Food Hall’s or Virtual Restaurants

 

In a battle for share of stomach, the question most often asked of the team at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® is should we open a retail unit in a food court or should we open a virtual restaurant? 

So, what’s the difference between a ‘food hall’ and a ‘virtual restaurant’ personal contact with the consumer according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  The simple fact is consumer tired of food courts, most have remained closed and virtual restaurants are open delivering meals daily for less. Or at least that is what is happening right now.   

Regular readers of this blog know our Grocerant Guru® has documented many of the up-and downs of restaurants, caterers, and non-traditional food operators since 1991. The turnover at food halls is much more noticeable that of ‘virtual restaurants that are also De facto ‘food hall’s’.

Malls are reopening with limited hours, the food courts will reopen, and ‘normal’ hours will return with the team at Foodservice Solutions® believes better than normal sales as consumers will simply want to go out shopping and eating once again.

That said, it’s at the intersection of technology, food marketing messaging, and convenience that just might be the new comfort zone of today’s Gen Z, Millennials, and even Baby Boomers that will drive virtual restaurants success as national brands, local restaurants and celebrity chefs to a platform Johnson calls the grocerant niche dinner solution. After all it was Johnson who first explained that Eating-out with Eating-In had moved mainstream.

One thing is clear digital food marketing will drive the success of both ‘food hall’s and virtual restaurants according to Johnson.  Right now, the chains will have an advantage in both locations. Moving forward, new third-party marketing solutions will power the growth of virtual kitchens, local brands and grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food.  Food courts will be around garnering customers that are out and about, when they are open.

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.