Grab and Go (GNG) is the next big thing in the food industry. The market for grab-n-go food items is currently valued at $200 billion and is only expected to grow even further. People lead busier lives, and amid work and life commitments, no one has time to cook a meal from scratch every night. This is where grab-n-go food services enter the picture as they offer pre-packaged yet highly nutritious meals to anyone looking for a healthier alternative to fast food. Not to mention, GNG is better than fast food in every aspect, from freshness, health, and convenience, to safety, variety, and affordability.
Many big restaurants and food chains are already on the move to appeal to the changing needs of consumers. If you’re part of the food industry and don’t have plans to tap into what is potentially the greatest food trend of all time – you’re missing out big time.
Here’s everything you need to know about the rise of GNG food services.
What Is Grab-N-Go?
Any prepackaged meal can be referred to as grab-n-go. The proliferation of mobile devices has ushered in a “deliver now” era that is very popular in today’s fast-paced society. Nowadays, people want businesses to meet their immediate needs by providing them with easily accessible and portable products that can be used on the go. This has led to the rise of grab-n-go solutions for food service, where consumers can get their hands on highly nutritious meals that don’t require much effort but taste just as good as popular fast food chains.
GNG represents a shift towards more-nutritious foods as consumers are becoming more interested in organic, plant-based, and essentially “free from” products. Grab-and-go food items are increasingly available at local supermarkets, convenience stores, and pharmacies. In addition, there is something for everyone, regardless of dietary needs or taste preferences. And since everything is prepped and packaged, you only have to heat it or serve it cold.
Why Do People Prefer Grab-N-Go?
One of the major reasons behind the popularity of grab-n-go food services is the increasingly hectic schedules of working professionals. Since many people working in offices choose to eat their meals on the go or alone at their desks, easy-to-eat food options quickly became a go-to choice for many office workers. Moreover, with changes in their diets and work schedules, office workers are one of the primary target demographics for this food campaign.
Apart from that, the overall convenience and affordability of on-the-go food, coupled with quick access to meals and nutritional benefits, make it an instant hit among fans of the “deliver now” era.
Plus, many restaurants are expanding their operations beyond the usual fare, such as cereal bars, and introducing new and intriguing healthy options like breakfast wraps and assorted yogurts, among others. GNG food items make it easier for everyone living a hectic lifestyle, from professionals to students and everyone in between, to choose a healthier food alternative at the same price but with better quality.
The Benefits Of Adding GNG To Your Food Business
Seeing the demand for GNG food service, the benefits for businesses are almost innumerable. Below we have outlined some of the most important ones:
- Steady revenue stream: GNG opens new avenues for revenue generation at the point of purchase. You can also significantly boost your profit margins by sticking to contracted products and limiting non-approved sales.
- Maximize customer satisfaction: You can boost customer satisfaction by offering a wide variety of fresh and nutritious GNG options throughout the day, from breakfast to dinner.
- Labor-efficient: You don’t need to hire experts to do all the cooking. With a curated collection of delicious recipes and multilingual instruction manuals, anyone can cook by following the instructions.
How Can You Set Up GNG In Your Food Business?
For any established business in the food industry, setting up a grab-n-go service is no rocket science. Just simplify the customer experience as much as possible to expand your profits.
Set up a modest self-serve station or refrigerator, which the customer can easily access, and they can easily choose the meal they want, pay for it, and be on their merry way. An attractive indoor kiosk or a vending machine can achieve the same purpose.
To curate an eye-catching menu, you can-
- Use your creativity to offer an inclusive, fresh menu in recyclable packaging that appeals to today’s consumer.
- Keep up with your competitors to maintain an edge over them.
- Don’t forget to promote your GNG products on your social media pages and website to grow your profits.
Bottom Line
Grab-and-go provides restaurants and food service providers with a relatively stable source of additional revenue in today’s unpredictable economic climate when current events put customers in a state of anxiety and flux. Considering all that we’ve discussed today, offering GNG products is a steady income stream that doesn’t strain your existing business resources. Plus, given the huge demand and low marginal cost of delivering grab-and-go services, it is an easy decision. Go with the flow and ride the wave to financial success.