The 3 Companies Most Likely to Cash In on Calorie Counters
Several trends are impacting fast-casual restaurants these days. In previous articles, I focused on two of these trends, namely the effectiveness of advertising on new menu item sales and value meal trends. Today I'll address how health influences consumers' dining choices. In particular, I'll highlight three companies that consumers are most willing to fork over a premium to for nutritious offerings.
Putting a premium on premium
The Placed survey "Dining Out in America, Part 2: The Impact of New Menu Items, Value, and Nutrition" studied where consumers who'd pay extra money for healthy menu options were most likely to dine. Nutrition-conscious consumers were 31% more likely to pay a premium to eat healthier at Chipotle Mexican Grill, which topped the list. Also near the top of the list were Panera Bread and Starbucks, where consumers were 19% and 16%, respectively, more likely to seek out these offerings.
Chipotle differentiates itself from many of its competitors, given its unwavering focus on locally sourced and sustainably raised ingredients. As founder and co-CEO Steve Ells recently summed up, "We are changing the way people think about and eat fast food." The company continues to entice customers while commanding a hefty premium for its high-quality burritos, even after years of fiery growth.
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Obviously, Panera and Starbucks haven't performed too shabbily either.
Panera continues to roll out healthy offerings like pastas and its "Hidden Menu" featuring salads and lettuce wraps. First-quarter same-store sales came in at 3.3%, with management stating this might have been closer to 4.5% if not for adverse weather that affected sales. But company growth is accelerating; the bakery-cafe chain expects same-store sales growth of 4% to 5% for next quarter.
By placing more emphasis on its food items, Starbucks has rebranded itself away from being just a coffee haven. For example, earlier this year, the company introduced a number of new sandwiches and salads, including its Turkey and Havarti sandwich and Hearty Veggie and Brown Rice Salad Bowl. To further cater to the health-conscious consumer, Starbucks will post calorie counts on all of its menu boards at the end of this month, as Chipotle and Panera have for some time. For its most recent quarter, Starbucks comp sales grew 7% in the U.S.
Placed also found that consumers who considered healthy options important were more likely to be female, higher-income, and age 35 or older. Information like this gives Chipotle, Panera, and Starbucks even more insight into how to target the promotion and price of their healthy offerings.
Foolish final thoughts
As the trend toward healthy eating continues, these three fast-casual restaurants are well poised to gain even greater wallet share from mouthwateringly profitable demographic groups. That's a tasty morsel for investors to chew on.
Investors can be forgiven for thinking that a company that has returned almost 2,500% since going public probably has its best days behind it. But in the case of Panera Bread, there's reason to believe that the best is still yet to come. The stock has been on an absolute tear over the past five years, and you're invited to find out why -- and what else there is to look forward to -- in The Motley Fool's brand-new premium report on Panera. Included are key areas that investors must watch, as well as opportunities and threats facing the company both today and in the long term. Don't miss out on this invaluable investor's resource -- simply click here now to claim your copy today.
The article The 3 Companies Most Likely to Cash In on Calorie Counters originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Nicole Seghetti has no position in any stocks mentioned. She welcomes you to follow her on Twitter @NicoleSeghetti. The Motley Fool recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panera Bread, and Starbucks. The Motley Fool owns shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panera Bread, and Starbucks. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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