This clipping confirms what i have been ‘preaching’ for a while now. The next big competitor for restaurants is not new restaurants but new formats in supermarket. The following clipping from Progressive Grocer; 10/15/2003, Vol. 82 Issue 15, p42, 3p, 2c clearly show that syupermarket are aware of the fact that meals are increasing a moving from food retail to Food service:
“Because takeout continues to be an increasingly important dining option for Americans, supermarket retailers seeking to better connect with customers should pay attention to the latest research by the National Restaurant Association (NRA).
As consumers’ interest in drive-through and/or separate pickup areas for takeout and home delivery from full-service restaurants rises, more table-service restaurants are now concentrating on improved takeout strategies, according to an NRA survey.
“Many Americans lead increasingly busy lives, but still want to enjoy their favorite restaurant’s fare, try new cuisines, or have a quality meal without preparation or cleanup,” says Steven C. Anderson, NRA president and c.e.o.
Among the survey’s key findings:
? Nearly six out of 10 restaurant operators with an average per-person check of $8 to $24.99 say that takeout represents a larger proportion of their total sales than it did two years ago.
? More than half (51 percent) of adult consumers said that they would like full-service restaurants to provide a separate area of the restaurant for ordering and pickup of takeout food.
? More than four out of 10 (42 percent) said they would be interested in having full-service restaurants offer home delivery.
? More than four out of 10 (43 percent) would be likely to use drive-through if it were offered by their favorite table-service restaurant.
? Nearly six out of 10 adults between the ages of 18 and 34 indicated that they would be interested in home delivery, and more than half said they would be likely to use drive-through.
? Adults living in households with children show a stronger trend toward interest in drive-through than those in households without children–50 percent and 39 percent, respectively.
Source NRA