Weekly Roundup – Week of 10.9.23
October 13, 2023
Find top trending food and beverage-related stories including C-Store trends, consumer shopping habits, and more – curated by our team of strategists and food enthusiasts:
Top Breakfast Trends Transform Morning Menus
For C-stores, breakfast is an important daypart if not the most important for some chains. C-Stores need to compete with each other and fast-food restaurants. Competitive, value pricing, fresh ingredients, and offering unique breakfast items can set a chain apart from its peers. Promotions such as breakfast sandwiches and coffee combos are great ways to entice morning visits. Menu items like breakfast pizza, quesadillas, tacos, and brisket egg sandwiches are a few items proven successful for C-Stores. Read More to find all the trends.
TikTok Takes On E-Commerce
A new feature on the popular app, called TikTok Shop, connects shoppable videos with e-commerce platforms so users can shop for their favorite CPG brands and products. Sellers will also benefit and gain greater exposure to potential new customers as the app allows product ads to show in users’ feeds and aids in packing and shipping products purchased through TikTok. While certain food items cannot be sold through the app – think perishables and baby formula – there is still a huge number of categories and packaged goods CPGs can leverage on this platform. Learn More.
Identifying Today’s Grocery Consumer
Nik Modi, Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets, sits down to share his expertise on today’s grocery shoppers, what they’re buying, and where they’re most likely to purchase items. It’s no secret that the pandemic, inflation, and rising credit concerns have impacted consumer purchasing behaviors. Due to pricing pressures, trade down, owned brands, and private labels have remained viable alternatives for CPGs, retailers, and consumers. Modi reveals that prices for commoditized products are starting to decrease making the perimeter a more cost-friendly space to shop over center store items, leaving CPGs with additional challenges. Modi also suggests that CPGs should focus on managing price gaps, innovating to provide a heightened consumer experience, and using AI to personalize messages to consumers. Listen Now.
Takeaways From C-Store’s Biggest Event
Labor and inflation remained an important theme throughout this year’s NACS show, continuing to affect expenses and revenue for retailers. Still, other trends surfaced which could spark new sales for C-Stores. Buffalo-flavored snacks were prominent with Wild Buffalo Puffzels from Unique Snacks, Scorchin’ Buffalo Pringles, and Buffalo Cheetos leading the way. Smaller, regional chains also received a spotlight for boosting their made-to-order foodservice programs from fresh pizza and fried chicken to hot and cold sandwiches. Find all takeaways, Here.
Buckets ‘O Fun
Boo Buckets are back at McDonald’s and Burger King is offering its own Halloween-themed bucket to scare up some competition. Starting on October 17, customers can order McDonald’s happy meals that feature four character designs in four different colors: Monster in green, Mummy in white, Skeleton in orange, and Vampire in purple. Not to be outdone and available 5 days earlier, Burger King will launch its glow-in-the-dark Trick-or-Heat Buckets, taking a different approach by supporting its spicier menu items and the return of its Ghost Pepper Whopper and new Ghost Pepper Chicken Fries. Customers can add the Trick-or-Heat bucket to their orders for an additional $1.
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