LesserEvil Brand Snack Co.’s Post

Most of us have heard the tagline "It's not delivery, It's DiGiorno!", but now we want to say "It's not an ATM, It's a hot pizza!". In a recent article in Food Dive, they report that "Nestlé is testing a way to make a hot thin-crust DiGiorno pizza on demand in places such as college dorms and airports as the world’s largest food company looks to move the brand “beyond the freezer.”" For $9 a consumer can get a hot DiGiorno pizza in just 3 minutes. You can read more about this here: From The Freezer To The Kiosk https://lnkd.in/en7XEw_q Instead of moving from the freezer to the kiosk, Yale Lift Truck Technologies helps our customers move from raw materials to manufacturing to the freezer to store shelves. With each step in the process providing unique challenges and the need for unique solutions, Yale Lift Truck Technologies equipment is up to the challenge. Read about the various environmental packages we offer specifically engineered for peak performance, equipment durability and operator warmth and comfort. Environmental Packages https://lnkd.in/epJT5NGt

"Convenience stores are all trying to grab a bigger piece of the food pie. Privately held Wawa launched a dinner menu in 2021 and has been expanding what’s on it, adding pizza in July. Casey’s added thin-crust pizzas to its menu earlier this year after realizing it was missing a piece of the customer base that only eats that variety. Thin crust now accounts for about 13% of Casey’s pizza sales. Texas-based TXB Stores, formerly known as Kwik Chek, has been expanding its family take-home selection, both hot and cold. CEO Kevin Smartt said those offerings took off during the pandemic. These include a $19.99 meal of a dozen tamales, Spanish rice and refried beans. Many of these chains drive hype through limited-time menu items and have loyalty programs on their apps through which customers can order delivery. Fuel and cigarettes historically were the mainstay of many convenience stores, but both are categories in decline. Gasoline sales volumes plummeted in 2020 and have flatlined below prepandemic levels due in part to ongoing improvements in fuel efficiency and rising electric vehicle sales. The Energy Information Administration is forecasting a slight drop in U.S. gasoline demand next year. But a shift to electric vehicles should go well with the food business if it means consumers spend longer stretches of time charging their vehicles. TXB, which has introduced EV charging stations in some stores, deliberately placed them near the outdoor dining facilities, according to Smartt.  Most convenience-store chains still have a fairly hands-off food strategy: It typically involves bringing in prepared chicken fingers, sandwiches and other menu items that are heated up in the store. This is the case for Circle K and 7-Eleven, though those chains also supplement their offers through adjacent restaurants. Selling freshly made food, as Casey’s, Wawa and TXB do, comes with potential for better loyalty and margins—but it isn’t easy: Kitchens are complicated and require investment. It is also a strategy that might work better for chains with some geographical density. Casey’s stores are concentrated in the Midwest, and the company self-distributes out of its three distribution centers in Iowa, Indiana and Missouri. Wawa also does self-distribution. TXB, which works with others, said its stores typically get about three to four food deliveries a week."

🍷 Wine and glass – it’s a tale as old as time. As a cultural touchpoint of European heritage, #wine represents a key symbol of culinary heritage, conviviality and regional identity.   As the importance of healthy living grows, more and more wine drinkers are looking to enjoy a glass responsibly, and embrace the whole experience that wine has to offer – from shared moments together, to delicious food pairings, to collectable bottles that remind us of a special place or memory. The inert, iconic glass packaging is a crucial part of that story – and with #glass, you know that no matter how long a bottle stays on your shelf, you’ll be able to savour a high-quality product as it was originally intended.   That’s why we raise a glass to Wine in Moderation (WiM) Association’s new #WineinModerationDay campaign, and look forward to enjoying our wine in glass for generations to come. Cheers!   📰 Learn what makes glass a magic pairing: 

It's exciting to see how the c-store space continues to evolve, especially where they invest resources when it comes to food service. We're seeing more and more c-store brands come through the Middleby Innovation Kitchen (if you haven't been yet, let me know, we'll get you a tour), or talking to us at events like NACS, National Restaurant Association & Restaurant Facility Management Association about their programs, and how those programs are evolving & expanding. Selling food, especially good food, makes sense and the data proves it: -- Casey's gross margin on prepped #foodandbeverage is around 60%, while margin on fuel is closer to 10% --They're the 5th largest pizza #restaurant in the US, and 75% of their in-store transactions don't involve fuel -- Circle K owner Couche-Tard, has set a target of increasing #food rev by a compound annual rate of 10% over the next 5 years Powerhouse Dynamics The Middleby Corporation #restaurants #retail Jeff McFarland Michelle Fronsee

Introducing Jones Mini: the latest innovation from the beloved craft soda brand. With convenience in mind, Jones Mini offers a compact way for fans to enjoy their favourite flavours on the go. CEO David Knight shares, "Jones Soda has hit a multitude of firsts in our industry. Today, we are the first craft soda brand to offer mini cans, a format which has been expanding in the grocery and club channels." This launch comes at an opportune moment, reflecting broader trends in the beverage industry. Mini cans have been gaining traction, offering consumers portability, portion control, and versatility! 📢 Beverage brands, with the rise of mini cans and their promise of convenience and adaptability, would you ever consider offering mini cans of your product? Why or why not? https://hubs.li/Q02ySRG_0 #CraftSoda #Innovation #JonesSodaCo #JonesMini

Curious how to tell the difference between a good and great cheese shop? Consider this guide to retailers from New York to Washington State.

Curious how to tell the difference between a good and great cheese shop? Consider this guide to retailers from New York to Washington State.

Our client, TXB, was highlighted by the Wall Street Journal this past weekend in an article that discussed food being an appetizing opportunity for convenience stores. Industry wide, food-service sales account for about a quarter of in-store sales for convenience stores but well over a third of in-store gross profits (both figures are industry averages). The food strategy for most convenience store chains is hands-off; prepared foods are brought in and heated up in the store. Chains that prepare and sell freshly made food – like TXB and Casey’s – have the potential for better loyalty and margins. This strategy of having an on-site kitchen can be complicated and requires additional investment. 1912 Ventures knows firsthand, as we have represented multiple restaurant chains with their commercial real estate, including two dedicated commercial kitchen projects (with no retail service) over the past 18 months. A shift to electric vehicles should increase the food business for convenience stores if it means customers spend more time charging their vehicles. TXB has deliberately placed EV charging stations near their outdoor dining facilities. My favorite quote in the article came from Darren Rebelez (Casey’s CEO), who said: “You might fill up a tank once a week, but you eat three times a day.” As an aside, 1912 Ventures originally helped Bucky’s Convenience Stores expand into Texas and open five locations prior to the entire chain being sold as a portfolio to Casey’s. That sale included 94 retail stores, 79 dealer locations, and several real estate parcels for building new stores in the future. https://lnkd.in/gY9ehKwC #commercialrealestate #cre #retailrealestate #retailtechnology #realestatedevelopment #fuel #restaurants #foodservice