Partnerships Matter Coca Cola Krystal expand Relationship

Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru® has pontificated a lot this past two years about the importance of how strategic partnerships can elevate, advance, and propel retail foodservice branded product sales.  That is exactly what The Krystal Company expects will drive incremental sales for both companies.

The Krystal Company understands consumers want choices when it comes to when and how they savor their coffee. However to give consumers more of what they want Krystal turned to a long time partnership with the Coca Cola to help elevate it coffee beverage offering.

The combined partnership resulted in the fact that Krystal’s restaurant guests have three new choices—hot coffee, iced coffee or frozen coffee. Krystal serves rich and flavorful Gold Peak coffee, which is a product of The Coca-Cola Company. Gold Peak Medium Roast coffee is a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans sourced from Asia and South America.

Coffee “How You Like It” is part of Krystal’s ongoing initiative to continue raising the bar on customer service in every way possible. The various coffee offerings are designed to address some of the most popular ways people enjoy coffee, including freshly brewed hot coffee, specially brewed iced coffee, or as a sweet frozen treat with Krystal’s Caramel Mocha Frost.

Alice Crowder, Vice President of Marketing for Krystal  stated “We know that Krystal guests like options, and the expansion of our coffee service through these three offerings means there’s a way for everyone to enjoy the smooth taste of a Gold Peak coffee beverage, any time of day,” … “Whether you like your coffee hot, iced, or frozen, as an accompaniment to our fresh, delicious food or alone, as a mid-morning or mid-afternoon pick-me-up, now you can have it how you like it, whenever you want it.”

Coffee “How You Like It” is the latest addition to the brand’s list of updates to edify the brands relevance with consumers.  Understanding that the consumer is dynamic not static and evolving with a partnership will drive down cost of new product offerings while edifying the relationship of the brand to consumers and that as they said back in the day is a Win Win.

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday that tomorrow?  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.

Wonder Why Grocerant Niche Fresh Food is Driving Success

What we knew back in the day and what we know now continues to hold true.  Remember all the stories about soccer moms?  I know that you do so when our own Grocerant Guru® back in 1991 told you that the soccer moms were time starve the team here at Foodservice Solutions® wants to reiterate it once again by saying it is true. 

Well today 22% of the U.S. population is comprised of millennials and guess what they are time starved as well.  Even more important when they were growing up their parents were time starved and began searching for alternative solutions for dinner thus began our journey into the Grocerant Space. 

Today, “when millennials order from restaurants, they’re dining in just 42% of the time. Other restaurant visits are made up of takeout (40%) and delivery (19%). Of all generations, they lead takeout orders, and 34% of millennials say they are visiting foodservice locations more now than they were two years ago according to Technomic.

Sounding just like mom and dad Millennials state that the reasons for visiting restaurants more include that they have less time to cook at home (45%) and that it’s more convenient to purchase food for takeout or delivery (38%).

Millennials continue to be in search of food discovery and interaction that is one reason they more than any other generating have tried meal kits.  As our won Grocerant Guru® puts it Meal Kits are cooking training wheels for millennials.  So it is one wonder millennials are visiting restaurants that offer dishes with new or innovative flavors and ingredients

One size does not fit all fast, fresh, and flavor is key for millennials, as 44% say that the ability to customize their meal is an important attribute when choosing where to dine according to the Technomic report. While the team at Foodservice Solutions® finds that 82.7% of home cooked ‘family meals contains at least one fresh prepared grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat or Heat-N-Eat meal component.

So don’t wonder why the grocerant niche is garnering incremental momentum call us and jet into the game.  Remember millennials want food fresh food with flavor when they want it.  They don’t want to stock a pantry, go home and cook for hours and then do dishes.  By the way is that what you want to do?

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

Shake Shack Simply Customer Relevant

How can it be that some companies seem to thrive, while other companies languish in what they term ‘the complexity of turbulent times’ was the question asked of Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based global foodservice consultancy Foodservice Solution®.  His answer “they understand the customer better. 

That is the case with ‘better burger’ company Shake Shack as the debut a new Kiosk-Only, Cashless outlet which is but one of its recent efforts to dominate the better-burger segment with the help of technology.  Shake Shack announced Monday that its newest New York City restaurant will be a “playground” featuring kiosk-only ordering. The new Shake Shack at 51 Astor Place will be entirely cashless in Manhattan and we ask why not?

In addition Shake Shack follows this year’s rollout of a mobile ordering app, the Shack App, plus a feedback and FAQ bot on Twitter and Facebook called ShackBot. These tech additions and the development of a delivery deal with Amazon signal a clear digital direction.

Success does leave clues and understanding consumer adoption of technology requires that you adopt with it as well.  Remember Shake Shack has only 17 units albeit they are high volume there are only 17. Is your company evolving fest enough?  Does your company look more like yesterday’s food brand than tomorrows?

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.

Fast Casual Fame too Flame

Harkin back with me to 2012 when the team at Tacoma, WA foodservice consultancy Foodservice Solutions® identified, quantified, and qualified the undercurrents in food consumer migration patterns. At the time our Grocerant Guru® outlined the evolving consumer patterns while speaking at both the NRA Show and MUFSO. 

Johnson stated “Five years from now restaurant chain leaders will understand that packaging advances help create new points of non-traditional food distribution and have empowered customer choice. Well here we are five years later and Pie Five, a pioneer of the fast-casual pizza market, is shifting away from its roots after posting a 16.2% drop in same-store sales for the fourth quarter ended.  Pie Five Pizza on a two-year has a view, cumulative same-store sales that are down more than 26 percent.

Freshii recently announced that it is closing 18 units; Wahlberg’s Wahlburger’s is reportedly in trouble. Applebee’s and IHOP are closing 160 units.  Baja Sol Tortilla Grill closed all 7 locations are you getting the point.  Consumer food consumption patterns have evolved.

If you’re a restaurant doing what you have always done and doing it in the same way you growth may very well be stifled at best.  At worse you could end up looking like Ruby Tuesday selling off locations and having the new owners converting the location to a new brand or non-food location.

Consumers are dynamic not static and restaurant brands must be as well.  If your brand looks more like yesterday than tomorrow you just might want to consider repositioning within the grocerant niche.  If your waiting for the foodservice trade magazines to inform when to do so you just might be five years late. 

Are you Looking A Customer Ahead? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday that tomorrow?  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.

Beef on Wheels Lion’s Choice Launches Food Truck

There is a reason some companies have been around a long time.  In the case of Lion’s Choice, the St. Louis-based quick-service restaurant chain the reasons are very clear they evolve with consumers according to Tacoma, WA, based Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru®, Steven Johnson.

Mike Kupstas, CEO of Lion’s Choice stated “For 50 years our loyal customers have been coming to us, and now we’re hitting the road to come to them,”… “Creating the ‘Lean Roast Beef Machine’ is something our customers have been asking for, and we’re excited to bring our friendly service, legendary roast beef, fries and signature soft-serve custard to locations all over St. Louis.”

The first food truck for Lion’s Choice is called “The Lean Roast Beef Machine”.  It is a 29-foot, custom-built truck has taken to the streets, serving the chain’s famous roast beef sandwiches, natural-cut fries and flavor burst custard at locations throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area.

New truck new sandwich called ‘The Butcher Block sandwich’ which combines Lion’s Choice’s famous roast beef, hickory smoked ham and oven roasted turkey stacked high on a brioche bun with Swiss cheese, honey horseradish sauce and romaine lettuce.

Kupstas continued “While we are best known for our roast beef sandwiches, customers also have come to love our ham and turkey sandwiches….The Butcher Block is a great way to experience all three of our quality meats with one satisfying sandwich. It’s the perfect solution for those customers who can’t decide which sandwich to choose, and the honey horseradish provides a perfect little kick.”

Consumers are dynamic not static are you evolving with your customers? 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

Bojangles Expands Branded Invitation

Foodservice Solutions® FIVE P’s of Food marketing were perfected, developed and tested over time utilizing the Grocerant Guru® Steven Johnson time tested foodservice formula: Build, Measure, Learn, and Repeat. Bojangles clearly is focusing on one of the key drives of the Five P’s of Food Marking Price with its new all day breakfast special.

To introduce its new all day breakfast Bojangles’ customers can find a hearty, great tasting breakfast option on their everyday all day menu priced less than two bucks. Yes, Bojangles hot, fresh, made-from-scratch breakfast biscuit sandwiches that will satisfy a major hunger fast through the drive thru or inside.  The new all day, every day Bojangles’ breakfast biscuits that are menu priced less than $2 each (at participating locations) include the:

Smoked Sausage Biscuit

Cheddar Bo Biscuit

Bacon Biscuit

Sausage Biscuit

Gravy Biscuit

Egg Biscuit

Bo-Berry Biscuit

Cinnamon Biscuit

 Let us not forget that it does include  the all new Pork Chop Griller biscuit is $1.99 that is marinated in an all-new dry rub seasoning blend featuring peppery undertones, our tender pork chop is then seared to perfection, locking in that savory, one-of-a-kind flavor only Bojangles’ can deliver. Served inside a hot, made-from-scratch Bojangles’ buttermilk biscuit, the Pork Chop Griller is an amazing taste sensation available at participating locations for only $1.99.

Randy Poindexter, Senior Vice President of Marketing at stated “The Bojangles’ everyday menu has always included a lot of great tasting breakfast choices for less than $2, making us the best value in town”.  Do you have a point of differentiation? Are you utilizing the FIVE P’s of Food Marketing to your advantage? Is your brand an invitation?

Success does leave clues www.FoodserviceSolutions.us  is the global leader in grocerant niche business development.  We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities.  Has your company had a Grocerant ScoreCard completed a Grocerant Program Assessment, or new Grocerant niche product Ideation?  Want one?  Call 253-759-7869 Email: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us

Why Kroger Did a Standalone Restaurant

The team at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® was scratching their heads and asking themselves ‘Why did Kroger build a standalone restaurant’ when it was announced.  They pondered did Kroger not learn anything from Publix Supermarkets when they were left with no alternative other than sell their ‘fast casual’ restaurant chain of 24 units?

Does Kroger think they can be as good of a restaurant operator as Wegmans? Foodservice Solutions® team likes Amore Restaurant and Wine Bar by Wegmans. Wegmans Amore is filled with Italian Classics has become destination dining for many.

Then there is Next Door, by Wegmans filled with all-natural, sustainable and organic ingredients that come from their stores and are specially selected for you by thier chefs. Or do they think they want to be like Whole Foods and have a restaurant like ‘The Pub or The Burger Bar.

The team at Foodservice Solutions® joked that with 18 banners / brands currently maybe Kroger thought that having one more made sense.  The new standalone restaurant called Kitchen 1883, since it is located a short distance from the company’s Cincinnati headquarters may be just a proving ground for testing new menu ideations, service formants or place for Kroger corporate employees to relax and have craft cocktails.

Daniel Hammer, Kroger's vice president of Culinary Development and New Business stated "The restaurant will feature a made-from-scratch menu, hand-crafted cocktails, and a community-centered atmosphere." …"With Kitchen 1883, our goal is to create a gathering place that offers a genuinely delicious place to relax and experience our food," Wow all that from a Grocer who opened Main & Vine? 

Don’t explore outdated retail foodservice tactics to uncover the undercurrents of retail foodservice customer migration.  If you 18, 19, 20, or 21 one brands garnering incremental customers is not easy unless you have the ability to elevate customer focused relevant meals, menus, messaging, and food components to drive adoption.  Success does leave clues and the team at Foodservice Solutions® has been Looking A Customer Ahead and has the clues to empower effective foodservice strategies.

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday that tomorrow?  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.