What would you like to eat at lunch….??
I am about to embark on some Market research for a new Retail food outlet I am opening.
It’s a Salad Bar, in central town who’s predominant trade would be lunchtime eaters.
I would like peoples ideas on how to conduct my research and/or any good questions they think I ought to ask.
If anyone would like to give me a breif overview on what they would like to see – please feel free.
There are 10 points up for grabs for the best answer!!! 
How absolutely delightful to hear of a salad bar opening, as opposed to yet another restaurant serving fatty garbage. KUDOS to you. If I knew where you would be opening, I would patronize your business! PLEASE accept my suggestions, and give them some thought. I have extreme food allergies, mostly wheat, soy, eggs, and dairy. Most salad bars do not offer dressings that are suitable for people with allergies, and rarely do they have real extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon as an alternative. Most commercial dressing contain soy and wheat. I am not the lone ranger. MANY people can no longer enjoy a meal out because of allergies. Please be sure to offer some choices that would include those people. Another thing I rarely see on a salad bar are unusual raw veggies, like kolrabi, beets, boiled potato (my favorite ingredient on a salad, served cold) As for conducting your research, could you perhaps organise a meeting at your local library, to get input on the subject? If your demographic is mostly the younger generation, they are much more aware than the older generation about the cruelty to food animals issues, and would likely become very loyal customers to a place that serves fresh veggies and salad-you don’t say whether it is a vegetarian establishment or not, but I have thought for along time that it would be awesome if someone were to create a chain of vegetarian fast food places-an option we are severely lacking. I wish you the very best of luck, and hope I was of some help
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:46 am
I f I was going to get something from a salad bar, I would like to see cucumber, tomatoes, beetroot, onions, pasta salad (tuna, chicken, plain, tomato sauce) boiled eggs, cheese, potato salad
yum hats made me rather hungry
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February 22nd, 2010 at 5:20 am
Find out what people like on a salad bar. I know I like more fresh items vs. canned items (mushrooms, for example).
I also want to know that the salad bar is "patrolled" so that people are not returning using the same plate, sneezing all over the food, or grazing as they go along, eating some of this adn some of that as they prepare their salad.
Fresh salads would be good, like pasta, gelatin, potao or pesto ones.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 6:07 am
big sandwhiches, lots of condiments, spicey meats and always ask people if they want black pepper on their sandwhich. this makes or breaks a good sarnie!!!!
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February 22nd, 2010 at 6:24 am
tuna salad or a sub.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 6:32 am
everybody i know eats a salad for lunch so i will tell you what i see—lettuce–many varieties–also in the dressings
cheese-many blends, boiled egg, tiny hot peppers, beets, carrots, ham, turkey,chicken-grilled,breaded,seasoned,broiled
grape tomatoes, some onion but not much, croutons, bacon pieces not bits,
there are more things but i’m drawing a blank right now.
a lot of people also have small servings of soup or pizza or even half of a sandwich to go with their salads.
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hope this helps.
February 22nd, 2010 at 7:14 am
Your basics, lettuce, tomatoes, raw veggies, a variety of marinated grilled veggies like eggplant and zucchini. Ethnic dishes like dolmades, hummus, cold sesame noodles and dal. Meats such as grilled chicken, rare roast beef, and grilled tuna. A variety of cheeses like feta and bleu. Artisanal breads and homemade salad dressings. A variety of flavored oils and vinegars are a nice touch. Hope this helps and Good Luck on your new venture!
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February 22nd, 2010 at 7:55 am
Honestly, salad bars freak me out. I would like to see hand sanitizer, low slung sneeze shields, signs warning prosecution for unsafe food handling. I would also like to see someone manning the salad bar at all times to ensure proper food safety.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 8:03 am
I think it is essential to go for top quality ingredients, with food freshly prepared before your customer’s eyes rather than pre-packed. If you can get evidence like certificates, etc, to prove the food was produced locally using traditional techniques, rather than mass-produced gunk, that would tempt me in. Self-selection salad bar would be nice. Fresh soup for those cold winter days, and freshly squeezed fruit juice for when it is warmer. A range of specials that change regularly is a winner.
Your best bet is to do a bit of market research in the locality. An affluent office-based customer base would have different requirements to a largely manual workforce, for example.
Good luck.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 8:34 am
Well all the usual salad ingredients and range of pasta, chicken, ham, tuna etc to go with it, but I think if there was other options like mexician chicken etc to go with the salads, something with a bit more flavour. Also a range of sauces that you could put on your salad or sandwhich. A range of bread, baps etc for sanwhiches, paninis, or even to go alongside salads or soup. The salad bar down the road does very well, not from the range of food available, but rather from the freshness and quanity that you receive.
A survey carried out in the streets nearby and maybe at local businesses could be worthwhile, ask general questions about lunchtime habits, prices they would be willing to pay, favourite sandwhiches or salad ingredients.
Hope you business goes well !
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February 22nd, 2010 at 9:20 am
How absolutely delightful to hear of a salad bar opening, as opposed to yet another restaurant serving fatty garbage. KUDOS to you. If I knew where you would be opening, I would patronize your business! PLEASE accept my suggestions, and give them some thought. I have extreme food allergies, mostly wheat, soy, eggs, and dairy. Most salad bars do not offer dressings that are suitable for people with allergies, and rarely do they have real extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon as an alternative. Most commercial dressing contain soy and wheat. I am not the lone ranger. MANY people can no longer enjoy a meal out because of allergies. Please be sure to offer some choices that would include those people. Another thing I rarely see on a salad bar are unusual raw veggies, like kolrabi, beets, boiled potato (my favorite ingredient on a salad, served cold) As for conducting your research, could you perhaps organise a meeting at your local library, to get input on the subject? If your demographic is mostly the younger generation, they are much more aware than the older generation about the cruelty to food animals issues, and would likely become very loyal customers to a place that serves fresh veggies and salad-you don’t say whether it is a vegetarian establishment or not, but I have thought for along time that it would be awesome if someone were to create a chain of vegetarian fast food places-an option we are severely lacking. I wish you the very best of luck, and hope I was of some help
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February 22nd, 2010 at 10:06 am
lots of fresh greens (not just lettuce), lots of fresh veggies, different cheeses, and a variety of dressings
also….some meat toppings like ham, chicken breast strips, etc
I found these tips for having a successful salad bar ….
*Provide a variety of fresh, healthy food choices, the main focus on increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.
*Purchasing these fresh fruits and vegetables locally where possible.
*Give an opportunity to experience new foods.
*Provide the opportunity to make healthy choices
Best Wishes and Good Luck!
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February 22nd, 2010 at 10:42 am
you don’t need to ask the YAHOO people
you have to find out what the people that you are selling to like not what i like
are you in europe or the states the far east or the middle east
if you are in india you don’t want to hear from some one from mississippi who is going to tell you about "YA NEEDS TA HAVE SUM CATFISH AND SUM COLLARS" on the salad bar
I think that you need to set down and work on your business plan some more
you need to know who you clientele are
is their a lot of construction going are around you
those guy don’t want salads
is it in the city or a town you should go a watch some of the other places that are all ready established
see watch they are doing
do some spy work and ask some of the people what would they like different
just don’t wear the trench coat the hat and the fake glasses and mustache
good luck
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February 22nd, 2010 at 11:09 am
I like mix-and-match in salad bars eg – green salad, tossed salads, home-made coleslaw, pasta salads, rice salads and potato salads. I also like a selection of cold meats, smoked salmon, prawns and salamis. A range of cheeses is also good, particularly for lacto vegetarians. Olives are great with salads too. People like a good selection of breads with their salads. I’d definitely offer smoothies too.
Hot foods should be offered too, such as soup and paninis, as some people dont like salad but they will be able to go and have lunch with their salad-eating friends.
Good luck with the venture. Let us know when and where you are up-and-running so we can all come in and sample all these wonderful salads !
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February 22nd, 2010 at 11:28 am
soup n salad.
your salad bar should have many dressings. more than 4. i love peppercorn. you never see that one.
ask people what there REAL favorite dressings are, even if they make it homemade. use these recipes for your "house dressings".
from now on when you are dining, watch what others are choosing and jot it down for further reference.
you of course are doing a great job right here conducting research. just keep asking great questions. people will give good answers for sure.
the front door of your business, do you have to pull or push it open. is it difficult to get in? your entrance should be spectacular. i judge a book by its cover when it comes to eating out.
if i think of anything more. i will email or comment.
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February 22nd, 2010 at 11:51 am
All you need to do is come over to Egypt you wll get all your answers on good salad’s and food with salad,
I am english living in Luxor. the thing is the taste of the veg and fruit itself and the spices and herbs used .nothing tastes as good as an egyptian salad with fresh herbs and spices,
thank goodness we cannot buy tastless tomatoes, cucumbers
and onions here,
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myegypt not allowed to advertise under any guise, salad bar in the. any way good luck on your new venture