There are a lot of factors that impact whether or not a customer makes a prepared-food purchase at a c-store. Price, convenience, location, customer service and level of sanitation are all key drivers. But according to a recent Convenience Store News survey, c-store patrons say that food quality is the most important attribute they look for when considering a c-store prepared-food purchase. So given this finding, what equipment do you need to ensure your beautifully prepared c-store foods stay at peak quality?
Hot food merchandisers and display cabinets
Nothing is more disappointing than biting into a cold cheeseburger or lukewarm egg sandwich. As you know, certain foods need to stay hot. The problem is keeping them that way can be tricky. Thankfully, food warmers like merchandisers and display cabinets can help. These equipment types provide a two-in-one benefit. They hold ready-to-eat food within safe holding temperatures, while at the same time, putting foods on display to entice shoppers’ appetites and encourage impulse sales through the strategic use of lighting, shelf positioning, glass or open sides, and more.
Deciding which merchandiser or display cabinet is right for you depends on your unique needs and preferences. Are you looking for an eye-catching unit to hold bagged or boxed hot items? Hatco’s Glo-Ray® Designer Merchandising Warmer could be the answer. Or are you entirely unsure of where to start? Take our handy quiz to determine the solution type that will best meet your needs. But whatever solution you end up going with, opt for a durable, quality unit that’ll hold up to continuous operator and customer use for many years to come.
Chip warmers
Not all warmers support all types of foods. For example, when holding chips, it’s best to go with an actual chip warmer. A chip warmer utilizes humidity-free air to ensure that chips stay fresh and crispy (no more instantly stale chips). But not all chip warmers are created equal. Look for a unit, such as Hatco’s Macho Nacho® Chip Warmer, that utilizes a strategic airflow pattern. This unit in particular forces warm air to the bottom of its cavity and then distributes the air through holes in the floor panels to ensure that heat is circulated throughout and that the maximum amount of heat is directed at the chips you’ll be serving next. After all, it’s not just the chips — it’s the hot and fresh chips that’ll keep customers coming back again and again for your quality nachos.
Buffet warmers
Another hot-holding solution that’s ideal for convenience stores are buffet warmers. Take your pick from built-in or portable options, round, rectangular, large, small, ceramic, stainless steel and more; there’s no shortage of options to choose from. Whatever your application or preferred look, there’s a solution out there for you.
With so many available choices, you can set up your c-store buffet or grab-n-go area just how you want it. But a buffet warmer’s real superpower is its ability to preserve that just-cooked goodness of ready-to-eat menu items. Most quality buffet warmers achieve this feat with a thermostatically controlled, heated base that keeps food nice and toasty for short-term holding situations. Need a little more warming gusto? No problem, some buffet warmers (like this one) add an infrared overhead heating source to the warming base to hold food at peak quality for even longer.
Heated soup wells
The perfect bowl of soup is in a category of its own. Give this humble yet glorious meal the recognition it deserves by serving it out of a countertop or drop-in soup well. Your soup well should keep temperatures even and at appropriate heat levels, without scorching your food (especially important with cream-based soups). Further, if you know your soup is deliciously wonderful, why not sing it from the mountaintops? A soup station with attractive, eye-catching signage might be just the ticket for promoting the quality of your chicken noodle soup, chili, beef stew, creamy gravy or other favorite hot liquid-based menu item.
Cold shelves and frost tops
We know that hot-holding equipment is vital for cooked foods to stay safe and toasty, but what about items like deli sandwiches, salads and other cold products that also need the same temperature-regulating attention? For functionality, marketing and customer satisfaction, some convenience stores might need more than just an average cooler to keep their quality, ready-to-go cold food products chilled and on display.
Enter: cold shelves and frost tops. These solutions are ideal for displaying cold foods or beverages. With their open-air design, these foodservice gems make it a breeze for customers to quickly grab a chilled snack and be on their way. Just keep in mind that cold shelves and frost tops don’t bring the temperature of foods down to a certain level like a refrigerator would. Rather, they slow the warming process, allowing you to put pre-chilled food items on display for longer periods of time. To ensure your foods stay at peak quality, you’ll want to look below the surface. To do this, ask the equipment vendor about the internal coil placement within their frost top or cold shelf. These coils should be strategically wound and configured to deliver even cooling across the entire surface area of the unit.
Sneeze guards
It’s inevitable that somewhere along the way, convenience store guests will cough or sneeze at a food service station. And because protecting your customers and the quality of your food is always a top priority, installing sneeze guards in self-serve food stations is a smart investment. Sneeze guards are made from either tempered glass or acrylic plexiglass and work as a barrier for the food from unwanted biological (sneezes, coughs and other respiratory droplets) or physical (jewelry or hair) contaminants. Most state health departments require sneeze guards in specific situations, so be sure to check the requirements for where and when you need sneeze guards for your operation.
Game changer.
It’s no secret that investing in the right equipment is vital for any c-store operation. This post just scratches the surface of all the great c-store equipment available. To learn about more game-changing solutions that’ll benefit your convenience store, check out our guide, The Best Foodservice Equipment for Today’s Most Popular C-Store Items.
