Store Decisions)

Written by Isabelle Gustafson for cstoredecisions.com

…like all offers, (the roller gril) can easily become stale if it’s not regularly updated and given proper consideration.

In addition to reminder retailers that a roller grill must be kept spotless to ensure customer satisfaction (particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic), Gustafson also points out that it’s imperative that a c-store have “a solid offer – whatever that means for your store.” Different locations will need to meet different customer expectations and tastes, but variety is vital.

It’s also incredibly important to remember to communicate to your (potential) customers. Outdoor signage is just as important as indoor signage and messaging on the grill: You need to be able to lure customers in to he store who might otherwise just pay at the pump for their gas and leave.

Having an online presence is also a key component to driving customer traffic; just make sure everything online looks as appetizing as possible.

Read the entire article at cstoredecisions.com.

Is a Roller Grill Right for Your C-Store? (C Store Decisions)

Written by Isabelle Gustafson for cstoredecisions.com

Gustafson points out that as more and more convenience stores are choosing foodservice options that are closer to quick-serve restaurants, consumers may no longer be reaching for the roller grill: “As with all c-store segments, operators must ask themselves whether the roller grill is the best fit at their locations.”

What makes a roller grill right for your c-store? Gustafon suggests several key reasons why it might:

• Roller grills are great space savers, particularly for stores with smaller footprints or other space limiting needs

• The self-serve aspect is essential for stores with a smaller labor force

• And they’re grab-and-go, which makes it perfect for locations where customers are in a hurry and need something that’s ready when they are

Read the entire article at cstoredecisions.com

How Can C-Stores Enable Roller Grill Customization? (C Store Decisions)

Written by Isabelle Gustafson for cstoredecisions.com

Datassentials reports that 66% of c-store consumers are looking for customizations and that’s what motivates them to choose a c-store rather than another foodservice location. Making customization easier for consumers is a great way to help pull them in to your location. You can accomplish this by offering wider variety of sauces, such as different mayo-based items like garlic aioli, different barbecue sauces, a plethora of hot sauces. But also, more traditional condiments, but make them fresh-cut every day!

But don’t forget to consider dietary restrictions:

A recent survey from market research platform Suzy shows that 51% of American households are impacted by food allergies or sensitivities. These results suggest that the number of those impacted by food allergies or sensitives is even higher than recent studies have indicated.

Read the entire article at cstoredecisions.com

To Lure Back Patrons, Go Big or Go Home (CSP Daily News)

Written by Chuck Ulie for cspdailynews.com

In addition to continued sanitation efforts to keeps stores clean and customers at ease in their stores, convenience stores should be thinking big and bold, Ulie says. Additionally,

(Ramp) up robust flavors to entice customers, spur word-of-mouth hype and increase purchases.

Read the entire article at cspdailynews.com

Johnsonville Adds 3 Sweet Barbeque Flavors (CSP Daily News)

Image credit: Johnsonville

Written by Steve Holtz for cspdailynews.com

Johnsonville is bringing three new sausage flavors to convenience stores: Ultimate Queso, Southern Style BBQ and Smoked Honey BBQ.

All three new sausages bring premium ingredients and quality to the convenience-store experience, according to the Sheboygan Falls, Wis.-based company.

Read the entire article at cspdailynews.com

NACS Research Examines Last-Mile Fulfillment (CSP Daily News)

Image Credit: CSP Daily News/Shutterstock

Written by Jackson Lewis for cpsdailynews.com

In this article, Lewis reviews the information found in a NACS report regarding the increased use of last-mile fulfillment and the ways that these findings can be implemented for convenience retail to help maintain sales numbers while Americans continue to live with social distancing, mask wearing, and other measures to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

“Our findings show convenience retailers are employing a wide range of last-mile fulfillment options with some being more popular than others,” said Lori Stillman, vice president of research at NACS. “We also found that one third-party provider is being leveraged more so than others, while many locations are using their own staff for delivery.”

Read the entire article at cspdailynews.com

What is the Roller Grill? (CStore Decisions)

Written by Jim Callahan for cstoredecisions.com

Image Credit: CStore Decisions

Callahan discusses several key items that retailers should be doing in order to keep their customers’ excited about the roller grill–and it’s not just about keeping the product on the grill fresh! It’s also important to keep the restrooms clean and the fountain area tidy, otherwise, customers will begin to think that the roller grill is also unkempt.

First and foremost, take this one to heart – the cleanliness of your Rest Rooms will always be key to the success of your Prepared Food sales. A huge percentage of consumers equate the sight, smell and proper stocking of your Rest Rooms with the quality of your Food offerings.  Further, it is not a failure that they will easily forgive you for!