Aside from the new and unique challenges presented by the pandemic, it has also accelerated cultural, technological and industrial trends that were already underway. Big world events do that. The second World War began with biplanes, and in just five years concluded with jets and rockets. The retail world started with a heavy storefront presence, but the seismic shift to e-commerce rendered many brick-and-mortar operations obsolete. And now, the brick-and-mortar retailers are barely hanging on.
The foodservice industry has also seen its share of changes accelerated by the pandemic. There’s been an unprecedented demand in already-popular trends such as mobile ordering, grab-and-go, delivery service, and food trucks — but that’s not all. Round-the-clock snacking was already on the rise, but in recent months, snack sales have skyrocketed.
Here’s a look at the numbers, and our surefire solution for snagging your share of soaring snack sales.
Snacking habits: the statistics
In 2018, a report from Technomic indicated that 80% of consumers snack at least once a day. Fast forward to May of 2020, when Food Business News reported that US consumers average 2.6 snacks a day. Of those consumers, 44% substitute snacks for meals at home and at work. And since snacks have morphed into meals, the rules have gone out the window. Hence, such popular trends as all-day breakfast have taken off. In a survey by Mondelēz International, a major prepared foods manufacturer, 56% of millennials said they eat breakfast at a non-traditional time and that they will spend twice as much on a snack.
From these findings, we’ve learned that snacking’s as popular as ever, and the lines between a snack and a meal are more blurred than ever. What’s more, analysts predict the all-day snacking trend to continue after the pandemic — so long three square meals. That said, consumers don’t necessarily want to stick to the same ol’ same ol’ when it comes to snacking. In August 2020, Datassential reported that 79% of consumers are “craving something new.” But, in an industry where margins are already tight, operators have to be savvy with their overhead expenses. The question is: What’s a cost-effective way to meet the demand for snacks and earn your share of the sales?
The ultimate solution to the snacking craze: The Hatco/Suntec Snack System
Step forward the Hatco/Suntec Snack System. With its easily interchangeable plates, offered in seven practical and novel mold shapes, it allows you to sell more while spending less. And since it checks most of the on-trend boxes, you can cash in on sales-inducing creations. Meet the demand for novelty, all-day breakfast, “snack meals,” ethnic foods, handheld portability, and other “new” menu choices — all with one versatile piece of equipment. It can strike your sweet or savory fancy, too. Whether you want to bake coffee bean breakfast cakes, cook up an oh-so-craveable “chelky” (a tubular shaped sweet treat made with croissant dough), or create a crowd-pleasing caprese panini, the Snack System is at your service with versatility and recipes galore.
But the Snack System doesn’t just have sales-driving capabilities, it helps you cut back on costs at the same time. For starters, it allows operators to freshly bake or grill just enough, which minimizes food waste. Even better yet, it’s simple to use, with user-defined preset programs, offering ultimate product consistency from batch to batch. Insert the food product, close the lid, press start and voilà — snacks are ready to serve. This level of snack creation automation means even less food waste, and streamlined labor costs. As if those savings weren’t enough, it enables you to use wallet-friendly, lower food cost products, so you save in more ways than one.
Regardless of foodservice sector, the Snack System pays off.
Considering its small footprint, cost-cutting features and sales-driving capability, the Snack System is a worthwhile investment across foodservice sectors. By investing in this stellar snacking solution, operators can embrace the accelerating snacking trend, meet consumers’ snack cravings, and reap their share of sky-high, sure-to-stick-around snack sales.
Ready to see what this Snack System’s all about? Don’t wait any longer — check it out now!
