The all-in-one convenience of shopping for fuel and fresh food in one location make c-stores a strong choice for quick-service restaurants.
But as more people choose c-stores as their one-stop-shop, there will be more eyes and expectations on your store’s ability to meet the demand for fast-casual or fresh-casual dining options.
This post will explore if your c-store can offer both a fresh-food and fast-casual experience under one roof.
First, let’s start by differentiating fresh-casual and fast-casual dining.
Fresh-casual eateries are known for sourcing fresh and sometimes organic ingredients. The menu is crafted with chef-driven food options. There is also greater investment in design and decor.
Fast-casual dining, on the other hand, is based on the quick-service model. A guest’s experience starts and ends at the point of sale counter for ordering and pick-up. Fast-casual eateries have more generic displays that are promotional in nature.
Millennials are drivers of the fresh-casual experience. Data shows this generation desires fresh ingredients, customizable menus, and an aesthetically pleasing eating environment. It also helps that millennials statistically eat out at least once per week compared to their older counterparts.
So, how can you make the two work for you? You can start by finding common ground.
Fast-casual eateries advertise a higher food quality than fast-food restaurants and typically use fewer frozen or processed ingredients.
Since fresh-casual dining requires high-quality ingredients, you should consider speed-scratch cooking. Speed-scratch cooking is a time-saving technique for kitchens. It uses ready-made products with fresh ingredients to create tasty and healthy dishes.
An example of a speed-scratch menu item would be a pear, chicken, and gorgonzola cheese salad made with organic or locally-sourced greens, canned pears with no artificial preservatives, and frozen or pre-cut chicken, topped with gorgonzola cheese.
Another example could be speed-scratch tacos. Serve all-natural beef in a premade crispy taco shell topped with pre-cut diced tomatoes, onions, and shredded cheese.
Remember, fresh can take many forms. You can sell whole pieces of fruit near your point of sale, or fresh fruit cups, salads, and sandwiches in a to-go cooler.
The future of c-store foodservice is grounded in fresh ingredients. The more you can lean into this demand from consumers, the better it will be for your fast- or fresh-casual eatery.
Lastly, invest in decor. If you can’t offer in-house seating, consider the aesthetic of your feed service area to create a fresh look for where your patrons will order food.
Introducing the largest size of the Shuttle family, the S2600 accommodates a full-size sheet pan, making it perfect for schools, universities, and high-volume cooking operations, and can function as either a high-performance conveyor or a closed-cavity oven with menu flexibility, enhanced by Precision Impingement technology that uses top and bottom hot air for faster cooking.
If you value precision and volume, Ovention has the perfect oven to fit your operation. The Shuttle sets the new standard for conveyor ovens everywhere. No other oven can operate as both a conveyor and a closed-cavity oven.
Cook a full menu of delicious offerings without an oven hood. The Ovention Matchbox 1718/1313 takes the traditional conveyor oven to a whole new level.
Simple, smart and the right fit for operators looking for a high-throughput conveyor oven. The Ovention Conveyor Oven is the most technologically elegant and operator-friendly conveyor on the market today.
Cook a full menu better, faster, and easier. The Ovention Matchbox M360 has Precision Impingement® technology, a unique cooking carousel, and a small footprint, making it the perfect fit for any operation.
Finish your plates with ease and precision with this robust IR finishing conveyor. Melt, sear, toast, and finish to perfection with this operator-friendly, quiet conveyor.
Revolutionary infusion of Linear Impingement and Infrared (IR) technologies. Independently controlled top and bottom cavities, each with its own interior light and control panel.
Introducing MiSA; Microwave Speed Assist. Higher quality, higher speed, smaller footprint.
With holiday service approaching, many kitchens are bracing for peak demand. Whether you’re feeding families gathering for holiday dinners, serving […]
Staffing and labor are ongoing challenges across many industries, particularly food service. In the fast-paced food space, the right kitchen […]
The art of a successful restaurant’s limited-time offer (LTO) is a delicate balance of giving customers what they want without […]
Our goal is to partner with you to help you build your business. We will set up a demonstration that suits your needs, whether you want us to cook your current product, show you a range of new products, or do a side-by-side comparison with another oven we are ready to show you what Ovention can do.
Please complete ALL the fields below to schedule a demo.*
Scroll down to discover more
Experience an Ovention oven in action. We have test kitchens all across the country and representatives waiting to demonstrate our award-winning technology and ease of use. Contact us today to learn how one of our ovens can elevate your culinary versatility and build your business.
Cooked with Conveyor 2600/2000