Grab and go: what is it and why incorporate it into your business?

Grab and go in the restaurant industry is growing all the time. More and more people eat out but often do not have the time to sit down and enjoy a menu in your restaurant. That is where this trend has found its majority audience.

Offering ready-made products to choose from a display case, pay and take them away, grab and go is becoming more and more popular in bars, cafes, hotels and restaurants.

This trend has been developing in the market for years and now that it seems to have settled is a good time to expand the offer of your business with these products.

Learn what is grab and go learn more about this ingenious trend, its attractiveness, benefits, places to sell these products, the best containers to store them and other information about this ingenious trend.

What is grab & go?

Grab and go is a service that sells packaged, ready-to-eat dishes. These include salads, sandwiches, sandwiches or wraps, among other options.

The dishes are kept on refrigerated shelves, where customers take the product of their choice, pay and leave.

This style of business came to compete with fast food, as a healthier alternative because it is mainly fresh and freshly made products.

why is grab and go so popular?

The grab & go concept is ideal for customers who don’t have time to cook, as the food is ready to go.

In addition, they don’t have to worry about the nutritional properties of the dishes. They are balanced and combine several types of food.

Their costs are also surprising, as you can sell a complete meal from 3 €.

On the other hand, grab and go is not lacking in quality packaging that guarantees food preservation, presentation and easy transport.

These containers act as tableware, so you can take them directly to where you are going to eat and taste them without worrying about anything else. As a general rule, grab and go is usually about food finger foods. However, many salads are also offered, so in addition to the containers, be sure to offer disposable cutlery.

Ideal places to expand your offer with grab & go

Any restaurant and catering establishment can expand its services by offering ready-made food that the customer chooses directly from a display case and quickly pays at the cash register.

However, there are establishments where this trend is working particularly well. If you have such a business you should start thinking about adding your own display case and check its profitability:

• Bars and gas station stores
• Gas stations
• Coffee shops
• Pastry shops
• Kiosks located near office areas
• Bars and restaurants
• Grocery stores

Benefits that this trend offers to your restaurant

Grab & go is a trend that has been growing steadily for several years, especially because of the multiple benefits it offers:

Immediate service

As the products are packaged and placed in a refrigerated display case, the service satisfies your customer’s needs immediately.

Customers take their product, bring it to the checkout area and pay. They don’t have to wait for the food to come out of the kitchen.

Therefore, it is an ideal solution for customers who are in a hurry and have little patience.

Easy preparation

Recipes sold as grab & go are not complex to prepare and have everyday ingredients that you can prepare in large quantities and speed up the process. They are snacks, sandwiches or wraps that can be prepared quickly as demand requires.

Plus, you don’t need any additional kitchen utensils or machinery beyond what you already have in your kitchen.

It does not excessively dirty the work space

Since you prepare the food and then package it, you always keep your workspace clean for the next step.

Marketing with packaging

You can take advantage of grab and go packaging to make a marketing campaign with your restaurant’s image.

Make sure the containers have your brand colors, name and logo. This way, anyone who sees the customer’s purchase will recognize the elements of your business.

Products you can sell as grab and go

The ideal products for grab & go are those that allow you to eat in a short time and that do not mess your customers, such as sandwiches or snacks.

They also have to have a good presentation and be on-trend foods to catch people’s attention.

In addition, it goes without saying that the raw material must be of the highest quality and freshness.

Some examples are: vegetable sandwiches, mixed sandwiches, chicken or tuna sandwiches, salmon and avocado wraps… Opt for fresh, healthy products that do not require refrigeration for consumption.

Where to install a grab & go space in your store

Grab and go products should always be placed in a refrigerated display case to preserve them.

This display case should be in a visible place for anyone entering your establishment, at a prudent height so that anyone can easily access them.

Place them in an orderly fashion in three rows, making sure they have the same product. This way you will achieve a symmetrical appearance.

Don’t forget to place signs indicating the ingredients of each food item to avoid having to constantly answer the question“what’s in it“.