Meal solutions make big profits

Meal solution displays are becoming a more common site in supermarkets, simply because they're profitable. A breakfast solutions stand such as the one from from Minute Maid (pictured below) increased Minute Maid volume by 25% and retail profit by 32%.

A meal solution approach to food retail is not a new development. TV dinners were first introduced in 1954 by the Swanson company. However, it wasn't until the late 1990s that retailers began to create chilled food aisles, where starters, accompaniments and main dishes can be located together to provide a complete meal for any given cuisine.

The meal solutions concept was broadened and segmented into four main categories - Ready-to-Make, Ready-to-Prepare, Ready-to-Heat and Ready-to-Eat; the fastest growing category being the Ready-to-Prepare. European retailers such as Ahold and Metro both have large display cases with mix-and-match systems to prepare meals for a fixed price.

The most fundamental requirement of a successful retailer meal solutions program is understanding the consumers' wants and needs. Retailers should strive to understand and market to specific consumer tastes and preferences in their market area and create products accordingly.