Nestle Interactive Customer Food Marketing with Relevance

Once again a global leading food company with a legacy of ‘better-for-you’ food products is leveraging it’s legacy with customer relevance not only to drive sales but to edify its relationship with families according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  How, simple with water.

Nestlé said only 22% of a child’s daily fluid intake comes from water and the rest is often topped up by sugary soft drinks.  So, this new interactive kid focused positioning will drive top line growth while edifying families to Nestle according to Johnson.

Nestlé Waters’ out-of-home shopper marketing manager Severine Hemms said: “Water is the healthiest way to hydrate, and encouraging these positive habits at a young age is crucial for developing life long, healthy behaviors, and we hope that this latest launch will help set children up for a successful and healthy future.”

Is it time that you look for a new partnership to drive sales? Partnerships can drive new electricity into your brand and your customer base.  In this case the Nestle offers is available in 24x330ml cases retailing at 65p per bottle and features designs of the characters from the film, which the brand said will “appeal to families and inspire children to drink water”. It said the new is ideal for family days out, lunch boxes, road trips and picnics. Now they offer a full range of POS tools, including shelf barkers, FSDUs and posters, is also available

Are 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.

7-Eleven Opening Six Test Stores to Try Out New Concepts

Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru®, Steven Johnson based in Tacoma, WA reminds regular readers of this blog that success does leave clue and one clue is that branded growth requires that a brand to evolve.  7-Eleven does that as well as anyone utilizing what the team at Foodservice Solutions® calls the platform growth through new product testing: Build, Measure, Learn, and Repeat 

Is your brand looking for way to increase customer touch points? 7-Eleven looking a customer ahead to grow its footprint by first testing a new store concept. In fact, they plan to test six new test stores around the United States.

The first test store opened on March 4 and features a Laredo Taco Co. restaurant, a café serving coffee drinks, and made-to-order smoothies and shakes, among other beverage offerings. Kind of makes you think the fast food restaurant sector might want to pay close attention to what they are doing.

In addition, the store includes a bar with wine and craft beer on tap. Customers can order adult beverages to consume on site or in growlers to go. So, fast casual restaurants might just feel an increased level of competition as well.

There is a serious threat as 7‑Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 67,000 stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America. Is your brand looking beyond traditional points of distribution? Is your brand prepared to target another sector of foodservice?  Is your brand building customer counts or capitulating 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

Battle for Share of Stomach

Competition for Food Relevance Heats Up Among Retailers

Restaurants, Grocery Stores, Convenience Stores, Dollar Stores are battling Ikea, Costco Wholesale, Ralph Lauren, and Nordstrom’s for a larger Share of Stomach according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.   Established food retailers and start-up fresh food retailers both strive to create or maintain consumer relevance while evolving their own food brands.  Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru® believes that the following ten clues to build a contemporized food brand can help any food retailer maintain relevance.

Purpose:   Why you are there contemporized relevance! The most successful brands are inclusive include values greater than themselves. A lifestyle, a philosophy, an emotion a point in time today that means better for you.

A story: Most major brands have a story. Examples: if you like Ford vehicles, you might be familiar with the story of Henry Ford or if you love your Nike's, you probably know how the Nike swoosh logo was created.

Consumer interaction: When your business is first starting out, don't fool yourself into believing that your marketing efforts are 'brand building' efforts. They're not because to build a real brand, you have to have an extensive track record with consumers. Consumer will build the brand and the story for you.

Trust: When you've consistently delivered for your customers long enough, you'll gain the type of trust that many brands have.  Would you buy a Toyoda today? Maybe so, but how long do they have to rebuild that trust?

Consistency:  When a consumer chooses a product or service because of brand association, he or she is buying an expectation. Perhaps it's the expectation that the branded product is of higher quality or that the service will be provided in a more efficient manner. The expectation must be met time after time.

Differentiation: Expectation is often borne of differentiation. Many brands offer products and services that are commodities but they're successful in developing some differentiation for their products and services that consumers are sold on.

Battle for Share of Stomach

Imitators: Imitation is the sincerest of flattery and you're probably not a 'brand' until you have competitors trying to copy you. Do what you do best and lead your niche don’t follow.

Market leadership: Top brands are usually looked at as leaders in the markets they compete in. Own the space, and understand why you do.

Grow:  The best brands are flexible and capable of reshaping and reinventing themselves and their messages over time. Brands are either growing or dying. Consumers are not static!  Your brand must be dynamic and grow, change and adapt over time.

A strong marketing presence: The information super highway is evolving; your message must follow the traffic.  Don’t get stuck on the road less traveled

For corporate presentations, confidential engagements, educational forums, or keynotes contact: Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions at: Linkedin.com/in/grocerant Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us

Restaurant Meals are Flying and Customers are Buying

Everyone has heard the old adage ‘selling like hot cakes’, flying out the window’ well Tony Fernandes, the CEO of AirAsia Group, recently stated that that the company is planning to open its own fast-food restaurant that will sell food in the sky.  The question is will they sell pie? Ok enough this is serious stuff.

Starting a branded fast food concept with proprietary branded products is a huge invitation for a concept and most likely become a platform that can expand on the ground according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

To hedge his bet and let investors know this is no ‘pie-in-the-sky’, Fernandes went on to say that “While it’s rare to hear someone request an airline-quality meal anywhere outside of an actual airplane, the CEO of AirAsia is aiming to change that.”

“Our food is fantastic. We believe in it so much, we’re going to start a fast-food restaurant out of it,” AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes confirmed. (AirAsia) “Named after the much-loved coconut milk, our Santan menu offers a wide selection of Asean, international and vegetarian options for everyone,” the airline boasts on its website. We ask are you thinking about expanding outside the box?

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

McDonald’s ‘Better-for-You’ Platform is Expanding

Success does leave clues and every now and again we must remind regular readers of this blog that customer relevance requires that brands continually evolve with consumers. McDonald’s is the worlds largest single seller of kid’s toys.  Why, because they understand consumers (kid’s) are dynamic and they must be as well. 

The ‘halo’ of better for you kid’s toys has arrived at McDonald’s that will please both the children and most likely the parents according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  There is little doubt that these new ‘better-for-you’ toys will create a new electricity while driving incremental trial, adoption, and industry buzz.

McDonald’s has Partnered with Discovery on Mind-blowing STEM Toys.  This will be a global collaboration with McDonald’s beginning in select markets and will continue to roll out through 2020 according to press reports.

How is your brand creating new electricity? So, just what is your brands 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, free food / 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 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.  Consumer like Eating-Out when Eating-In. It’s time to call the Grocerant Guru®

Carolann Dunn, vice president, Consumer Products Licensing, Discovery stated  “Discovery and McDonald’s collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to kids and families and allows our two companies to work together on new ways to encourage an interest in STEM, or build on one that’s already blooming,”  “We are proud of this collaboration and believe it will help make learning fun for kids while bringing families closer together through meaningful play experiences.” 

Battle for Share of Stomach Today and Tomorrow

Amy Murray, senior director, Global Family Marketing, McDonald's. “We are always looking to bring fun, engaging experiences, as well as balanced meal options, to our Happy Meal customers around the world,

Murray continued; “Our hope is that this meaningful promotion with Discovery empowers hands-on learning, and acts as a catalyst to introduce or foster an interest in STEM all while spending truly together family moments at McDonald’s.”  visit Facebook.com/DiscoveryMINDBLOWN.  McDonald’s will continue to sell more toy’s than any other retailer in the world according to Johnson.

Are 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.

Digital Multitasking Generation Z Speeds Foodservice Up

Food marketing is about to undergo another transformation as Gen Z enters the workforce as the generation that says ‘I want it now’ according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

The oldest members of Generation Z are turning 22 years old in 2019 creating a tsunami of digital natives demanding fresh food faster than any other generating according to Johnson. When posed with the question, (What’s for Dinner?) they will simply look for the solution in the palm of their hand, there smartphone.   

There is a reason that fast food sales continue inching-up, growing share of restaurant dollars. Just like millennials, Gen Z’s frequently visit fast food / quick service restaurants.  That frequency is another reason that fast casual restaurants check average and speed of service is comparable to that of fast food; it’s keep-up or lose out according to Johnson.

In a new report from The NPD Group, Delivering Digital Convenience report noted:

1.       For the year ending December 2018, the number of foodservice delivery orders by Gen Zers reached 552 million, just 1 million less than millennials' delivery orders despite a small portion of Gen Z’s being old enough to order their own delivery. They are also heavy users of restaurant tablets and order kiosks.

2.       Gen Z’s can FaceTime their friends, text their moms, and order a pizza all at the same time

How are you preparing to engage new consumers?  If your food platform getting faster?

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.

Yum Brands Pizza Hut is Back

Customer relevance, brand renewal, and customer interaction with participatory technology is the under current driving success at Yum Brands and much of the credit can be given to CEO Greg Creed according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Just take a look at how Pizza Hut is collaborating with FedEx, specifically to explore the use of the FedEx SameDay Bot, a new autonomous delivery device aimed to revolutionize local delivery. When tested, the bot will serve as support to existing delivery staff in an effort to improve efficiency of the delivery process without compromising the quality of America's favorite pizza.

Nicolas Burquier, chief customer and operations officer, Pizza Hut stated "Our success is built around the best-in-class experiences we provide to our customers," .. "As we look to advance our business and continue providing experiences that our customers deserve, exploring technology solutions that allow our team members to do what they do on an even greater scale is critical to our success. Testing of the SameDay Bot with FedEx is just one more way we're looking to the future of delivery at Pizza Hut."

Brie Carere, executive vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for FedEx "The FedEx SameDay Bot is an innovation being developed to change the face of local delivery and help brands, like Pizza Hut, address the growing needs of their customers," "The FedEx bot looks to redefine delivery for this market in a manner that is cost-effective, safe and environmentally friendly."

The FedEx SameDay Bot is in development by both FedEx and the DEKA Research and Development Corp., and is equipped with proprietary technology that allows it to navigate unpaved surfaces, curbs, and even steps to deliver an extraordinary door-to-door delivery experience. Testing of the bot is slated to begin as soon as this summer in select markets pending final city approvals.

Under Greg Creed, Yum Brands companies have learned too drive top line sales and bottom line his companies understand that customer relevance is elevated when two brands build off each other complementing consumers preferences via a partnership the ilk of NFL and FedEx.

Is your brand is searching for the new electricity to help drive the brand forward. So, just what is your brands new electricity? 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.”

Johnson stated “that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh foods, free food / sampling, 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 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.  Consumer like Eating-Out when Eating-In. It’s time to call the Grocerant Guru®

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 call: 253-759-7869 or visit www.GrocerantGuru.com

Battle for Share of Stomach