Why delivery.com Acquisition of Mr. Delivery Will Work

Grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh food continues to drive business success consider that McDonald’s is well over $1 Billion in delivered food sales, Ikea is over $2 Billion in Food Sales and delivery is growing fast. 

So, when delivery.com, announced it is significantly expanding the reach and capabilities of its food delivery platform beginning with the acquisition of Mr. Delivery, there was no doubt that will create a platform for incremental growth and success according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

This is an industry consolidation step for delivery.com which now connects more than two and a half million customers and corporate clients with 15,000 restaurants, liquor stores, dry cleaners and other local businesses in more than 1,800 cities and growing. 

Let’s look at some facts as to why this will work:

1.       58% of restaurant occasions are now off -premise,

2.       Consumers Using All Channels More Than a Year Ago 3 39% Drive-thru 34% Delivery 29% Takeout 44% 18- to 34- year-olds,

3.       50% of Millennials report that they are not using restaurant takeout as much as they would like,

4.        For a limited time, delivery.com is offering new customers to the platform $10 off their first order of $15 or more with code ORDERNOW.

 This acquisition of Mr. Delivery marks the beginning of rapid expansion efforts and initially includes food delivery operations across 160 cities, with additional companies to be onboarded in coming months. delivery.com plans to bring its full set of services to Mr. Delivery markets, including group ordering and other corporate features, as well as expanded offerings beyond food delivery. For the first time, delivery.com will also offer last-mile capabilities for delivery orders, support it plans to make more widely available to merchants. Mr. Delivery will take on the delivery.com brand and technology effective immediately.  How are you building your brand?

 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, www.Linkedin.com/in/grocerant/ or www.twitter.com/grocerant/

Panera Bread Targets Non-Traditional Locations for To-Go Fresh Food

Grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food with the ‘halo’ of better-for-you continues to drive sales in every sector of retail foodservice today according Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

HMSHost one of the largest contractors of airports, announced an exclusive, multi-year, multi-unit development agreement with Panera Bread that will expand the fast-casual chain’s presence within major U.S. airports and travel plazas proving travelers ‘better-for-you’ meals at airports and for meals in the air as takeout. 

HMSHost will debut two new Panera airport locations, first at Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s Concourse E, and soon to follow at Salt Lake City International Airport’s Concourse A in 2020. Additional airport and travel plaza locations are slated to open throughout 2020 and beyond.

HMSHost president and CEO Steve Johnson stated  “At HMSHost, we’re leaders in expanding travelers’ dining options with the most in-demand, unmatched choices. With Panera Bread as our exclusive partner, we are transforming the fast-casual category in airports and motorways across the United States,” …“Traveling consumers have been clamoring for Panera Bread to expand into airports and motorways. With this agreement, we are answering that demand for travelers seeking craveable, better-for-you food, delivered fast and efficiently.”

Dan Wegiel, Panera’s Executive Vice President, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer. “Panera is uniquely positioned to fill the void between quality and convenience for hungry travelers, offering the same better-for-you menu options they know and love from our traditional bakery-cafes, with all the speed they need while in transit. The HMSHost partnership expands consumers’ access to the brand, delivering on our vision to bring Panera closer to those who hunger for our food wherever, whenever and however they choose.”

Panera’s all-day menu of clean and flavorful food choices, the brand’s innovative digital kiosk ordering system, popular mobile app and Rapid Pick-Up® feature make it an ideal solution for hungry, time-crunched travelers. How is your brand expanding?  Where and Why?

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.

Dunkin’ Brands Planting Success One Menu Item at a Time

Copycat menu items don’t drive incremental sales today according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. What does drive sales are new menu items that are ‘plant-based’ according to Johnson.

Dunkin’ Brands is now offering plant-based food for breakfast, lunch, dinner and desert. Yes, even Dunkin’s Baskin-Robbin’s division has plant-based offerings.  So, Baskin-Robbins is dipping into the plant-based dessert category with the launch of two new non-dairy flavors. Both Non-Dairy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Non-Dairy Chocolate Extreme will be available for ice cream customer in-store beginning August 1.

Both flavors contain no artificial dyes, which have been absent from all Baskin-Robbins ice cream since 2017 as part of Baskin-Robbins’ and Dunkin’ Brands’ commitment to serving high-quality menu items. The Non-Dairy flavors are also free from preservatives, artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, and are Kosher

Plant-based food sales increasing in double-digits across the country, and are expected to reach $140 Billion over the next 10 years. Baskin-Robbins non-dairy indulgences will join Dunkin’s plant-based breakfast bowls, plant-based sausage and chicken sandwiches. Dunkin’ Brands is looking a customer, ahead are you?

Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? 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 have the clue you need to propel your continued success.

Orange Leaf’s new Flavor Focused Partnership

Success does leave clues and one clue regular readers understand is that differentiation does not mean different it means familiar according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Johnson reminds us that driving customer relevance requires consumer buy-in and new branded partnerships can help brands garner a renewed electricity. Here is another example of driving new electricity, Orange Leaf teamed up with Oreo to offer a new limited time flavor, Cookies ‘N Cream Gelato made with Oreo Cookie Pieces. It’s all the best parts of the Oreo Cookie in a decadent creamy dessert. Additionally, Oreo is giving a lucky Orange Leaf Guest the chance to win a $1,000 gift card.

Johnson stated “that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh foods, plant based  foods,  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 food and beverage retailers to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food and beverages that are portable, fresh, with differentiation that is familiar not different.

 It’s as easy as snapping a selfie with a cup of Cookies ‘N Cream Gelato, tag Oreo, Orange Leaf, and use the hashtag #OreoSummerSweepstakes. This delicious promotion will run until July 31.

Kristen Campbell, Director of Marketing stated “We’re thrilled to partner with Oreo for their 4th annual Oreo Summer promotion. This flavor has already been a fast favorite and the gift card giveaway has been successfully driving additional online engagement through influencers and social shares,”

Consumer like Oreo’s according to Johnson thus it expands the customer ‘halo’ of better-for-you. For guests looking for a healthier option this summer, Acai Bowls are still available at your local Orange Leaf. They are made with a blend of organic acai, banana, and almond milk for a sweet fresh flavor. Top your bowl with granola or various fruits to make it even sweeter.

Kendall Ware, president and COO of Orange Leaf gets it as well stating “Our partnerships and new product offerings this summer have been a crucial part in driving new Guests in each day and expanding other dayparts,” “We will continue to grow our offerings and brand partnerships to make life sweeter.

Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? 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 have the clue you need to propel your continued success.

Nestle & Brightloom Partnerships Drive Starbucks Growth

Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru® Steven Johnson called 2019 the year of the partnerships in foodservice and without a doubt the largest companies in the world are will be driving success for years to come on the partnerships and new electricity created this year.

In a new partnership Starbucks’ commitment to technology-powered retail solutions took another step forward announced it is teaming with Brightloom, the restaurant tech company formerly known as Eatsa. And with the deal, the Seattle-based coffee giant is once again working with Adam Brotman, its onetime chief digital officer.

How deep is the partnership? Well, Starbucks will share key components of its “digital flywheel” software with Brightloom in return for an equity stake and seat on the San Francisco-based company’s board of directors.  Setting itself up for long term growth according to Johnson just like they did with Nestle.

So, speaking of Nestlé they launched new Starbucks Creamers, marking this the first time the Starbucks brand has entered the refrigerated creamer category, a growing U.S. category projected to top $7.8 billion by 2023, according to Mintel. Less than a year from inception to shelf, Starbucks Creamers are the fourth product platform developed since the companies formed a global coffee alliance in August 2018. The companies continue to drive strong momentum and deliver a premium coffee experience for consumers in the grocery aisle. So, how are you building new electricity?

Starbucks Creamers will be available in three flavors: Caramel, White Chocolate, and Cinnamon Dolce, inspired by customer-favorite handcrafted beverages served at Starbucks cafés: Caramel Macchiato, White Chocolate Mocha and Cinnamon Dolce Latte. Beginning this August, Starbucks Creamers can be found in the refrigerated aisle where groceries are sold and select online retailers across the U.S.

Johnson stated “that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply chain and includes such things as fresh foods, plant based  foods,  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 food and beverage retailers to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food and beverages that are portable, fresh, with differentiation that is familiar not different.  Does your retail path forward look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Why?

Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? 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 have the clue you need to propel your continued success.

Battle for Share of Stomach

Does Cracker Barrel Get a Face-Lift

Integrating dramatic change to a concept can cause ‘harm’.  Meaning a loss of customers resulting in loss of sales and profits according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  One of the best ways for a branded restaurant company to drive growth is buying a brand with attributes and culture that can easily integrate into your current corporate culture according to Johnson.

One good example is Cracker Barrel’s recent investment into Punch Bowl Social.  Both Punch Bowl Social and Cracker Barrel are brands that are consumer interactive and participatory which drive customer loyalty and can be the bases for a good relationship.

So, when Cracker Barrel announced it was making an investment of up to $140 million into Punch Bowl, acquiring the stake that will give Cracker Barrel a noncontrolling stake in Punch Bowl but will give the company an option to buy the chain outright; a new platform for customer relevant growth was defined.

Cracker Barrel CEO Sandy Cochran stated “Cracker Barrel and Punch Bowl Social are both highly experiential brands that emphasize quality food and beverage, hospitality and fun,” … “We love what Punch Bowl Social has built and are excited about helping them continue to grow.” The undercurrent of commonality was clear to industry professionals who track customer migration.  

Punch Bowl Social founder Robert Thompson stated “the relationship with Cracker Barrel is a tremendous opportunity for the entire Punch Bowl Social family.” “Our continued goal is to be an experiential millennial and Gen Z lifestyle brand that creates authentic, social guest experiences,” he said. “Having Cracker Barrel provide growth capital and strategic resources sets us up for the next exciting chapter for Punch Bowl Social.” Consumers are dynamic not static if your consumers are moving how are your protecting your flank? Does your concept look more like yesterday than tomorrow?

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

Innovation & Disruption are the Undercurrent Threatening U.S. Chain Restaurants

If success does leave clues, then lack of success, could be defined as year over year customer count declines and year over year sales that rise only due to price increases.  Chain restaurants in the U.S. clearly have felt the undercurrent of customer migration to new non-traditional fresh food grocerant niche outlets and now new innovations are driving incremental customer migration.  

Grocerant Guru® Steven Johnson, based in Tacoma, WA with Foodservice Solutions® stated “there is no doubt that Reis & Irvy’s the world's first fully-automated robotic frozen dessert vending kiosk designed to disrupt brick-and-mortar competitors.

These new kiosks are unattended robots that eliminate the need for costly rent and labor according to Johnson.  With the halo of ‘better-for-you’ they also significantly reduce food safety concerns and are capable of operating 24-hours a day. 

Talk about fresh food fast, Reis & Irvy’s signature robots can dispense servings of frozen yogurt, ice cream, gelato and sorbet topped with a selection of six delicious toppings in under 60 seconds. The machines are equipped with self-checkout touch screen ordering and payment options, as well as delicious frozen dessert provided exclusively by Dannon (global trusted brand) edifying the fact that in 2019 foodservice partnerships drive top line growth, and NEW ELETRICITY according to Johnson.  

Note: Reis & Irvy’s unattended soft serve kiosks were approved by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for a variance that allows them to operate in the state of California.

Reis & Irvy’s team has been working with CDPH to obtain this variance for almost a year. Approval to operate in California comes with specific and important requirements. The most significant is the use of the Hydra Rinse Mobile System for cleaning and sanitizing. This cleaning system replaces the 24-hour cleaning schedule requirement in California, with a schedule that allows operators to service their kiosks once every 72 hours. In addition, operators will find the length of time it takes to fully service their units is cut in half.

 How are you driving top line sales, reducing labor cost, and extending your brand?  Does your brand look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Are, your year over year sales up?  Are, your year over year customer counts up?

So, what are you doing too drive 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, plant based  foods,  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 food and beverage retailers to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food and beverages that are portable, fresh, with differentiation that is familiar not different. Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information.

Battle for Share of Stomach

Teriyaki Madness Technology Drives Customer Returns

Regular readers of this blog know that 2019 is the year that food marketing partnerships are driving customer relevance while edifying top line sales and bottom line profits for large and small branded food outlets according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Teriyaki Madness less than a year after the successful launch of its new app that allowed its fans to get their big bowls faster and easier than ever before, is spicing things up yet again too garner New Electricity.  Rolling out an all-new loyalty program with every Teriyaki Madness purchase, fans accrue points that can be redeemed for free drinks, sides and bowls of all kinds.

Teriyaki Madness VP of Marketing Jodi Boyce Stated “As we continue to grow, we knew we needed to invest in building stronger relationships with our customers through the type of mobile convenience they expect of their favorite restaurants today,” … “The first step was partnering with Punchh to develop our mobile app last summer. Now, we’re introducing a loyalty program that will reward our fans for choosing to satisfy their cravings with Teriyaki Madness.”

In addition to earning a free bowl with the purchase of another bowl and two drinks just for signing up on the app.  Teriyaki Madness new loyalty program will also feature special offers and sprint deals that reward customers for earning a certain number of points in a given month with a discount or free item, starting with offering double points for all orders through July 31!

Teriyaki Madness VP of Marketing Jodi Boyce also has plans to incorporate a donation feature where customers can donate the point’s they’ve earned to a charity to provide meals for others rather than use the points themselves. Plus, they’ll give you a free bowl on your birthday, just because.

Boyce adds continues “We’re excited to roll out our Loyalty program as a way to thank our regular customers while also attracting new ones thanks to its strong value proposition. “Punchh has a stellar reputation and the type of partner integration we needed to deliver for our loyal fans, and we can’t wait for them to experience the added convenience and stellar rewards this new platform offers.”

So, what are you doing too drive 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, plant based  foods,  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 food and beverage retailers to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food and beverages that are portable, fresh, with differentiation that is familiar not different.

Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? 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 have the clue you need to propel your continued success.

Taco Cabana Expands Alcohol Program, Introduces Pitchers

It’s hot as ‘hell’ in most of the U.S this week and consumers are thirsty.  Fresh food focused brands that occupy the fast food space are expanding the fast casual / fast food space are expanding beverage offerings to help consumers cool down while elevating customer relevance according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Taco Cabana is giving guests a new way to cool down on the patio with its newly expanded alcohol program, available at select locations for a limited-time only according to Dallas News. Taco Cabana has been working to enhance its adult beverage menu since 2018, introducing brands such as Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Sauza Tequila to offer new and rotating seasonal drinks to its menu.

Taco Cabana is entering an entirely new level with this latest launch, a Sopapilla Shot: $2 each, featuring a tasty mixture of Rumchata and Fireball Whisky.  The new $2 Shots are: Fireball Whisky, Sauza Tequila, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, and TC Sopapilla Shots

New $4 Blue Margarita on the Rocks

New Pitchers:

·         $10.95 Domestic Draft Beer (60 oz.)

·         $12.95 Import Draft Beer (60 oz.)

·         $9.95 Frozen Lime & Strawberry Margarita (32 oz.)

·         $9.95 Frozen Lime Margarita & Red Sangria Swirl (32 oz.)

·         $4 Frozen Lime Margarita & Red Sangria Swirl (12 oz.)

Margarita Mondays: $3 Margaritas all day, every Monday

$4 Margaritas: All day, every day

Daily Happy Hour: Every day from 4-7pm

·         $1 Off Draft Beer (12 oz.)

·         $1 Off Sangria (12 oz.)

·         $6 Draft Beer Pitchers (32 oz. only)

·         $4 Classic Nachos (not valid for Bean & Cheese Nachos or Kickin’ Grande Nachos)

·         $5 Flauta 6-pack

Last but not least, Taco Cabana will also be celebrating Tequila Day on Wednesday, July 24 with $1 shots of Sauza Gold Tequila all day long. Guests ages 21+ can responsibly enjoy at various participating locations across Texas.

How are you driving customer check averages this summer?  Are you helping consumers cool down? 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 Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, www.Linkedin.com/in/grocerant/  or www.twitter.com/grocerant