PORT WASHINGTON, NY, September 12, 2007 – According to leading consumer and retail information company The NPD Group, over the past two years, the foodservice operations at retail outlets (such as convenience stores, supermarkets, discount stores, and price clubs) have posted stronger foodservice traffic growth than any other segment of the restaurant industry. This amounts to approximately eight billion meals and snacks that were bought at retail (for the year ending May 2007).
While total restaurant traffic grew by three percent over the past two years, foodservice purchases at retail stores outperformed the total industry with five percent growth in the number of meals bought for immediate consumption.
NPD reveals that convenience stores are the most frequented channel for purchasing prepared foods and beverages at retail, capturing 54 percent of all foodservice traffic at retail outlets, followed by supermarkets (32% share). However, discount stores (such as Wal-Mart and Target) and price clubs are showing the strongest rate of foodservice growth.
Consumers told NPD that they visit supermarkets for a number of reasons; a convenient location, they "always go there," and because they "like going there;" they visit convenience stores primarily for expediency.
"For years, supermarkets and convenience stores were outlets for 'packaged foods,'" said Harry Balzer, vice president of The NPD Group. He adds, "But the growth of the restaurant industry during the past 25 years – and especially the growth of take-out meals – has shown everybody in the food market that consumers now want 'packaged meals.'"
About The NPD Group, Inc.
The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,600 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. For more information, visit www.npd.com.