This article is brought to you by Stone Gate Foods.

Labor is a continuous challenge for retailers. It can be even more of a challenge in foodservice, where the total turnover average in 2024 for foodservice associates was 116.8%, according to NACS State of the Industry Talents Insights Dashboard.

As foodservice continues to become more essential for attracting customers, “retailers want to amp up their foodservice without adding a lot of additional labor,” said Jake Revak, marketing manager at Stone Gate Foods. “They are trying to find that sweet spot where people without a lot of training can quickly make delicious, distinctive food.”

This is where an option like Tater Kegs can come in. “Our Tater Kegs are easy to prepare, grab-and-go food items. What we aim to do is reduce your labor while giving you the highest quality product possible,” said Revak.

The 1.5 ounce-sized taters are stuffed with different flavors, from bacon cheddar chive to a breakfast spin or a take on a Reuben deli sandwich.

To keep labor preparation down, Tater Kegs are frozen and dropped into the deep fryer for six minutes. “It’s a really simple, practically no-touch preparation and the result is consistent. Anyone with a timer can do it,” Revak said.

Tater Kegs can stay fresh under a heat lamp for up to three hours. “That makes it easy for employees to either prep them on demand or make a batch and package them for customers to grab themselves,” Revak said. He noted that the three-hour timeframe is another way to reduce the burden on employees, as it helps them get through the lunch rush and the afternoon snack daypart.

The key characteristic of Tater Kegs is that the product is simple. “Because the flavor is inside, you don’t need a lot to go with it,” said Revak. “A c-store can have their sauces or condiments out for customers to choose, but this is really a grab-and-go food, so employees don’t need to worry about making extra toppings or items. As something that doesn’t need anything additional to make it good, it is ideal for c-stores.”

This is part one of a two-part series on Stone Gate Foods. Learn more about Stone Gate Foods here, and look out for part two on Thursday.