ALEXANDRIA, VA - Ah, the memories from the year 1985. Gasoline averaged $1.09 per gallon. The Live Aid concert sought to fight hunger. "Back to the Future" and "Rambo" ruled at the box office. And foodservice in convenience stores wasn??t what it is today. In fact, it wasn??t even one word.
But in 1985, the acclaimed NACS Merchandising for Success video series took on food service, explaining to members that it can drive more store traffic and increases sales, if done right. Specific segments, including dispensed beverages and deli, focused on how stores could go about being a food service destination.
And it worked. Last year, the average convenience store saw average foodservices sales of more than $250,000 per store, making the broad category of foodservice critical to store operations. Foodservice accounted for 13 percent of in-store sales dollars in 2010, and 22 percent of profit dollars.
The Food Service Merchandising: Deli video looked at five "C"s for success: convenience, commitment, consistency, cleanliness and control.
Today, NACS continues to help members grow foodservice. NACS CAFÉ is the source for convenience retailers to receive education, ideas, information and solutions designed to help build dynamic, effective, and profitable foodservice.
This Sunday, August 14, NACS turns the big 5-0. But our celebration is too big to limit to one day. Look for stories about our last half century in the special 50th anniversary edition of NACS Magazine or online at nacs50.com. Look for much more at the NACS Show in Chicago, October 1 to 4.