Budgens and Nisa think speed Retailers continue to make bagged and ready to go takeaways a key target for consumers. Budgens latest spicy offering ­ a chilled Meals for Two range in two varieties, Curry Night and Orient Express ­ will be sold from the sandwich fixture at the front of 95 stores. Marketing manager Joanne Nixey says: "Meals for Two is a natural development to our serveover Curry Dish offer ­ freshly prepared Indian dishes, bought by the portion." The dishes have been developed exclusively for Budgens by two family firms. Nisa says its meal deals are now the number one seller in ready meals for Nisachill accounting for more than 3,000 meals being sold every week. A £5.99 Indian meal launched in February was followed by a Chinese one. Another Indian meal is planned. Trading director for chilled and frozen John Sharpe says: "They're good value and provide a major boost to average customer spend. And with a 23-day shelf life, the risk to retailers is minimal." A neat way to boost sales is to woo people at work with a solution to what's for dinner?'. For the last 15 months RHM Foodservice has trialled Sharwood's Now for Later, with caterer Sodexho offering RHM Frozen Foods' branded meals which can be ordered at lunchtime and taken home after work. PR manager at RHM Foodservice Lauri Salt says: "It's about convenience. People can take one home saving them stopping for a takeaway or a supermarket ready meal. We need to see the results before extending it further." {{FOCUS SPECIALS }}

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