By Rob Ramsey, posted to CSNews.com
While not rocket science by any means, introducing new products on your roller grill does require some thought and planning. Roller grills have become standard platforms in the convenience channel, capable of offering consumers new choices next to reliable standbys with relative ease.
Continue reading at CSNews.com
Posted by Marilyn Odesser-Torpey to cstoredecisions.com
"…the mouthwatering smell of frying chicken wafting through the store and even out to the forecourt is usually the first experience customers have with your foodservice offering, explained Dr. Nancy Caldarola, general manager of the Food Training Group, a hospitality industry consulting firm based in Roswell, Ga.
“'Chicken is one of the most attractive hand-held foods for people,' Caldarola said. 'It is also the ultimate all-American comfort food.'"
Posted by Erin Rigik Del Conte to cstoreproducts.com
"The classic ham and cheese sandwich just got an on-the-go update to satisfy your busy customers. The OSCAR MAYER Honey Ham and Cheddar Link is a tasty OSCAR MAYER pork link that combines ham, a touch of honey and KRAFT OLD ENGLISH Cheddar Cheese. Packed with rich, grilled ham and cheese flavor, the new link is the latest addition to the OSCAR MAYER roller grill portfolio."
Read more at C-Store Products.
Posted to Fortune.com by John Kell
… [The] food manufacturer has reformulated Oscar Mayer's popular hot dogs by removing artificial preservatives and ditching added nitrates and nitrites. Kraft Heinz has proclaimed it is the first national hot dog maker to make the switch.
"We are making radical changes to every single one of our dogs," Greg Guidotti, head of marketing at Oscar Mayer, told Fortune in an interview. "We are going to get better dogs into your hands."
Read more at Fortune
A robotic hot dog dispenser was shown off at the 2014 Maker Faire in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Sadly, it doesn't appear as though the device has gone mass-market.
[Posted to CSP Daily News]
If you're already a roller grill operator, you know just how important it is to make sure that the roller grill and surrounding area is kept clean and properly lit–two of the smaller tips pointed out in this article–but this post also provides reassurance on other things that you might be overlooking, that'll be sure to draw in the customers.
… consumers—especially younger ones—are receptive to new offerings. In fact, about 45% of millennials say they’re willing to try an item or condiment featuring a new or interesting flavor at a c-store prepared-foods area, according to Technomic data.
Load up the roller grill with unexpected items such as egg rolls, tamales, chicken-filled waffle rolls, taquitos and more.
Roller-grill items are well-suited to DIY condiments, dips and sauces. An impressive 65% of c-store foodservice consumers say they are more likely to purchase prepared foods at c-stores that offer made-to-order food when they can fully customize the items.
More than half of consumers (53%) say they’d visit c-stores for prepared foods if healthier items were available. … Many consumers perceive fresh foods, as well as those made with “clean” and “natural” ingredients, to be healthy as well.
Read more at CSPDailyNews.com
[Posted to Convenience Store News]
Oscar Mayer rolled out a new flavor appropriate for any daypart.
The Oscar Mayer Pumpkin Pancake Sausage is the newest roller grill innovation from the Oscar Mayer brand. Capitalizing on the seasonal flavor craze, Pumpkin Pancake Sausage features a classic Oscar Mayer sausage wrapped in a flavorful, pumpkin spice pancake.
[Posted to foodpros by Jenna Duesler]
According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, “consumers spent more than $2.5 billion on hot dogs” in supermarkets throughout the United States in 2015. That’s nearly 28 times as much as that hypothetical $89.5 million of hot dog sales at football stadiums! Don’t count yourself out of the game just because you aren’t charging league pricing on your hot dogs–you’ll still get those sales.
Keep reading at foodpros.com