The Vegan Bandwagon Has Arrived Time to Get Onboard

 

Do you know what your customers are ordering from the restaurant next door?  Well according to DataEssential four times as many operators are planning to add plant-based meat to the menu in 2023 than did so last year.

Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®, stated, “consumers have spoken they like many of the new vegan options and they believe vegan food has the ‘halo’ of better-4-you and they want to try more and more vegan meal options.”

Johnson recently spoke with Joe Hehl, Foodservice Sales Manager of Upton's Naturals. Here is some of what you just might want to know:

Johnson, What flavor profile do you see consumers adopting looking forward to 2024?

Hehl, With the popularity of Yuzu in 2023 and speculating that acidity will continue to grow in 2024, we think consumers will be interested in relishes and pickled fruits - vegetables in general, but more specifically I think Guava will be the big one next year. We’re seeing increased interest as well in clean – real ingredients, like the flavorful spices we use in our vegan pastrami and gyro seitan, for example, vs. “natural” flavors.
Johnson, It the fast-food category, what are the top two new vegan handheld foods you see rolling out?

Hehl, Not necessarily new, but plant based 'chicken wings' seem to be having a moment currently. Considering the endless variety of ways you can dress a wing, there is plenty of headroom for both flavor innovation and making proprietary, vegan versions of existing recipes. Upton’s Naturals’ pre-seasoned seitan serves as a versatile ingredient for making these. Additionally, savory buns a la empanadas, pierogies, hand pies, etc. 
Johnson, Will ‘center of the plate’ vegan menu items drive customer adoption at casual dining and fine dining legacy chain restaurants?

Hehl, Skepticism for the plant-based category is being met with burger fatigue. Consumers are interested in new analogs, and meat-free versions of popular, iconic dishes. Buona’s Plant-Based Chicago Italian Beef made with Upton’s Naturals’ thinly sliced and seasoned seitan is a great example of this. It quickly became a permanent menu item at all of the restaurant group’s locations and a retail version is now available as well.
Johnson, When will independent restaurants feel that they can add vegan menu items that cost less than here ilk niche ‘authentic’ items? I’m clarifying what’s meant by this last part.

Hehl, This involves a variety of variables, from cost of goods and labor to distributor percentages.
Johnson, Many consumers go out to dinner just for dessert. Where will we see the greatest adoption of vegan desserts and what is it most likely to be?

Hehl, Fast casual and dairy-free soft serve and frozen custard are growing in popularity. With all of the dairy-free innovation happening currently in milk, yogurt, and ice cream, we speculate an uptick in dairy-free soft serve in higher end burger & fries restaurants.

In case you did not know, Upton’s Naturals creates clean-ingredient, quick-cooking seitan and jackfruit meat substitutes for foodservice customers nationwide. As an independently owned company, their team supports as a partner for a successful launch, not just with supplying product. In an industry where limited time vegan offers come and go, Upton’s has a 17-year history of launching permanent menu items, including Buona’s plant-based Italian Beef.  

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

Avoid the Veto Vote

Add Vegan for a

Larger Share of Stomach

At Burger Patch Success Equals Build, Measure, Learn, and Repeat

 

Success does leave clues. One clue that you on the right path is ‘listening’ to your customers.  There are several ways that companies do that today but still one of the best ways is very simple.  Ask them how you are doing.  Then follow-up with how could we do better.  That according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

When your consumer move restaurants need to move with them.  Burger Patch has done just that and done it well in the opinion of Johnson.   Johnson suggests, that they are following Foodservice Solutions® time tested four simple steps for continues success: Build, Measure, Learn, and Repeat.  Consumers are dynamic not static your brand must be dynamic as well.

Our Grocerant Guru® believes Burger Patch is on the right track by recalibrating its price, value, service equilibrium with the information it garners from consumers.  Here is Foodservice Solutions® current price value, service equilibrium formula:  Price + Quality + Social + Portability = Value.

Recently Burger Patch announced a series of ten sweeping customer-focused updates today under the umbrella “Burger Patch XTRA”. In response to over 5,000 customer surveys, comments, reviews and emails received over the past four years, the chain recently nominated by VegNews for “Best Vegan Fast-Food” in the nation, revealed the program which aims to provide XTRA value, XTRA savings and XTRA options.

So, having now served well over 500,000 loyal #PatchPeople since opening doors to their first brick and mortar store in 2019, Burger Patch analyzed thousands of historical customer data points for purchase and word trends to respond with specific updates to products, pricing and programs. Prominent themes included an inflation-fueled chorus asking for increased price flexibility, value and loyalty incentives.

The list of ten new updates launching with Burger Patch XTRA includes the following:

·         XTRA Patch Value Combos - $3 off over 200 new combinations of entrees, sides and drinks

·         XTRA Large Burgers – 20% more meat in every patty and 50% larger than comparable chains

·         XTRA Value Priced Items – new $4.99 Fun-Size Shakes & large Fry Baskets

·         XTRA Volume Discounts – 33% off with purchase of three homemade Patch Side Sauces

·         XTRA Items From Seasonal Favorites – Patch Tots & Hunny Mustard now available permanently

·         XTRA Kids Meals – 33% off new Grilled Cheeze, Patch Tots & Fun Size Shake kids combo

·         XTRA Big Discounts – new 15% off for students & military

·         XTRA Customizations – Dozens of new lower-priced options to personalize a burger, basket or bowl

·         XTRA Savings – Money back when excluding select ingredients from items, plus new lower prices

·         XTRA Perks – Redeem Patch Points for free delivery, free entrées, 15% off & cash back from $1 to $5

 

Burger Patch co-founder Phil Horn, stated, “Inflation has hit everyone hard,” ... “Through our surveys, it was clear that many of our regulars are making tough financial decisions to meet their monthly budgets which has impacted their ability to visit us as much as they would like. Our customers deserve extra, not less. Our new Burger Patch XTRA platform gives our Patch People a delicious, convenient meal to look forward to a little more often again.”

This new program becomes even more attractive with the ability to double-down and layer select discounts and combos. By registering for a free Patch Perks account in the Burger Patch app, customers can earn Patch Points for each purchase and redeem those points for discounts like $3 off on top of the $3 already saved with the new Patch Value Combos. The same goes for students – show your student ID in-store and receive an additional 15% off the new combo prices. Plus, new members will receive a free Patch Burger perk in the app for a limited time. Select XTRA products and pricing are available exclusively for pickup or delivery in-store, at burgerpatch.com or the Burger Patch app where customers can save up to 30% over 3rd party ordering platforms.

In case you did not know, since launching with Sacramento pop-ups in 2017, Burger Patch has expanded to multiple locations throughout Northern California in addition to their dedicated K.I.N.D. Lab kitchen of innovation and discovery. Serving a loyal following of both plant-based and “veg-curious” meat-eating diners, over half a million customers have joined them on a delicious mission of feeding kindness for the planet, animals and community. Voted a top 5 overall burger, and the number one vegan restaurant in Sacramento, the eatery is also known for their custom-crafted plant-based innovations including Smashwraps and award-winning Earth Quake Shakes.

Success does leave clues. One clue that time and time again continues to resurface is “the consumer is dynamic not static”.  Regular readers of this blog know that is the common refrain of Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  Our Grocerant Guru® can help your company edify your brand with relevance.  Call 253-759-7869 for more information. 

7-Eleven Anything Restaurants Can Do We Can Do Faster

 

Will 7-Eleven steal the marketing messaging power from chain restaurants fast food sector without a fight? That is the question every C-level executive within the Quick Service Sector should be asking? Once again 7-Eleven is leveraging its marketing power to under cut the ‘halo’ of better-4-you messaging QSR’s have been sending about Vegan menu options.

Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® stated, “7-Eleven is leveraging speed of service with price to drive new customer trial and migration. With the knowledge that drive-thru times limit through-put; 7-Eleven has opened the doors to mix and match meal bundling that is customized and faster than a drive thru, while garnering a higher check-average.”

That is why it makes sense that 7-Eleven is expanding its vegetarian offerings with the addition of the bold new Black Bean Burger, available at participating stores for a limited time.

This new high-protein meat alternative sandwich is made with hearty black beans, corn, rice and savory seasonings, topped with American cheese and served on a sweet brioche bun. The convenience store operator's take on this popular vegetarian dish is perfectly timed for customers who want a meat alternative during the Lenten season or simply want to try more meatless options without sacrificing taste or convenience, according to the retailer.

Anjuli Wilkie, 7-Eleven senior category manager of hot foods, stated, "At 7-Eleven, we keep a watchful eye on the shifting preferences of our customers and are constantly adapting our offerings for them,"... "We frequently receive requests for more vegetarian options from our loyal customers, and because our hot sandwiches are so popular, the addition of a Black Bean Burger was the perfect fit. Whether customers are looking to add more meatless protein to their diets or want to enjoy something other than fish on Fridays this spring, 7-Eleven has an option for them."

It's time for you to check out the speed of service and the product, from March 3 to April 12, members of the 7Rewards loyalty program can get the new burger for just $2 on Fridays.

7-Eleven is also offering an in-store deal of two hot sandwiches for just $5, which includes the Black Bean Burger as well as cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches. Regular readers of this know Regular that the price, value, service equilibrium is evolving fast.

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

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. 

Fatburger Slims Down

Consumer are dynamic not static and if your company is not evolving with consumers you are simply fading away according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. When Fatburger announced that they were rolling out a vegan-friendly Burger you knew they were doing all of the right things.

The new Vegan burger is called the Impossible Burger and consumer can add traditional toppings including lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, mustard, onion, and pickle relish. Customers can also customize with additional items.

An early trendsetter in the better-burger industry, Fatburger's nationwide launch of the Impossible Burger demonstrates the brand's commitment to pushing the envelope for its dedicated customer base. In development since 2011, the Impossible Burger is the world's only burger that handles, smells, cooks, and tastes like ground beef from cows but is made entirely from plants. Its unique texture and flavor has, like Fatburger, earned a cult-like following.

Fatburger CEO, Andy Wiederhorn  stated “I knew from the moment we debuted the Impossible Burger patty in Los Angeles that this was going to do well with our customers. It quickly became one of our best-selling items,” says. “There's no doubt our customers will always love 100 percent beef Fatburgers, but we're hoping to engage both old and new fans alike with a top-notch meat-free option.”

Are you trapped doing what you have always done and doing it the same way?  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.