Papa John’s Getting High Marks for Hemp

 

You have to give Papa John’s credit to the new team at Papa John’s for changing the PR narrative after the departure of it found John Schnatter.   With sales slumping, customer backlash, and franchisees clamming for new messaging the new team went to work and wall street and the public has forgiven the missteps according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA base Foodservice Solutions®

While not the first chain to put cannabis / hemp products on the menu in a big way, Papa John’s has become the first global quick-service restaurant brand to put superfood hemp seeds on the menu, with the launch of its new limited-edition Hemp Sticks in two key markets. 

Ok, they are not doing it in the U.S. yet, Johnson believes Papa John’s ability to test these new products along with new messaging will prove a valuable asset as the U.S. moves closer and closer to evolving the laws regarding cannabis / hemp nationwide. The trial is now available in the UK and Russia, the launch marks Papa Johns’ first major product innovation of 2022, as it seeks to further strengthen its ‘Better Ingredients. Better Pizza’ commitment to food superiority, a key component in last year’s rebrand announcement.

It already sounds good, handmade using Papa Johns’ fresh never frozen, six ingredient dough, the Russian Hemp Sticks recipe uses Papa Johns’ special garlic sauce and a sprinkle of shelled hemp seeds, while the UK recipe swaps special garlic sauce for garlic butter sauce and also includes mozzarella.

Regular readers of this blog know, Gen Z and millennials have become the biggest purchasers of better-for-you Reasy-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food. Now the halo of grocerant niche fresh food trend has clearly been embraced by Papa Johns.   

The fun part will be watching and listening to the new product launch and its integrated marketing campaign.  Then we will see just how independent nutritionists and media personalities respond to the hemp offering? Do you think they will be able to drive consumer trial of hemp seeds by debunking popular misconceptions? Our Grocerant Guru® thinks they can, as this has proven to be a ground-up not a top-down marketing choice. What consumers want, they get, even if it takes 40 years.

The back story; this latest campaign is also underpinned by new Woodstock-inspired creative to highlight that hemp is high in plant protein, vitamins and other nutrients. PR, social media and paid media promotion will be deployed in both launch markets.

Messaging to Gen Z and Millennials the PR will focus on demonstrating the euphoria of natural highs, executed as ‘highest’ food delivery stunts. The UK stunt stars TV daredevil turned plant-based chef, Matt Pritchard, abseiling down a cliff face to deliver the Hemp Sticks. In Russia, ‘roofer’ influencers, Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, will receive their delivery by drone, at the top of skyscraper.

Jo Blundell, VP of International Marketing at Papa Johns, stated, “With the launch of Hemp Sticks, Papa Johns has become the first global [quick-service] brand to make superfood hemp available to all. Premium, innovative ingredients are the very core of our pizzas, so Hemp Sticks will offer pizza fans a new way to enjoy our iconic breadsticks and help to dispel some of the misunderstanding surrounding this 100% legal, delicious seed.”  Is your brand looking outside the box for top-line growth and bottom-line profits?

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

Get this, Is Hemp What’s on the Menu Next

Our world is evolving fast.  It is at the intersection of food, alcohol, and marijuana that customer migration, attention can be found. So, if you live in a state that sells Marijuana with or without a prescription (‘legalized’) you no doubt have heard of Marijuana Edibles, Cannabis Edibles which are ‘THC’ infused.

Chef’s and food scientist have successfully created new products that are flavorful for home consumption and that trend will continue to grow according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Most of you have visited fresh&co, a healthy fast-casual restaurant by now.   Did you know that they have announced that they will introduce hemp and CBD-infused menu that will launch exclusively on the fresh&co app back in 2019?  Could Hemp be just a ‘buzz’ word or a consumer trend is it a brands new electricity?

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, Hemp, developing brands, unique urban hemp 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 in Atlanta its all about ‘local’.  That is a very smart and good move on the part of Whole Foods.  

fresh&co executive chef at the time Craig Rispoli curated the menu in collaboration with Jeepney’s chef Miguel Trinidad. Together, Chef Rispoli and Chef Trinidad created an innovative and colorful menu that consist of the Half-Baked Salad (hemp cakes, mixed hemp greens, sea beans, red onion, carrots, beets, crispy onions, jalapeno s’chug, and CBD- infused ginger cashew aioli, 15mg cannabidiol); Blazed Beet Sandwich (hemp cakes, mixed hemp greens, sea beans, red onion, radish, jalapeno s’chug, and CBD-infused ginger cashew aioli served on beet bread, 15mg cannabidiol); and CBD Pink Honey Ginger’ade Lemonade (filtered water, lemon, wildflower honey, ginger, hibiscus, 10mg cannabidiol).

“fresh&co always strives to stay ahead of the food trends and invent new menus that are healthy, sustainable and nutritional that can’t be found anywhere else,” says George Tenedios, CEO of fresh&co. “By collaborating with Chef Trinidad, we have developed a creative way to incorporate CBD and Hemp, which has gained mainstream popularity because of its health benefits, into our newest menu items.” 

Chef Miguel Trinidad is the executive chef and co- owner of New York City restaurants Jeepney Filipino Gastropub and Maharlika.  He is also at the helm of 99th Floor, gourmet cannabis edibles brand renowned for its upscale private dinner events.  He is also a judge on the upcoming season of Vice’s show Bong Appetit, a competition where high-end cuisine meets high-end cannabis. 

“fresh&co was privileged to join forces with the distinguished Chef Trinidad to create an original, authentic, and inventive Cannabis menu that we believe our customers will enjoy,” says executive chef Craig Rispoli.  “By using wholesome ingredients for which fresh&co is known, we infused the finest CBD and Hemp into each dish. We are excited for our customers to try this special new menu.” Can hemp add relevance to your menu?

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

Hemp is What’s on the Menu

If you live in a state that sells Marijuana with or within a prescription (‘legalized’) you no doubt have heard of Marijuana Edibles, Cannabis Edibles which are ‘THC’ infused. Chef’s and food scientist have successfully created new products that are flavorful for home consumption and that trend will continue to grow according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Most of you have visited fresh&co, a healthy fast-casual restaurant.   Did you know that they have announced that they will introduce a special 4/20 hemp and CBD-infused menu that will launch exclusively on the fresh&co app?  Could Hemp be just a ‘buzz’ word or a consumer trend is it a brands new electricity?

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, Hemp, developing brands, unique urban hemp 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 in Atlanta its all about ‘local’.  That is a very smart and good move on the part of Whole Foods.  

fresh&co executive chef Craig Rispoli curated the menu in collaboration with Jeepney’s chef Miguel Trinidad. Together, Chef Rispoli and Chef Trinidad created an innovative and colorful menu that consist of the Half-Baked Salad (hemp cakes, mixed hemp greens, sea beans, red onion, carrots, beets, crispy onions, jalapeno s’chug, and CBD- infused ginger cashew aioli, 15mg cannabidiol); Blazed Beet Sandwich (hemp cakes, mixed hemp greens, sea beans, red onion, radish, jalapeno s’chug, and CBD-infused ginger cashew aioli served on beet bread, 15mg cannabidiol); and CBD Pink Honey Ginger’ade Lemonade (filtered water, lemon, wildflower honey, ginger, hibiscus, 10mg cannabidiol).

“fresh&co always strives to stay ahead of the food trends and invent new menus that are healthy, sustainable and nutritional that can’t be found anywhere else,” says George Tenedios, CEO of fresh&co. “By collaborating with Chef Trinidad, we have developed a creative way to incorporate CBD and Hemp, which has gained mainstream popularity because of its health benefits, into our newest menu items.” 

Chef Miguel Trinidad is the executive chef and co- owner of New York City restaurants Jeepney Filipino Gastropub and Maharlika.  He is also at the helm of 99th Floor, gourmet cannabis edibles brand renowned for its upscale private dinner events.  He is also a judge on the upcoming season of Vice’s show Bong Appetit, a competition where high-end cuisine meets high-end cannabis. 

“fresh&co was privileged to join forces with the distinguished Chef Trinidad to create an original, authentic, and inventive Cannabis menu that we believe our customers will enjoy,” says executive chef Craig Rispoli.  “By using wholesome ingredients for which fresh&co is known, we infused the finest CBD and Hemp into each dish. We are excited for our customers to try this special new menu.” 

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