Topics: Food

Refresh Travel Plaza Offers EV Charging and New Indian Quick-Serve Concept in Madera, California [Podcast]

Simran Grewal and Arjun Khosa joined the podcast to share about the Refresh Travel Plazas, from its innovative food program to professional driver amenities. More

Truckstops Use Private Labeling to Build Loyalty and Boost Profits Members Only Join or Login

Private labeling of products can increase profits as well as customer loyalty. More

Six Ways to Set Your Truckstop Apart Using Today’s Food Trends Members Only Join or Login

Food sales continue to be a hot area for truckstops and travel plazas, and a lot of operators are turning to food service to drive incremental sales and profitability. Consumer demand is proving that not only is there is a place for food service within retail operations but also that it can drive inside traffic. “The ultimate challenge for truckstop operators and convenience-store operators, is elevating their food and creating a point of difference,” said David Henkes, advisory group senior principal at Technomic, a consulting firm that specializes in food service. “You have to think about who you are appealing to and how you’re driving them into the store. If you’re really focused on making your location a destination or bringing local consumers in as well as the truck drivers or travelers, then you have to do something different.” Stop Watch sat down with Henkes, to learn more about the food service industry and how operators can use food to differentiate themselves. Henkes shared five tips operators can embrace to set themselves apart with today’s food trends. More

Truckstop Operators Use Varied Food and Offerings to Appeal to Travelers and Locals

Wendi Powell, co-owner of Big Boys Truck Stop in Kenley, North Carolina, knows that travel centers need to be all things to all people, and she tries to create solutions that appeal to all types of customers, whether they are locals, the traveling public or professional drivers. “The more creatively we can make the mix work, the better for us,” Powell said. Although convenience and time are always important, local customers love favorites while travelers like experiences. “It's my goal to create a mix,” Powell said. At Busy Bee, a regional chain of travel centers in Florida, local customers are in the store weekly and form close relationships with the locations and teams. “We see them coming in to not only to fill up their cars, but also meet daily/weekly needs from grocery items to our locally made cakes,” said Elizabeth Waring, president of Busy Bee. “However, with our traveling guests the needs slightly vary. When they stop in at our facility, they are there to fill a more immediate need. We have tried to build those relationships so that as they travel they look to us first to fill that—or empty that.” More

Top Highlights of NATSO’s July Food and Fuel Tour in Chicago

Food and fuel are two of the most important offerings at a truckstop or travel plaza, and the NATSO Foundation has handcrafted a customized Food and Fuel Study Tour to give operators a behind-the-scenes look into a biodiesel plant, two successful travel plaza locations offering biodiesel and some of the hottest foodservice locations in Chicago. More

Manage Food Costs to Increase Margins and Maximize Profits Members Only Join or Login

Managing food costs is a key way to improve restaurant margins, and even small changes can result in big savings over the course of a year. Truckstop and travel plaza operators said they take a multifaceted approach to address supply costs as well as food waste and theft. More

Great Idea: Add Eclectic Items to Your Truckstop Buffet

After concluding that drivers are tired of eating the same foods everywhere, L.G. Truckers City dba TA Wapakoneta in Wapakoneta, Ohio, started putting unusual meat products on its buffet. Items include duck in orange sauce, lamb, frog legs and pastisio, which is a Greek lasagna. More

Trends To Target Unhealthy Foods: What Does It Mean for Truckstops Members Only Join or Login

From menu labeling requirements to taxes on sodas, there is a push at the federal and state levels to discourage the consumption of certain types of foods. The trend is increasing the number of regulations truckstop and travel plaza operators must adhere to and could alter sales. More

Food From the Best at Columbus West Members Only Join or Login

In the 11 years since it opened, Columbus West Travel Center in Columbus, Wisconsin, has grown from a convenience store to a full-service truckstop. “It started out as a convenience store and then as truck traffic increased, it was converted over to a truckstop by adding seven diesel fueling positions, three showers, laundry, game room, lounge, Arby’s restaurant and hot food, prepared on site,” said owner Richard Sheard. More

Food Service is About More Than Food Members Only Join or Login

When it comes to food service, today’s consumers are looking for much more than food. By tapping into their customers’ true needs and wants, truckstop and travel plaza operators can attract more people and dig deeper into their wallets when they come in the door. More

Showing
per page, 36 total