Brakes has unveiled a new Subway-style in-store café concept to tap into growing demand for food-to-go in convenience stores.
The Bake & Bite Café features a glass-fronted sandwich counter to enable consumers to design their own sandwiches and watch as they are made. It also includes a new Boston's coffee and doughnut offer.
The concept will be launched at the start of April and is an updated version of the Shop Within a Shop, which was primarily a hot pie stand.
"This is leading edge for us," said Stephen Clifford, marketing controller of Country Choice, the arm of Brakes that supplies to retailers. "People aspire to this end of the market. It's all about value for money and quality; filling food, both hot and cold. It will go down particularly well in universities."
Under the scheme, Country Choice will install units and train staff, on the condition that all food is sourced from the company.
Meanwhile, Subway is increasingly targeting convenience stores, particularly those in petrol forecourts, as part of its plans to open 600 outlets within the next two years.
The take-away food chain currently has 78 franchises in c-stores and a further 30 have been agreed.
"We are looking for more c-store sites, but only if the location is right," said Caroline Thomson, a Subway national account manager. "They are mainly in forecourts but there's no reason we can't open more in other types of c-store."
Northern Ireland Spar retailer Henderson Wholesale had embraced the concept and wanted to put a Subway in every store with enough space, she added.
The Bake & Bite Café features a glass-fronted sandwich counter to enable consumers to design their own sandwiches and watch as they are made. It also includes a new Boston's coffee and doughnut offer.
The concept will be launched at the start of April and is an updated version of the Shop Within a Shop, which was primarily a hot pie stand.
"This is leading edge for us," said Stephen Clifford, marketing controller of Country Choice, the arm of Brakes that supplies to retailers. "People aspire to this end of the market. It's all about value for money and quality; filling food, both hot and cold. It will go down particularly well in universities."
Under the scheme, Country Choice will install units and train staff, on the condition that all food is sourced from the company.
Meanwhile, Subway is increasingly targeting convenience stores, particularly those in petrol forecourts, as part of its plans to open 600 outlets within the next two years.
The take-away food chain currently has 78 franchises in c-stores and a further 30 have been agreed.
"We are looking for more c-store sites, but only if the location is right," said Caroline Thomson, a Subway national account manager. "They are mainly in forecourts but there's no reason we can't open more in other types of c-store."
Northern Ireland Spar retailer Henderson Wholesale had embraced the concept and wanted to put a Subway in every store with enough space, she added.
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