Portillo's Triple Drive-Thru Fresh Food Fast

Grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared and portable food fast has been key to driving customer trail, adoption, and brand migration according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Fast-casual chain Portillo’s is kicking things up a notch, with a new, one-of-a-kind location. The company introduced Portillo’s Pick Up. Unlike traditional restaurants, Portillo’s Pick Up will not have an indoor dining room. Instead, the 3,750-square-foot restaurant will feature three drive-thru lanes as well as a pick-up area for orders placed at portillos.com and through the Portillo’s app. The chain will also offer delivery and catering from the new Joliet restaurant.

Portillo’s CEO Michael Osanloo, stated, “This new restaurant is unlike anything Portillo’s has ever done…. “We’re bringing the inside out in Joliet. With this new model, guests will get the signature Portillo’s experience with our unrivaled Chicago-street food exclusively via our pickup and delivery channels. We know our guests enjoy the convenience of our drive-thru and delivery, so we’re excited to double down on those efforts.”

Fresh food fast is one of the hallmarks of the Grocerant niche and once open, Portillo’s Speed Team will race to serve guests its signature Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, char-broiled burgers, fresh salads and world-famous chocolate cake, all for takeaway. Outside, the restaurant will feature Portillo’s design and flair, complete with a raceway theme.

“Portillo’s is a popular regional eatery that I am proud to welcome to Joliet,” says Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk. “This new restaurant concept combined with the popularity of Portillo’s is a promising addition to the North Ridge Plaza shopping center. This is another outstanding development for Joliet and its residents.”

To help launch the new restaurant, Portillo’s designed a limited-edition t-shirt for this location. Guests are invited to sign up for Portillo’s Birthday Club to receive one of these shirts on opening day, while supplies last. Fans who sign up also receive a slice of Portillo’s homemade chocolate cake on their birthday. 

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 us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter 

PDQ Fresh Chicken and Baby Boomers Welcome

 

If success does leave clues and it does Paul Anka has picked up a few over the years. Paul Anka is an icon to many and singing success that every Baby Boomer knows with hits like Diana, It's Time to Cry, My Heart Sings,  It Doesn't Matter Anymore

Paul Anka's credits include the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, He wrote "Teddy",and lyrics to "My Way", Frank Sinatra's signature song (originally the French song "Comme d'habitude").

Now the world-renowned artist has teamed up with PDQ restaurants (People Dedicated to Quality) to create a jingle for the award-winning premium chicken brand. Anka is a long-time fan of PDQ and produced a 30-second commercial that lets listeners know they can “Count on PDQ” for fresh chicken and a Tender Lovin’ approach to its guests. All Baby Boomers know his sound, and Anka wants them to try PDQ’s chicken.

So, the jingle will air on radio stations in the Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale/Miami and Tampa Bay markets starting on Wednesday, July 28. Anka and PDQ are also working together to give away tickets and other unique experiences as part of his United States tour starting this fall.

Anka is the only artist in history to have a song on the Billboard charts during seven consecutive decades, and his LP and single sales collectively number more than 90 million per BMI. Anka received the prestigious Johnny Mercer award by the Songwriters Hall of Fame and is also the recipient of the 2020 French National Order or Merit by President Macron for his international career as an author, composer, and performer. He was named the 21st most successful artist in Billboard history, alongside Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

“Paul Anka is a legend in the music industry, his music spans generations, and we are honored that he has created this incredible jingle for our brand,” says PDQ Chief Marketing Officer Frank Rappa. “Paul is beloved throughout the world. He exemplifies a Person Dedicated to Quality.”

Once again, Anka has more than 500 songs to his credit, including “Put Your Head On My Shoulder,” “My Way,” and the famous theme from “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” He has also collaborated with other legends in the music world, including Celine Dion, Buddy Holly, Michael Jackson, Tom Jones, Olivia Newton-John, Frank Sinatra, and many others. PDQ will have a success story to tell with the sounds of Anka on their side.

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 us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

Little Caesars Plant-Based Pepperoni Pizza Is on Trend

 

Little Caesars plant-based pepperoni aka Planteroni is a value added welcome mat that will drive trial, adoption, and new electricity for Little Caesars according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Yes, Little Caesars is asking customers to suspend their “disbeleaf” and declaring its new pizza with plant-based pepperoni to be unbelievably zesty, bold, and absolutely delicious. The chain is launching the Planteroni Pizza, made with the new Field Roast Plant-Based Pepperoni, to many of its stores across the United States starting today. 

According to Johnson, “Brand relevance is in part driven with innovation in new food products in combination with new avenues of distribution all of which are the platform for the new electricity.”  That said, what are you waiting for?

Johnson stated “that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh foods, 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 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.

Little Caesars new pizza option will be available at Little Caesars locations in the cities and suburbs of Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, San Francisco, Portland, Oregon, and the chain’s hometown of Detroit. Customers can choose from a regular Planteroni Pizza for $8.49, a Slices-N-Sticks product consisting of half Planteroni Pizza and half cheesy, buttery tasting breadsticks for $8, or add Field Roast Plant-Based Pepperoni as a topping on any custom pizza.

Jeff Klein, chief marketing officer at Little Caesars, "Planteroni delivers a plant-based version of the delicious flavor of America’s most popular pizza topping, and you need to taste it to believe it,” …. "This product is really going to surprise and delight our customers.”

There is no doubt that consumers have a growing appetite for plant-based protein options according to recent data, which shows that 69% of people would order plant-based meat. Little Caesars and the Field Roast brand are satisfying that craving with the Planteroni Pizza, a regular pizza made with plant-based pepperoni that delivers an authentic, bold pepperoni taste. Field Roast Plant-Based Pepperoni is the first pepperoni alternative on the market to be made with pea protein, not soy; it’s crafted with fresh spices including whole pieces of fennel, cracked black pepper, garlic and paprika. The Field Roast brand debuted the first-of-its-kind innovation earlier this year, making Little Caesars the first national pizza chain to offer it so broadly in the United States.

Dan Curtin, President of Greenleaf Foods, stated, “This is a huge moment for pizza lovers because for the first time, they have access to a zesty, bold -plant-based pepperoni made with pea protein that absolutely delivers on taste,”... “We believe every occasion deserves bold, inspired flavors—we’re excited to work with Little Caesars to deliver on that promise.”

Now customers can order their Planteroni Pizza for delivery using the Little Caesars app, or pre-pay and then conveniently collect their order using Pizza Portal pickup (a heated, self-service mobile order pickup station) at any participating Little Caesars Location in the selected markets.

Foodservice Solutions® team is here to help you drive top line sales and bottom-line profits. Are you looking a customer ahead? Visit GrocerantGuru.com 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.

At Circle K Cash is King but Bitcoin is Welcome

 

Timely, topical, transparent Bitcoin equals customer relevance to a new generation of consumers and Circle K wants to welcome those consumers too Circle K according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. Customer relevance edifies your brand with consumers driving new electricity.

Recently, Circle K announced an international partnership with Bitcoin ATM network Bitcoin Depot.  For those of you who do not know, Bitcoin Depot ATMs are kiosks that enable users to exchange cash for cryptocurrency, allowing for simple, in-person transactions that give users immediate access to bitcoin and over 30 other cryptocurrencies. Yes, this is a real thing.  Once again times they are a Changin’ for those of you old enough to remember.  All retailers must continue to look a customer ahead according to Johnson.

If you did not know that there has been unprecedented growth of digital currency.  Which has led to large retail companies finding growing interest in Bitcoin ATMs. As one of the world’s leading convenience and fuel retailers, Circle K is the first major retail chain to deploy Bitcoin ATMs within its stores.

Bitcoin Depot CEO Brandon Mintz, stated, “We’re thrilled to create a long-term, strategic partnership with Circle K and to expand our footprint internationally with a global leader in convenience and fuel retail.”… “Circle K understands that cryptocurrency will be a growing part of the future economy and payments landscape. By adding Bitcoin ATMs to the company’s stores, Circle K can attract new customers to their stores, offer financial access to underserved communities, and set themselves apart from other retailers with this new technology.”

There is no doubt that demand for cryptocurrency will continue to increase, that more and more customers will be visiting convenience stores to use Bitcoin ATMs. So, to use a Bitcoin ATM, someone would visit a Bitcoin Depot ATM within a Circle K, insert cash after providing his or her crypto wallet address, and crypto would be sent immediately to the wallet. The whole process from signing up for an account to completing a transaction takes just a few minutes. Bitcoin Depot ATM locations can be found by visiting bitcoindepot.com where all Circle K locations with bitcoin ATMs are listed.

Circle K Senior Vice President Global Merchandise and Procurement Denny Tewell, stated “At Circle K, we are passionate about making our customers’ lives a little easier every day, and we are continually looking at ways to enhance their experience in our stores and be their favorite stop for a growing range of needs and occasions,” …“Our partnership with Bitcoin Depot further builds on this commitment, giving our brand an important, early presence in the fast-growing cryptocurrency marketplace as a convenient destination where customers can buy Bitcoin.”

How are you building customer relevance?  Who is your next new customer?  How are they going to be paying their bill?  Brands need customer relevance to drive new electricity into the brand.

According to Johnson, “Brand relevance is in part driven with innovation in new food products in combination with new avenues of distribution all of which are the platform for the new electricity.”  That said, what are you waiting for?

Johnson, stated, “that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh foods, 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 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, regional chain 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 GrocerantGuru.com, FoodserviceSolutions.US or call 1-253-759-7869

Robomart On-Demand Foodservice

New avenues of fresh food distribution continue to open up.  Each one seems to have the ability to garner new customers.  Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® asks, where are you customer shopping after they leave your store, and why?

Robomart is a Santa Monica, California-based company hails itself as the first store-hailing platform. So, what does that mean?  Ok, consumers can us the proprietary Robomart app, then they can hail an automated store on wheels and have it arrive at their location in less than 10 minutes, making it the fastest delivery service currently available, according the Robomart press release.

Robomart partnered with Miami-based REEF, an operator of mobility and logistics hubs and neighborhood kitchens in North America, to manage product stocking, tagging, scanning, integrity and replenishment. The goal, fresh food fast and flavorful was clearly top of mind according to Johnson.

Ali Ahmed, co-founder of Robomart, stated, "We're incredibly excited to launch Robomart in West Hollywood and introduce consumers to the latest innovation in retail,"… "In the past decade, online delivery services have grown substantially and filled a need in the market; however, there are still many challenges that make these services undesirable for consumers.

Ahmed continues, "With Robomart, we're disrupting the industry and have received incredible feedback from consumers on how this is the most convenient way to shop — delivering the fastest and most seamless shopping experience — which other delivery services simply can't offer.”

The press release stated that, initially, the company is rolling out two Robomart types: a Pharmacy Robomart and a ready-to-eat Snacks Robomart. It is developing a Grocery Robomart. Johnson, believe that the full potential will not be reached until the focus on daypart meals with Grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared meals and meal components.

Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a Grocerant ScoreCard, or for product positioning or placement assistance, or call our Grocerant Guru®.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or 253-759-7869 

Rock Bottom Restaurants Rolling Out the Barrel Just for You

 

After mowing your yard in the summer there is nothing in the world better than a cold beer according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  Rock Bottom’s food marketing team must know that as well as they have rolled out a program at some Colorado locations where members of the Beer Barrel Club get their own keg and a $300 credit for refills.

That’s right, Colorado branches of the Rock Bottom brewpub chain restaurant have starting a $300 beer subscription program aimed at boosting both off and on-premise business. So, get this, members of the Beer Barrel Club get a 128-ounce steel beer keg for use both at home or at a unit’s table; a $300 credit for 12 refills; free cleanings of their kegs; and a special membership card. Now that will quench your thirst.

Beer Barrel Club members or any customers can buy a filled beer keg without joining the club for $170, which Colorado units will clean and refill for $27.50.

Then patrons can use the full-sized keg at their table (it contains eight pintsized servings). Nonmembers who don’t want to pop for the full size can buy a filled Table-Tap Barrel for $27.50, which they can take- home at the end of the visit.

Regular readers of this blog know that Rock Bottom is the second major brewpub chain to launch a beer subscription service. BJ’s Restaurants in California offer customers the chance to join a “beer club” for $30. In exchange, they’re offered both to-go and on-premise perks, including early access to new BJ’s beers.

Do you think a subscription program could work for your brand?   If so, you’re not alone as others the ilk of Panera Bread said it has found great success with its coffee program, where customers pay an upfront fee in exchange for a daily cup of coffee at no additional charge. Then there is Dickey’s Barbecue Pit sends boxes of meat to members of its subscription service for prices ranging from $99.99 to $280 as regular readers of this blog know.

How well do you know your customers?  Are you trying to build sales the same way you did in 2010, 2015, or 2019? Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food 2015, 2019 if so; how is that working for you?

Do your marketing tactics look more like yesterday than tomorrow?  Visit GrocerantGuru.com for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may have the clue you need to propel your continued success. 

The Frozen Food Court Continues Courting Restaurant Customers

 

At the intersection of branded food sales and consumer demand grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat food continues to resonate with consumers.  While new avenues of distribution continue to open-up driving customer trial, the frozen food court is increasingly playing a larger and larger role for many families according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

While, frozen foods proved to be a pandemic powerhouse in 2020, when concerned consumers stockpiled their freezers with longer shelf-life items during the height of lockdowns. The latest report finds 30% of Americans expanded their freezer capacity in 2020 and are still shopping to keep their freezer stocked.

According to American Frozen Food Institute’s (AFFI) 2021 "Power of Frozen" report found frozen food sales up another 9.2% this year. The report compiled information from IRI in partnership with Arlington, Va.-based FMI – the Food Industry Association the report aims to bring an understanding of consumers' perceptions, attitudes and behaviors regarding frozen food. 

Should restaurant worry about price, well according to Johnson if you look deep into the 2021 "Power of Frozen" report it shows that consumers are invested in their frozen foods. “Preparing more meals at home during the pandemic highly favored frozen foods and their longer shelf life — and even prompted consumers to invest in additional freezer space. The report found that 30% of Americans expanded their freezer capacity by adding a second fridge/freezer combination or a stand-alone freezer in 2020.”

So, consumers are not stupid, they are not letting their investment go to waste, consumers continue to highly engage with the frozen food aisle. Over the last 52 weeks ending late May 2021, frozen food sales are still up 9.2% versus the same period a year ago. This is 4% higher than the 5.8% increase in sales seen for all foods and beverages. Branded food retailers need to consider entering the frozen food court and take seriously the opportunity to place their brand in and on a avenue of distribution that their customers have not abandoned.

In a Battel for Share of Stomach

Are you Missing OUT? 

The report continued finding, in May of 2021, frozen foods were still 22.6% over and above their 2019 pre-pandemic baseline. This is still much higher than the 14.8% increase in sales for total foods and beverages. Across all 2021 months to date, frozen food gains have consistently been above 20% versus 2019, with matching unit and volume gains.

Here are some of the growth drivers from the report that prove the demand for frozen foods will remain:

·         The three levers of growth: Every brand, product or category has three ways to increase sales: having more people buy, having people buy more and having people buy more often. Frozen food sales gains are the result of hitting this growth trifecta. Virtually every frozen food category saw an increase in household penetration, trips and the average basket size — an accomplishment not all departments can boast.

·         The 360 win: Many categories play in breakfast versus dinner or indulgence versus health. But frozen foods cover it all: functionality, indulgence and variety. Lunch became a huge growth opportunity during the pandemic, as consumers emphasized time and convenience. With many more consumers continuing to work from home part or all of the time, frozen foods are expected to continue to make inroads across meal occasions.

·         Online food and beverage growth: While all retail channels gained over the past 15 months, it was food e-commerce that exploded, with a 2020 gain of 84%, according to IRI. Online now represents about 10% of all food sold in the United States. Also, online growth has not yet plateaued, with expected market penetration of about 12% by the end of 2021. Here, too, frozen foods ride a growth trend, with very high online conversion and penetration.

The grocerant niche continues to be influential as “The 2021 "Power of Frozen" report shows particular strength in frozen seafood and meals. There is no doubt that grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat prepared meals and meal components are the key drivers of our evolving food consumption patterns.

Foodservice Solutions® team is here to help you drive top line sales and bottom-line profits. Are you looking a customer ahead? Visit GrocerantGuru.com 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.

Wendy's Breakfast More Talk than Chalk

Chalk one up for the home team is an old adage we have all heard.  Touting the success of a new limited time offer or menu item is not the same as touting the success of an entire daypart; according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Marketing messaging, total unit sales, and profitability have to go hand in hand. It is still an open question to some Franchisee’s if reentering the AM daypart for the third try will be sustainable over time. Not to worry, The Wendy’s Co., has not given up in a sign that expanding messaging is still needed, new meal deal promotion began recently with a bus-stop giveaway in Providence, R.I., that was aimed at building awareness according to the company.

The bus stop pop-up in Providence’s Kennedy Plaza is just part of the company’s $15 million effort this year to get Wendy’s consumer’s’ to think Wendy’s breakfast first. Since price matters for all dayparts, they added a new systemwide meal deal of two select breakfast sandwiches — a choice of Sausage, Egg and Swiss Croissant; Bacon, Egg and Swiss Croissant; or Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit — for $4 through early August.

Todd Penegor, Wendy’s CEO, in May’s first-quarter earnings call, said breakfast awareness was “a trial game.” This third trial of the AM daypart is costly for franchisee hard pressed to find enough workers as it is according to Johnson.

Not only do the Wendy’s franchissee have to battle Burger King, McDonalds, 7-Eleven, Wawa, they have to battle Dunkin Donuts in the Northeast for share of stomach.  The company said the July 14 pop-up giveaway was “part of a larger competitive breakfast takeover in the Providence market, dubbed #DitchTheDonut.” The promotion included bus-cling and billboard advertising and a sweepstakes at Instagram’s @DitchTheDonutSweeps through Aug. 13. The sweepstakes award of “breakfast for a year” will be in the form of $550 in Wendy's gift cards.

Battle for Share of Stomach

That battle for share of stomach will require both time and money according to Johnson. Penegor said on that call,  “What we need to do is continue to get folks to come in and try our food,”. “

Penegor, continued “We’ve got to continue to create awareness to bounce those folks back from lunch and dinner into breakfast, which then drives incrementality to our business, because it’s another visit, another frequency that gets picked up along the way,”

“Awareness leads to trial,” he said. “Trial leads to repeat trial, and the repeat leads to growth.”

At the intersection of franchisee profits and brand messaging the consumer will be both the judge and jury deciding if the third try at breakfast for Wendy’s will work or not?  What do you think?

Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a Grocerant ScoreCard, or for product positioning or placement assistance, or call our Grocerant Guru®.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or 253-759-7869