Open letter to grocery stores

 Dear Grocery stores,

I have a suggestion for a change or addition you can make to help people shop and make good decisions.

First, let's talk about why people go to the grocery store: to buy food to prepare to eat.

Where do they get their ideas? Usually at home, but sometimes people go to the store and do the same thing they've done: wander around until they get inspiration (or resignation.)

On the other hand, we've seen an emergence of services like Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, etc who create meals and portion out ingredients that are delivered to your door.

However, many people like the social experience of going to the store. Here's how you, the grocery store, can profit by having a big brick-and-mortar store.

First, have meal ideas ready-to-go! You should have both print and QR options. You should have two different ways people can take advantage.

1) You have the meals prepped and ready for a person to pick up. It should also have a list of optional / essentials that people may / may not have in their kitchen (oils, salt/pepper, etc.) Have the aisle AND shelf location to find these things. How to make more money? Get sauce companies to sponsor their product, such as Tobasco, etc AND include the aisle and shelf! 

2) Help people put a meal together. An example: Salad! Seems simple, right? But many don't know how to use radiccio, chard, and other lettuces and just go for romaine / iceberg (which are fine.) So: educate them! 

Here's how it might look like:

Start with your produce: greens (lettuces), fruits (tomatoes, mangoes, avocado), chiles, peppers/cucumbers, roots. Have a sample of what a person might buy (1 head romaine, 1 cuke, etc.)

Then protein. Give them the choice of fresh, frozen, or pre-cooked.

And keep going. Tell the person where they can find the stuff EXACTLY and then what they may want to add to their order (dessert, chips, etc.) 

You also have prepared foods. Sell the thing you're advertising! In this way, your back-of-house prep team can make these meals to take away ready-to-eat OR ready-to-cook. Saves time and money.

Use what's cheap and in season! Increase your margin by creating menus that feature items that are both profitable and affordable. Everybody wins! Have date night options, family options, holiday options. Keep thinking! 

However, the current system of a big store is old thinking. Future-proof yourself by helping your customers get what they don't know they want. 

Thanks!

-DowntownDad