FEATURE
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
50 ASIAN TRADER 19 SEPTEMBER 2025
Week display.”
And sales continue after the
initial celebrations of arrival and a
new life: the combo concept can
continue throughout the
academic year, and friend of Asian
Trader Bobby Singh, of Holmfield
Lane Superstore and Post Office in
Pontefract, says: “One of the
best-selling things for students in
particular are the meal and
combos kind of thing, a sandwich,
a drink, and a
packet of crisps,
they’re the best
things to sell to
students.”
He is keen on
supplier support to
energise further this
great source of sales with
promotions and deals:
“They should be
giving us retailers good
deals or combo deals
where we do try and
promote and put like a meal
together for students etc. They
can support us further by
providing some kind of incentive
to discount to support these meal
deals.”
The real meal deal
The Hot Food-to-Go category
continues to remain popular
among UK consumers, including
students, as they increasingly
look for convenient, high-quality
options that fit their busy
lifestyles – whether that’s during
lunchtime on campus or at the
weekend when they’re looking
for a breakfast treat, according to
Tony Owen, General Manager at
Rollover. When it comes to lunch,
for example, there is more
demand for higher protein
offerings, with protein seeing a
50 per cent growth in the last four
years, making it the fastest
growing food category.
“In fact,” he says, “the market
is now forecasted to reach £24
billion in value by the end of 2025,
so tapping into the Food-to-Go
mission is more important than
ever for retailers as they look to
drive footfall, maximise sales and
futureproof their business
through the student demograph
ic.”
With “the kids”
increasingly looking for
convenience and ease in
their busy student lives,
the category perfor
mance of food to go
presents a significant
growth opportunity
– and for impulse
retailers in particu
lar: “Convenience is
the perfect
channel for both
busy students and
the Food-to-Go mission,”
Owen explains.
“Investing in Food-to-Go
solutions will allow retailers to
drive sales by meeting current
demand but also expand sales
opportunities by attracting and
inspiring new students looking
for their next on-the-go meal or
snack.
He sees the breakfast occasion
(which with students can stretch
late into the day – especially at
weekends) as a particularly rich
sales opportunity.
“The out-of-home breakfast
category isn’t slowing down – and
neither are we. This includes the
demand for on-the-go breakfast
options, with the occasion
growing year on year. In fact, the
average spend on breakfast has
increased, which tells us more
shoppers, including students, are
hungry for convenient, tasty and
quality options.”
Rollover has launched a
selection of options to help
retailers tap into the breakfast
occasion.
“We know that bacon, sausage
and egg are amongst shoppers’ top
three breakfast items respective
ly, so recently launched our
newest breakfast delights that
deliver on this demand,” Owen
says. “These include our Rollover
Bacon & Sausage Baguette, made
with streaky bacon and Lin
colnshire sausage. Alongside this,
we have also launched a Sausage,
Egg & Cheese muffin made with a
succulent pork sausage patty,
free-range egg and melted
cheese.”
It is also supporting retailers
with more targeted merchandis
ing and ranging advice to create
greater visibility and encourage
students to think of breakfast as a
more complete meal- a major
push by the company owned by
Pilgrim’s Food Masters. Shoppers
are on the hunt for Hot Food-to-
Go options at all times of the day,
from breakfast baguettes and
muffins to lunchtime burgers,
chicken and our range of hotdogs.
Between Rollover and Kepak, a
viable “restaurant” option is
possible for even the smallest
c-store.
“Our Rollover range offers
something for everyone, helping
How to feed a student
According to Unite
Students, it’s
worthwhile knowing
exactly what to
stock to keep them
happy, and to
maximise sales to hungry young minds
Carbohydrates – filling and the ultimate “brain fuel – perfect for
long study sessions (pasta, rice, potatoes, cereal, bread
Ambient – cans are the lifeline of the student pantry, and well
marketed, you will be able to sell a good range to students (tina,
tomatoes, beans, soups, vegetables, custard and fruit,
Fresh fruit and veg – the basics: apples, oranges and citrus,
bananas, berries, then onions, peppers, chillies, salad leaves,
cucumbers, cauliflowers and green beans ...
Sauces and herbs – essential items for setting up that first
kitchen and entertaining friends at home with meals. Eve salt
and pepper will be needed, not to mention ketchup, tabasco, HP
and Teriyaki. Then there’s stock cubes and mayo, vinegar and oil,
parsley and thyme ...
Hot beverages – a warming cup is essay fuel – tea bags black,
herb and fruit), instant coffee, sachets of all kinds and especially
cocoa and hot choc, then sugar to taste ...
Frozen items – even in a small fridge there will be an overstuffed
compartment, so oven chips and peas and fish portions, chicken
and garlic bread, ready meals and ice cream (don’t forget the ice
cream!)
Snacks and sweets – just as vital to keep the study going: crisps,
biscuits and chocs, snackbars, sweets and soft drinks: pile them
high!
Toiletries and household – cleaning yourself and cleaning your
flat is a big job! Think soap and shampoo, toothpaste,
deodorants and so on – a compact, value-driven range they can
load up on in one trip. Likewise sponges, detergents, loo roll,
clingfilm and foil, bin bags and bulbs – put together an
“expedition pack” to guide the shopper toward self-sufficiency.