Is Technology the platform for Global Growth at Starbucks

Success does leave clues and when you are a global brand your need to look at your strengths and leverages them around the world and let’s face it Starbucks in the leading chain for mobile or and pay according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Starbucks began to roll out the company’s Mobile Order & Pay (Starbucks Now) at 300 select stores in Beijing and Shanghai and plans to introduce this feature across China over the next year. The status quo for coffee growth is no more in China according to Johnson.

Starbucks Now, is a big push to help Starbucks fight-off fast growing Luckin Coffee according to Johnson and almost anyone that follows food start-ups around the world. allows customers to place order in advance of their visit and pick up their beverage and food at a Starbucks store.

Luckin Coffee small format technology driven concept should drive trepidation in the heart and minds of every chain restaurant CEO according to Johnson.  This Luckin Coffee’s business model template will surely be duplicated and not just for coffee products according to Johnson.

Virtual restaurants have become a stealth growth niche according to Johnson.  However this new templated business model fits well into the grocerant niche and consumer food buying customer adoption formats that are increasing becoming popular according to Johnson.

Innovating at the accelerated pace of modern urban life in China, Starbucks Now allows customers to choose a store location based on the GPS functionality of their mobile device to browse, customize a beverage, select a food offering, view order time, and pay— wherever they may be. Following confirmation of the order, baristas handcraft each beverage and have the order ready to hand to the customer when they arrive at the store. The simple convenience of mobile ordering means customers by pass the line.

Here is our question of the day.  Does your company look more like yesterday than tomorrow?  Are you innovating at the same pace as consumers or are you lagging behind?  Success does leave clues Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a new menu product segment and brand and menu integration strategy.  Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant/ or twitter.com/grocerant

Dairy Queen’s Summer of Fun

Like the heartbeat of America Dairy Queen (DQ) is nestled into the heartland of the US and the minds-eye of consumers when summer hits.  Well, this year, DQ is once again edifying its relationship with consumers with the launch of Box of Happy—a first of its kind, experience-centric subscription box filled with hands-on fun. Customers can sign up at DQBoxofHappy.com to receive three months of summer-themed kits, each bringing to life a quintessential seasonal activity with a delicious twist.

Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® believes that success does leave clues and DQ has picked up the ‘best’ from subscription services and is edifying it’s top of mind position with families for generations with this Limited Time Offer. 

Maria Hokanson, executive vice president of Marketing at American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ) stated “Although subscription boxes are hugely popular, today’s families are seeking unique experiences instead of more stuff,”  “DQ is taking a fresh approach with Box of Happy, inspiring parents and kids alike to make the most out of every moment of summer.”

DQ fans can get all three boxes—from June through August—for $45, while supplies last. A three-month subscription includes a total of $30 in DQ gift cards, so families can explore the NEW Blizzard Treat flavors with their monthly deliveries.

Hokanson continued “Families create and savor sweet memories whenever they visit a DQ store,”. “Box of Happy extends this delightful experience outside of our restaurants, bringing families together over campfires, road trips and more—experiences that shape the season just as much as enjoying soft-serve in the sunshine.”

Created in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, each month’s Box of Happy will provide families with an experience focused on a classic summer activity. How are you leveraging your partnerships for customer relevance?

June: Camp-In Box

The Camp-In Box is designed for families to explore the great outdoors in the comfort of their own living room with a box full of the happiest indoor camping gear on earth, including:

·         A built-in, faux, non-flammable campfire designed to work with a smartphone to create a warm glow and crackling sounds of a real summer bonfire.

·         A DQ Camp-In Shadow Puppet Storybook and two flashlights, to create handmade critters and imagine stories with kids, parents and friends alike.

·         A $10 DQ gift card to try the June Blizzard of the Month 

July: Water Park Box

July’s box will allow fans to turn their front yards in to a water park with a collection of fun, joy-filled water games and challenges for the entire family, including:

·         A waterproof box that opens to reveal a built-in, twisting sprinkler

·         A Splashdown activity booklet full of water-fueled outdoor games

·         A $10 DQ gift card to try the July Blizzard of the Month 

August: Road Trip Box

Near or far, the Road Trip Box aims to make fans’ journeys as happy as the destination with supplies for their next family adventure, including:

·         A built-in smartphone camcorder case to capture smiles on the go

·         An original “Memory Maker” card set with prompts of what to capture along your journey

·          A $10 DQ gift card to try the August Blizzard of the Month 

Although Box of Happy shipments are limited to the first lucky fans who can snag one of the three-month subscriptions, special elements from each kit will be available to the public during the first week of each month. For example, once the June Camp-In boxes are mailed to subscribers, the DQ Camp-In Shadow Puppet Storybook will be available for digital download at DQBoxofHappy.com.

According to Johnson, “Brand relevance is in part driven with innovation in new menu related products in combination with new avenues of distribution all of which are the platform for the new electricity.”

Johnson stated “that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh foods, plant based  foods,  sampling, toy’s, beer, developing brands, unique urban clothing, grocerant positioning, Fresh food messaging, autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, plates, glasses, cash-less payments, digital hand-held marketing.

All food retailers to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food that is portable, fresh, with differentiation that is familiar not different. 

For international corporate presentations, educational forums, or keynotes contact: Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions.  His extensive experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert and public speaking will leave success clues for all. For more information visit www.GrocerantGuru.com , www.FoodserviceSolutions.us or call 1-253-759-7869

Casey's General Stores Food Focused Convenience Store

Regular readers of this blog know the consumers love Casey's General Stores pizza.  If fact Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® was the very first to tout the product positioning of pizza at Casey’s and first to write about the outstanding success Casey’s has found with mix and match grocerant niche food and beverage.

As consumer evolve so does Casey’s the newest platform to help drive sales at Casey’s is technology as they debuted a new and improved website that features a refreshed design and enhancements to its online ordering system. Casey’s is more than a C-store it is a restaurant / grocerant with Gas according to Johnson.

Get this, the changes are centered on making it easier than ever to order a Casey's pizza.  Success does leave clues. Art Sebastian, Casey's vice president of digital experiences stated "Our customers love Casey's pizza, and we wanted to make it even easier for them to order online,…The new Caseys.com makes our food the hero of the digital experience, helping to solve the daily meal dilemma."

To learn how to streamline the online ordering experience, Casey's spent time with its customers across all 16 states in its operating footprint.  Sebastian continued "We know customers are always looking for ways to save time. Ordering breakfast, lunch or dinner at Caseys.com gives our pizza lovers a few minutes back each day so they can do the things they really love,"  "Our goal is for customers to shop Caseys.com anytime and anywhere, when it's most convenient for them."

Ensuring the look and feel of a restaurant Casey’s, website improvements include:

·         Easier ordering — Customers can save their "favorites" after setting up an account. This includes favorite order, store location, preferred method of payment and delivery address.

·         Increased customization — Customers can now order their pizza exactly how they like it, such as selecting specific toppings for each half of the pizza; making substitutions for sauces and toppings; and adjusting how much or how little to use of each ingredient.

·         Faster carryout — Customers can now pay online for carryout orders, letting them skip the in-store cashier line.

Looking for success clues of your own? Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced food marketing and business development ideations. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities, technology, or a new menu product segment.  Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, www.Linkedin.com/in/grocerant/  or www.twitter.com/grocerant

New Partnership Drives Relevance and New Electricity at Burgerville

Local, ‘better for you’ sustainable products are two things that continue to drive success, new electricity, and growth at Burgerville according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. 

Burgerville and Coconut Bliss, two Oregon-based companies, have collaborated on a brand new100% plant-based, dairy-free ice cream shake. The Bliss Shake is available at nearly all Burgerville locations throughout Oregon and Washington.

The Bliss Shake is made with coconut milk and sweetened with organic cane sugar, the soft serve blend was created by Coconut Bliss exclusively for Burgerville. It’s one of the first plant-based shakes to be offered year-round at a restaurant chain. While Burger King has the impossible burger Burgerville now has the Bliss Shake.

Chef Becky McGrath, director of food production at Burgerville stated “Our guests have been requesting plant-based shakes for years,” ..“It was so fun to work side by side with Coconut Bliss to develop this exclusive soft serve delicious shake. We’re thrilled to now be able to offer our guests both dairy and non-dairy options every day.”

This is important Burgerville is selling it for the same price as its traditional dairy milkshakes, guests can order any available shake flavor—including Oregon Fresh Berry Shakes, which will be available in June—by saying, “Make it a Bliss.” The Bliss Shakes will be made on a dedicated Bliss machine in each location that is separate from the traditional dairy milkshake machine. 

Coconut Bliss is also excited about this special product launch with Burgerville, as it marks the company’s first foray into the fast-casual restaurant sector. The Eugene, Oregon based company strategically chose Burgerville as its partner in this important venture, since the companies share similar customer bases as well as an ongoing commitment to producing high-quality food.

Kim Gibson Clark, president and CEO of Coconut Bliss stated “As a producer of organic, ethically-produced ice cream that’s 100 percent plant-based, Coconut Bliss knows the value of doing the right thing, which isn’t necessarily the easy thing,” … “That’s why we believe that we have found the perfect partner in Burgerville for this new plant-based shake. Burgerville is known for its fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, as well as for its commitment to sustainable business practices. We love all that and see Burgerville aligning well with the Coconut Bliss brand, as well as the quality of our ice cream.”

Clark adds, “Coconut Bliss is happy to be part of the movement to add plant-based foods, and other alternative menu items, to more dining options and locations in order to promote healthy living and environmentally-conscious eating practices.”  How is your brand building new electricity?

According to Johnson, “Brand relevance is in part driven with innovation in new menu related products in combination with new avenues of distribution all of which are the platform for the new electricity.”

Johnson stated “that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh foods, plant based  foods,  sampling, toy’s, beer, developing brands, unique urban clothing, grocerant positioning, Fresh food messaging, autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, plates, glasses, cash-less payments, digital hand-held marketing.

All food retailers to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food that is portable, fresh, with differentiation that is familiar not different. 

Are If you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how www.FoodserviceSolutions.us can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization?  Email us at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or visit:  www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information.

Are you Cooking Tonight No You Are

When asked What’s for dinner? The most common answer today is I’m not cooking.  Just like the old song says ‘things they are A-changing’ Well if your cooking for an at home family meal for two, three, or four, family members, chances are very good your buying several Ready-2-Eat or Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared meal components according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma WA based Foodservice Solutions®.   

Odds are that 85% of consumers are not cooking all of there dinner but are buying at least one grocerant niche meal component that is either Ready-2-Eat or a Heat-N-Eat component. Regular readers of this blog know that grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants are all bundling fresh prepared meal components for the home cook.  The home cook is responding, buying individualized components, making meal assembly of fresh prepared meal components as the replacement for cooking from scratch.

Restaurants, Service Deli, and C-store foodservice aided with branded and private label food manufactures products are all vying for your dinner table. Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat foods from Swiss steak, Meatloaf, Baked Salmon, Rotisserie Chicken, Pizza and Lasagna fall fresh prepared, portioned and portable in portions for 1,2, or 5 are all available at most foodservice retail location.

Think about this, the opportunity for new start-up’s and regional manufactures to produce sustainable business built on local, fresh, and unique flavor profiles.  Legacy national brand manufactures are experiencing an increase in re-positioning, consolidation and acquisition activities.  Regional start-ups are thriving supplying local restaurants, C-stores and grocery store delis.

Consumer are responding buying meal components in new food channels, experiencing new flavor profiles all the while individualizing the family meal.  The foodservice industry is evolving with the consumer.  Those companies looking for opportunity for growth times have never been better. The consumer is dynamic not static are you keeping pace?

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a brand leveraging integration strategy.  Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit: www.Linkedin.com/in/grocerant  or www.twitter.com/grocerant

Sandridge Food Corp Fresh Food Fast

At the intersection of meal time and the family sitting down for dinner is the meal planner’s conundrum; how to make everyone happy with What’s for Dinner and ensure they all get a balanced meal. Sandridge Food Corporation understands that the consumer is dynamic not static and they are providing a solution to the conundrum, What’s for Dinner with relevance according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

If success leaves clues and it does.  Sandridge Food a fresh food manufacturer, has positioned itself at the intersection of consumer and the meal solutions consumers are in search of according to Johnson. For over 50 years, Sandridge Food has built a reputation as a leader in fresh food manufacturing for both retail and food service.

As Sandridge Food sustainability, growth, and fresh food positioning evolve in dinner entrée’s, side dishes,  salads that complement their core legacy business they will play a leading role in making the meal planners job much easier according to Johnson garnering a larger Share of Stomach. 

Battle for Share of Stomach

The opportunity to expand points of distribution with grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared meals, meal components continues to drive growth in all sectors of retail food sales and Sandridge is a company that has the mix and match meal component options retailers are looking for.

Sandridge is committed to continually looking for cutting edge processes and identifying flavor trends that make our customers respected and relevant in the food industry. We partner with you to create and provide the flavors that tell your brand story and build trust with your customers. With a focus on freshness and delivering homestyle-flavor, Sandridge is the partner you want when big flavor is what you need.

Sandridge’s brand promise is to provide unrivalled fresh food that is reliable with handmade quality that enhances our customers’ reputation. Is your company evolving your fresh meal component options?  Are you focused on the customer?  Are you a retailer looking for new fresh prepared meal options?

Are If you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how www.FoodserviceSolutions.us can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization?  Email us at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or visit:  www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information.

Restaurants Doing Food Delivery for Less

Restaurant demand for meals delivered shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  In fact, back in the day when Johnson sold /placed the first 7 national restaurant chain accounts for cybermeals / food.com online ordering industry sales hovered around 4% for meal takeout.

Today, 63% of all restaurant traffic is for ‘off premise’ and the demand for delivery show no signs of dwindling.  What is evolving is both independent restaurants and chain restaurants are tired of paying high fees for ‘third-party’ delivery services driving the cost of a meal up, and customers away.

There is a sustainable path forward according to Johnson. It is a less expensive option for food delivery that is deemed ‘better-for-you’ by Millennials those driving the increase in demand for food delivery.  The new option is doing delivery in-house using Phat Scooters® is the leader in the personal and commercial electric scooter market according to Johnson.  

Restaurant understand that the times have come to change the way they delivery food, by owing the experience, the customer and the data derived from the order. Path Scooter is going to revolutionize the food  delivery space with their new scooter, the Phleet. 

The Phleet scooter is designed specifically for food delivery, the Phleet scooter boasts a powerful and silent 100% electric motor, a battery that goes up to 75 miles on a charge, and most importantly, the ability to drive in bike lave avoiding traffic and the need for parking spots.

So, why is this scooter allowed to ride in the bike lane?  The easy to ride Phleet has a 749-watt electric motor with a maximum speed of 20 MPH and fully operational pedals, therefore under most state laws it is considered a class II E-bike. 

This category does not require registration or specialty licensing, which keeps the scooter extremely economical for the restaurant operator. Additionally, it features three areas for food storage for doing large or multiple orders. The storage areas can be branded with your logo. Are you tired of paying for a third party to delivery food? Do you want to control your delivery, data, and ordering experience?  

Are If you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how www.FoodserviceSolutions.us can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization?  Email us at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or visit:  www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information.

Millennials sustainability and Pathwater

Millennials quest of discovery continues to drive food retail in every sector of foodservice today according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. When a product has the ‘halo’ of sustainability around it, millennial adoption increases according to Johnson.

It is at the intersection of water and packaging we find a unique company garnering the attention of millennials, Gen Z, and Baby Boomers that company is Pathwater.  Today, water has become a focal point with millennials and particularly how it is packaged. 

Week after week we see pictures and or commercials on TV highlighting the damage non-recycled plastic is doing to our oceans, waterways, and wildlife. Plastic has increasingly become a deterrent in consumers path to purchase particularly when it come to water bottles.

Pathwater has sets into a motion a movement and challenges us to rise above our old plastic water bottle habit. It keeps water colder for longer, is sustainable, affordable, and makes it easy for everyone to make the shift from single-use plastic, once and for all.

Pathwater found that aluminum is the only material that offers 100% endless recyclability, as long as it’s put back into the recycling system.75% of all Aluminum ever produced is still actively in use today. Aluminum recyclables are melted down then made into new products, including new Pathwater bottles, infinitely.

Since China is not buying our plastic like they once did; plastic recycling is has lost it steam and many municipalities have stopped collecting many recyclables including plastic.  Other are increasing the monthly charge to recycle. Millennials want to help solve this problem and are leading the way with the adoption of products from companies the ilk of Pathwater.

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how www.FoodserviceSolutions.us can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization?  Email us at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or visit:  www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information.

Will Virtual Restaurants become food sector Disruptors?

Here we go again, the restaurant sector is facing challenges from outside the restaurant sector yet inside the food sector.  Back in the day pizza store fronts (delivery only) branded outlets displaced many Italian restaurants, they also replaced companies the ilk of Pizza Hut once had over 2,000 ‘red roof’ full-service restaurants.  According to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

All regular readers of this blog have driven by a virtual restaurant, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Papa John’s and most of you have virtual restaurant meals delivered right to your door.  Then there are companies the ilk of Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, and Plated sure you have to prepare them at home, cook them, then do dishes. All the while with a virtual restaurant all you have to do is open the door and eat!

Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant ScoreCards indicate consumers consider new virtual restaurants first to be ‘restaurant quality or better’ and second ‘a restaurant meal replacement’ and third ‘special occasion dinning’. Now for the undercurrents of success driving virtual restaurants and disruption:

1.       Online Ordering

2.       Free Wi-Fi

3.       Digital Menus

4.       Digital Loyalty

5.       Mobile Ordering

Just as the lines between retail sectors have grown thinner so have storefronts.  Today a storefront and can include your neighbor’s kitchen, Pop-Up shipping-container-size kitchens, grocery stores, convenience stores, dollar stores, and restaurants the ilk of Red Robin, Carrabba’s Italian Grill.

In a world where meal component assembly has become the new form of meal preparation with 83.7% of family meals having at least one fresh prepared meal component, the facts are clear cooking from scratch is a bygone era.  Our question today is doe’s your food retail outlet look more like yesterday or tomorrow?

Interested in learning how Foodservice Solutions 5P’s of Food Marketing can edify your retail food brand while creating a platform for consumer convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization? Email us at: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or visit:  www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information

What is Complexity Free Food

The impossible burger is complexity free in the minds-eye of the consumer as it has been defined with exceptional transparency according to Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru® Steven Johnson.

That transparency elevates the impossible burger to the status of grocerant niche ‘Better-for-you’ fresh prepared food.  Then when portable and portioned for one or two it will to drive demand in every sector of retail foodservice. 

Consumers today are seeking ‘better-for-you’ fresh prepared food as meal components that can be bundled in to a customized family meal according to Johnson. Does your team have the wrong definition for Grocerant? Do you understand the Grocerant niche?

Grocery stores of a bygone era thought they could respond to consumers demand to drive sales simply by opening more stores, larger stores, or ‘scale’ a fresh food department that looked like 1980’s rather than today.  The restaurant sector is hell bent that they will not let happen to them.  There are chains that will prove that wrong, however.

That did work when most food choice came from a can, a jar, or a box that could sit on a shelf for years and slotting fees paid for the shelf space. Simply put that was a mindset of yesterday’s grocery retailers the ilk of A&P and others still taking slotting fees.

Johnson continued “retailers back in the day felt that all they need was more scale to compete successfully with other grocery stores. Today consumers demand fresh grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat prepared food can be found at companies the ilk of Wegmans, Green Zebra Grocery, New Season Market, Wawa, Sheetz, KFC, McDonald’s, and Papa Murphy’s.

Complexity free in the minds-eye of the consumer according to the team at Tacoma, WA based FoodserviceSolutions.us means, less meal preparation time, little or no cooking, vegan, less food waste, less time shopping, less packaging, local, fresh fast food, in-season food, and portions for one or two.

 In fact, one of the key finding was no matter the size of the household fresh was best and the ability to mix and match meal components was crucial.  Does your company look more like yesterday or tomorrow?

Foodservice Solutions® team is here to help you drive top line sales and bottom-line profits. Are you looking a customer ahead? Visit www.FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may the clue you need to propel your continued success.