A Shift in Shopping

If there is one key trend to come out of the convenience channel through the COVID-19 crisis, it is that consumers are seeking out more take-home options than ever. This is a significant shift from the trends we have seen over the past five years. Where retailers had been focused on reducing the size of their grocery sets and number of large pack options in favor of a broader assortment of single serve snacking and grab-and-go options, we are now seeing space intentionally set aside for take home sizes. Retailers who had been growing their foodservice offerings are now challenged to offer meal solutions in ways that are compatible with carry-out, curbside pickup, or delivery services.

Safety Found in Convenience

But why exactly are we seeing this shift in consumer habits? Convenience stores by nature are set up for speed. It is easy to get in an out quickly without coming into close contact with other customers. In the current climate this means safety. Many consumers feel that fill-in trips to their local corner store or gas station are a safer choice than venturing to the ever-busy grocery store. Those looking to cut down the number of overall trips are opting for larger pack sizes to get them through. Similarly, consumers are finding solace in preparing meals in the safety and comfort of their own homes. However, busy lifestyles have prevailed through the pandemic causing consumers to continue to seek out time-saving solutions at mealtime. As a result, easy, prepackaged, and prepared options are more important than ever. Convenience stores are primed to be the perfect solution for many consumers by offering the fill-in trip essentials and grab-and-go meal solutions in one location.

Mountain Fresh Delivers

The Mountain Fresh Brand has always been focused on providing fresh, quality products made with ingredients you love for people on the go. We’re made for adventure, but sometimes navigating that busy pandemic lifestyle is more of an adventure than your favorite weekend hike. Either way, we’ve got you covered. We’re excited to introduce two new product lines designed to fit the needs of today’s c-store consumer.

• Better for you Snacks in Sharing Sizes

We’ve taken six top selling varieties of our Mountain Fresh Snacks and packaged them in resealable stand-up pouches. With twice the product as our car cups consumers can eat a little now and a little later or pass the pouch to the kids in the backseat of the car.

• Take N’ Bake Pizzas

The perfect mealtime solution for busy families on the go, our Mountain Fresh Pizzas never sacrifice quality for convenience. Made with all natural, fresh dough and premium meats, cheeses and vegetables we pack on the ingredients you love. While designed to provide an easy grab-and-go meal solution, retailers can also bake any unsold pizzas in-store to sell by the slice. With three classic varieties – Pepperoni, Cheese, and Supreme – there’s something for everyone.

The Mountain Fresh brand is owned and distributed exclusively by Harbor Wholesale