Food Bars Attract Restaurant Patrons

It has been said again and again that in todays economy, more consumers are trading down from restaurant dining, choosing instead to purchase restaurant-quality food at lower prices from supermarket delis and either dining in-store or bringing those items home. For many reasons, food bars are the perfect way to attract these consumers.

Shoppers are cutting luxuries out of their lives, relates Mary Caldwell, marketing director, FoodMatch Inc., an importer of Mediterranean foods specializing in bulk and retail olives and antipasti headquartered in New York, NY. They want to be able to replace or recreate some of those cutbacks in their own home. Food bars are an ideal way for them to do so. Retailers that are creative and fun with their selections can grow customer loyalty by being an innovative leader in the community.

Food bars have evolved from a specialty area destination to a major component of a meals-to-go solution, according to Jim Christman, foodservice sales manager, Lexington, NC-based Arneg LLC, manufacturers of commercial refrigeration, including food bars. Food bars certainly offer the retailer a chance to participate in the grab-and-go concept that enables busy households to take home and enjoy prepared meals and fresh foods.

Many retailers have expanded food bars into an entire section. A strong trend by supermarkets is to use multiple food bars in each store, explains Nancy Green, national account manager, Amtekco Industries, Inc., a Columbus, OH-based designer and manufacturer of food bars. Self-service is a great way to reduce store labor costs and increase accessibility and convenience for the consumer. Food bars have grown in popularity in todays economic environment; consumers look for value and convenience and food bars are a key component of the supermarket prepared foods presentation mix. Customers love the food bars with hot entres and sides, a great alternative to restaurant dining at a great value. Our customers drive the trends and really, there are as many possibilities for food bars as there are prepared foods grain bars, olive bars, seafood bars, antipasto bars, chicken holding bars, fruit and dessert bars, to name a few.

To read the rest of the story, please go to: Deli Business