I have been biting my tongue for several months now about wanting to be able to talk about this company! Without giving away too many secrets about my association with the meals and with Fitness Guru Kim Lyons, let’s just say that it won’t be long before you have a chance to enjoy more recipes by your favorite Rock Star Chef…

There is a quiet groundswell of prepared foods coming into the marketplace from several different distribution points. Not only traditional grocery stores will be carrying this line,  but several other non-traditional retail giants are realizing that this next revolution of packaged meals is EXACTLY what the marketplace is looking for and more importantly…is willing to pay for!

Stay tuned for more updates!

Mark

Independent restaurants were hardest hit this past year according to a new CREST report.

The total number of units closed was over 5,000 and independent restaurants faired worse than the national chains. Cited as reasons were sales and traffic declines chiefly due to prolonged high unemployment.

Read the full article here.

Mark

Newsflash just came over the wires…Read about it by clicking here

I recently read that Jewel-Osco is testing a new “urban prototype” 16,000 sq, foot store in the upscale Lincoln Park community. The smaller format store will merchandise a large variety of ready-to-go meal solutions and a limited offering of fresh meats and seafoods.

The space was occupied by former organic market concept Sunflower Markets. It’s interesting to see Supervalu (parent company of both Jewel-Osco and the mentioned shuttered Sunflower Markets) reacting quickly to disappointing sales at the former organic market and catering to the more successful and popular prepared foods concept that consumers want.

More independent organic markets should take note!

Mark

A new report recently published the cold hard facts that C-Stores are strengthening their programs and improving the quality of their food significantly…often at the expense of traditional quick-service restaurants.

The segment grew by about 2 percent in 2009. Many of the leaders in this segment are Sheetz, 7-Eleven, WaWa, Circle K, Cumberland Farms, and Quik Trip. These companies are investing in prepared foods and traditional retail merchandise that blurs the line between grocery stores, c-stores, and QSR’s.

Not only is the menu changing, but many of the operators listed here have also upgraded their store decor packages and include both ready to eat and ready to eat meals.

I had mentioned earlier that Walgreens was starting to ramp up their prepared food offerings. Finally we should start seeing fresh, wholesome food inside of convenience stores instead of the 2-day old hot dogs and frozen mystery meat burritos!

Stay Tuned,

Mark

I was visiting Dallas recently and decided to visit one of my favorite fast casual chains.
I have always thought that La Madeleine could be improved by correcting the fundamental flaws in it’s layout and ordering sequence.

The food has always been top notch (although a bit overpriced compared to other in the same market.

They are looking to compete and be more relevant with concepts like Panera Bread and Corner Bakery. Company exec’s say that they purposely simplified the ordering process and speeded up the transaction time.

The 5,800 sq foot restaurant has more seating and has somewhat simplified the “kitch” of all the decorating and merchandising. All dishes are delivered (still served on real china by the way) to the guests table and the to-go area has been thankfully updated.

My chef colleague Susan Dederen, Sr. Director of Culinary Operations describes the new prototype as “a nod to our future with a wink to our past…”

Here is a slide show of pictures from the new prototype

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