System and method for day-part marketing ready-to-eat food items

Abstract

The invention includes a method of marketing food items in a retail store, the method including displaying breakfast and lunch foods on a counter, where the counter is configured to be rotatable in the horizontal plane. During a period of hours of a day when breakfast foods are in demand by customers, positioning the counter such that breakfast foods are most proximate to an entrance to the retail store and lunch foods are least proximate to the entrance to the retail store. At about the end of the period of hours of the day when breakfast foods are in demand by customers, rotating the counter about 180 degrees in the horizontal plane such that the lunch foods are positioned most proximate to the entrance to the retail store and breakfast foods are positioned least proximate to the entrance to the retail store.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of marketing food items in a retail store, said method comprising: 
 (a) displaying breakfast and lunch foods on a counter, wherein said counter is configured to be rotatable in the horizontal plane;    (b) during a period of hours of a day when breakfast foods are in demand by customers, positioning the counter such that breakfast foods are most proximate to an entrance to the retail store and lunch foods are least proximate to the entrance to the retail store; and    (c) at about the end of the period of hours of the day when breakfast foods are in demand by customers, rotating the counter about 180 degrees in the horizontal plane such that the lunch foods are positioned most proximate to the entrance to the retail store and breakfast foods are positioned least proximate to the entrance to the retail store.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein breakfast foods are positioned on the side of the counter most proximate to the entrance to the retail store in the morning portion of the day and lunch foods are positioned on the side of the counter most proximate to the entrance to the retail store in the mid-day portion of the day.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein breakfast foods occupy about one-half of the counter.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying breakfast and lunch foods at least 2 of the rotatable counters, wherein the counters are directly adjacent.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying breakfast and lunch foods on at least 2 of the rotatable counters, wherein each rotatable counter is adjacent to, and on opposing sides of, a non-rotatable counter.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said rotating is by manual power.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said rotating is by electric motor power.  
     
     
         8 . A method of marketing ready-to-eat take out food items, said method comprising: 
 (a) displaying at least 2 food groups on a counter, wherein each food group contains foods in demand during different parts of a day, wherein said counter is configured to be rotatable in the horizontal plane; and    (b) periodically rotating the counter, wherein during the part of a day when a food group is in demand, that food group is positioned, relative to the other food groups on the counter, in a position more visible and accessible to customers.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein breakfast foods are positioned on the side of the counter most proximate to the entrance to the retail store in the morning portion of the day and lunch foods are positioned on the side of the counter most proximate to the entrance to the retail store in the mid-day portion of the day.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein breakfast foods occupy about one-half of the counter.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising displaying breakfast and lunch foods at least 2 of the rotatable counters, wherein the counters are directly adjacent.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising displaying breakfast and lunch foods on at least 2 of the rotatable counters, wherein each rotatable counter is adjacent to, and on opposing sides of, a non-rotatable counter.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said rotating is by manual power.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said rotating is by electric motor power.  
     
     
         15 . A display system for marketing food items in a retail store, said display system comprising: 
 (a) a horizontal countertop for supporting food items and having an area sufficient for supporting both breakfast and lunch food items;    (b) a base for supporting the countertop at a height sufficient for convenient access to the food items by a customer; and    (c) wherein said countertop is pivotally mounted to a top portion of the base and is configured for pivoting in the horizontal plane.    
     
     
         16 . The display system of  claim 15 , wherein the countertop is configured for pivoting at least 180 degrees in the horizontal plane.  
     
     
         17 . The display system of  claim 15 , further comprising a latch member for securing the countertop in one position.  
     
     
         18 . The display system of  claim 15 , wherein the countertop is mounted to the top portion of the base with a ball-bearing mechanism sandwiched between the countertop and top portion of the base, configured for providing the pivoting of the countertop.  
     
     
         19 . The display system of  claim 15 , wherein the diameter of the countertop is about equal to the diameter of the base.  
     
     
         20 . The display system of  claim 15 , wherein the shape of the countertop in a top-down view is substantially round.  
     
     
         21 . The display system of  claim 15 , wherein the shape of the countertop in a top-down view is substantially elliptical.  
     
     
         22 . The display system of  claim 15 , wherein the shape of the countertop in a top-down view is substantially a quadrilateral.  
     
     
         23 . The display system of  claim 15 , wherein the shape of the countertop in a top-down view is substantially triangular.  
     
     
         24 . A display system for marketing ready-to-eat, take out food items, said display system comprising: 
 (a) a horizontal countertop for supporting at least 2 food groups, wherein each food group contains foods in demand during different parts of a day;    (b) a base for supporting the countertop at a height sufficient for convenient access to the food items by a customer; and    (c) wherein said countertop is rotatably mounted to a top portion of the base and is configured for rotating in the horizontal plane.    
     
     
         25 . The display system of  claim 24 , wherein the countertop is configured for pivoting at least 180 degrees in the horizontal plane.  
     
     
         26 . The display system of  claim 24 , further comprising a latch member for securing the countertop in one position.  
     
     
         27 . The display system of  claim 24 , wherein the countertop is mounted to the top portion of the base with a ball-bearing mechanism sandwiched between the countertop and top portion of the base, configured for providing the pivoting of the countertop.  
     
     
         28 . The display system of  claim 24 , wherein the diameter of the countertop is about equal to the diameter of the base.  
     
     
         29 . The display system of  claim 24 , wherein the shape of the countertop in a top-down view is substantially round.  
     
     
         30 . The display system of  claim 24 , wherein the shape of the countertop in a top-down view is substantially elliptical.  
     
     
         31 . The display system of  claim 24 , wherein the shape of the countertop in a top-down view is substantially a quadrilateral.  
     
     
         32 . The display system of  claim 24 , wherein the shape of the countertop in a top-down view is substantially triangular.