Americans are a people on the go — rushing from work to the gym, to the grocery store, to soccer practice, it feels like we’re always on the move. Convenience is the watchword of American consumer culture, and portable, grab-and-go meals have become more popular than ever.

According to the USDA, Americans spent 58.5% of their food budgets on food purchased away from home in 2023, an all-time high.¹ And a report last year from Packaged Facts predicted that the $727 billion food delivery and carryout market is poised to see 5.1% annual growth through 2028.²

With the appeal of portable meals at its peak, offering handheld foods, premade sandwiches, and boxed meals is an ideal way to optimize your menu while adding to your bottom line.

Think Inside the Box

Sandwiches, wraps, and handheld sweet or savory pies are all simple ways to adopt the to-go trend. These offerings are usually easy to eat and sturdy for the journey. (Confession: I'm a borderline club sandwich obsessive. My friend and I have discussed making club sandwich merit badges for ourselves).

Delancey Street Deli®, for example, was designed with easy-to-prepare, deli-quality solutions in mind. Delancey, named for the location of New York’s first deli, offers a wide range of items that make to-go sandwiches a snap — from sliced meats to toppings and condiments. Heritage Ovens® breads, buns, and rolls provide a litany of fresh-tasting bookends that can hold your tasty portable fillings together. And Zebec® Mediterranean Lavash Wraps are cozy confines for seasoned proteins, sauces, and veggies.

Or, another way to save time and bolster efficiency is by embracing more complex premade options like Gourmet Premium Prepared Cold Salads from Delancey, featuring both made-from-scratch quality and an array of flavorful selections, including deli-style classics like chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad, seafood salads, vegetable pasta, and more adventurous offerings such as orange ginger couscous or quinoa mango lime salad.

For fans of Latin flair, offer them something they can carry out and devour, like flaky, crispy Contigo® Empanadas, an excellent choice containing 11 offerings, like chicken rojo, chicken verde, ground beef, shredded beef, guava cream cheese, and dulce de leche.

Ahead of the Pack

As for on-the-move packaging, a brand like First Mark® offers everything needed for guests to enjoy your food wherever they are. The extensive portfolio of first-in-class takeout supplies ensures meals travel well and maintain freshness. Top-flight carryout containers, hinged packaging, and recyclable options are durable and secure. Deli paper and wraps keep sandwiches together, and heavyweight cutlery allows patrons to handle any kind of food on-the-go. And recyclable paper bags can be customizable, carrying your items with confidence.

Also, remember to keep an eye on portion sizes, as well, to confirm that you’re not giving away your profits. Invest in West Creek® Portion Control (PC) condiment packets and portion packed cookies or crackers from Heritage Ovens. Perhaps a family on a vacation road trip is in need of a sweet pick-me-up — individually wrapped Sweet Encore® Brownie Slices are highlighted with HERSHEY’S Chocolate or REESE’S Peanut Butter Cups in an exciting, exclusive partnership that brings those famous flavors straight to your guests, with packaged ease.

Go-Go To-Go Plan

With services that fall outside your typical menu, it’s essential for businesses to have a plan in place. You’ll need to determine where the grab-and-go items will be stored — possibly a display case along with swag for upselling opportunities? Then make decisions as far as staffing. Dedicate a team member to handle sales or make delivery orders.

Does having a window or curbside pickup service make any sense for your operation? Are you serving breakfast in addition to other dayparts? If so, heat-and-serve, wrapped Hot Take Crave Away® sandwiches might be right up your alley. Sling everything from Chorizo Egg Ciabatta Sandwiches to Pancake Sandwiches and Spicy Chicken. Order’s up!

Whatever you decide, embracing to-go food is a fast and efficient way to attract business and bolster profits, reaching those diners with hectic schedules.

1. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/food-prices-and-spending#:~:text=Total%20food%20spending%20reached%20%242.6%20trillion%20in%202023&text=Meanwhile%2C%20food%2Dat%2Dhome,spending%20observed%20in%20the%20series.

2. https://www.freedoniagroup.com/packaged-facts/food-carryout-and-delivery-in-the-us