Wendy’s: The Real MVP of March Madness Marketing

 

In the competitive arena of fast-food marketing, Wendy’s has mastered the art of staying fresh—not just with its never-frozen beef but with its consumer-focused, basketball-fueled approach. As the Official Hamburger of March Madness, according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® Wendy’s has dribbled its way into the hearts (and stomachs) of Millennials and Gen Z, leveraging unbeatable value, strategic partnerships, and the cultural relevance of NCAA basketball to score big with fans nationwide.

A Winning Game Plan for March Madness

Wendy’s understands that the real March Madness happens both on the court and at the dinner table. With millions of basketball fans tuning in, the brand is stepping up its game by delivering crave-worthy deals that cater directly to value-conscious consumers. From now through April 13, Wendy’s is offering its signature Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger (JBC) and Double Stack for just $1 with an additional purchase—exclusively via the Wendy’s app.

For fast-food aficionados and sports lovers alike, these slam-dunk promotions prove that Wendy’s is not just feeding fans but fueling the tournament experience. The Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger—a fan-favorite with its signature square beef patty, crispy Applewood smoked bacon, fresh lettuce, tomato, American cheese, and mayo—provides a fast break for flavor. Meanwhile, the Double Stack, with its two juicy beef patties, American cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickle, and onion, brings an unbeatable value play to the lineup.

Reaching the Next-Gen Consumer

The success of Wendy’s extends beyond the court and into the hands of digitally savvy consumers. With Gen Z and Millennials seeking convenience, affordability, and engaging brand experiences, Wendy’s strategically taps into these priorities by promoting app-exclusive deals and seamless digital ordering. By incentivizing mobile use with budget-friendly offers, Wendy’s ensures that younger consumers stay connected to both the game and the brand.

Reach a Larger Share of Stomach

With Relevance  

Leveraging NCAA Basketball for Maximum Engagement

Wendy’s marketing playbook isn’t just about the food—it’s about culture. By aligning with NCAA basketball, Wendy’s taps into a high-energy, highly engaged audience that is passionate about sports and social experiences. Basketball legends and sports analysts, including Ian Eagle and Clark Kellogg, have joined the campaign to reinforce the brand’s position as the freshest in the game. This endorsement, coupled with strong promotional tie-ins across DoorDash, Uber Eats, and GrubHub, ensures that whether fans are courtside or couch-side, Wendy’s remains their go-to for fresh, never-frozen beef.

The Fun Food Factor: Beyond Just a Burger

Fast food is more than just sustenance—it’s an experience. Wendy’s commitment to fresh, hot, and juicy burgers isn’t just a tagline; it’s a legacy. Fun fact: Wendy’s was the first fast-food chain to offer a drive-thru window, pioneering convenience long before mobile ordering was a thing. Today, the brand continues to innovate, blending nostalgia with modern convenience, making its offerings even more relevant to younger generations.

Final Buzzer: Wendy’s Scores with Consumers

Wendy’s is proving that in the fast-food game, it’s not just about what you serve, but how you serve it. By leveraging affordability, NCAA basketball, and digital engagement, Wendy’s has solidified its place as the MVP of March Madness marketing. So, whether you’re celebrating a bracket-busting upset or just craving a championship-caliber burger, Wendy’s is serving up the real victory meal this season.

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Domino’s Winning NCAA March Madness First Weekend with 50 Percent Off

 

Rekindling our favorite college memories, it seems every Spring the NCAA March Madness brings the country together elevating college basketball to the top-of-mind sport creating almost more social media buzz than a door blowing out/off an airplane. Ok that’s a bit much but there is quite a bit of truth to it.   According to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® Domino’s understand that there are a few reasons why pizza makes the perfect NCAA Basketball tournament watching food:

1.       Shareable: Pizza is a classic party food, ideal for feeding a group of friends during a watch party. It comes in various sizes, so you can easily cater to the number of people. Plus, with multiple slices, everyone can get their preferred toppings.

2.       Convenient: Ordering pizza delivery is quick and hassle-free. No need to leave the game or spend time prepping ingredients. Perfect for those intense buzzer-beaters and close finishes.

3.       Finger Food: No utensils required! Pizza is easy to grab and munch on between plays, allowing you to keep your eyes glued to the screen without missing a beat.

4.       Variety: With countless topping combinations, there's a pizza to please everyone. From classic pepperoni to veggie lovers and meat-lovers, everyone can find their favorite slice.

5.       Crowd-Pleaser: Pizza is a universally loved food. It's a safe bet that most people will enjoy it, reducing the risk of picky eaters spoiling the fun.

6.       Game-Time Compatible: You can easily eat pizza while cheering, celebrating, or commiserating over close calls.

So, with its convenience, shareability, and deliciousness, pizza reigns supreme as the perfect NCAA Basketball tournament watching food.

Now then, Domino’s is celebrating college basketball’s biggest month by offering customers 50 percent off all menu-priced pizzas ordered online today through March 24.

Christopher Thomas-Moore, Domino’s senior vice president – chief digital officer, stated, “Domino’s is making an assist to customers for a slam dunk of a deal,” ... “What’s better than enjoying delicious pizza while cheering on your favorite team? Enjoying delicious pizza when it’s half off!”

Yes, the 50 percent off deal is available on menu-priced pizzas ordered through Domino’s online ordering channels, which include www.dominos.com and Domino’s mobile app.

Fun Facts – Domino’s and Basketball

Domino’s sold more than 3 million pizzas during the men’s 2023 national semifinals and championship game nights combined – enough to give more than 45 pizzas to each person attending the final game in Arizona this year.

During the 2023 men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments, Domino’s produced enough dough to match the weight of more than 22 million basketballs.

It takes 69 Domino’s pizza boxes stacked from the floor of a basketball court to reach the hoop.

It takes more than 4,500 Domino’s pizza boxes to cover a 4,600-square-foot basketball court.

Don’t over reach. Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how Foodservice Solutions® 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 us on our social media sites by clicking the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

Time to Get Krystal Side Chik Bracket Challenge on Tiktok

 

College hoops are driving office conversations once again, family debates, and friendships. So, you know that Krystal, is the home of the original slider.  Now Krystal is heating up March brackets by launching its Side Chik Mania. Starting March 28, (in two days), TikTok will be heating up with a debate on the ultimate Side Chik. Joining in on the debate will be Victor Cruz, who will crown his Ultimate Side Chik through his TikTok bracket.

In case you did not know, the bracket starts with four Side Chiks; Spicy Chik, Donut-Glazed Sweet Chik Biscuit, Donut-Glazed Spicy Chik Biscuit, and of course the Classic Chik. After the initial matchup, the filter puts the winner to the final matchup. Fans of the fast-food chain can submit their picks, rating their favorite versions of the slider-sized chicken sandwiches. All users must do is tilt their head to the Side Chik of their choice.

Now, the Ultimate Side Chik will be chosen by fans and is based on the Side Chik that is the winner of the greatest number of brackets on TikTok. Pending guest responses, Krystal will crown the ultimate Side Chik on April 3.

Here pay attention; as Fans should be sure to cast their vote using the TikTok filter by April 3 and keep their DMs open. Pending which Chik is crowned the Ultimate Side Chik, Krystal will be DMing fans whose brackets had the same Ultimate Side Chik and “shooting their shot” with Krystal-themed surprise and delight gifts.

Ajona “Jax” Camile, Creative Marketing Director for Krystal, stated, “We’re always aiming to tap into cultural moments, and we refuse to always ‘play by the rules.’ Getting our audience talking is the ultimate goal at Krystal,” ... “So of course, we had to put our own spin on March basketball by bringing our Side Chiks courtside for their own competition.”

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 GrocerantGuru.com 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.

Wings Over Bouncing with 'Madness Meals' Success

 

Talk about seasonal brand relevance, Wings Over is doing everything right this time a year.  Wings Over has announced that they are collaborating with over 15 of the best Men’s & Women’s NCAA Basketball athletes to create custom “Madness Meals” at Wings Over locations nationwide. According to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®, “the NCAA Men’s & Women’s Basketball is a great platform to reach sports fans, college students, college graduates, and yes gamblers from every walk of life.”

So, on March 10, Wings Over launched 15+ custom Madness Meals designed by NCAA Athletes themselves. Athletes customized their favorite Wings Over meals with their favorite flavors, sides, and drinks! Yes, 15 different meals will empower consumer choice for the meal, from a school or for an athlete.

I sure you figured this out, the “Madness Meals” collaborations are launching just in time for the NCAA Basketball Tournaments. For the first time ever, Wings Over was able to partner with athletes due to recent changes in regulations around College Athlete's Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).

Wings Over’s Marketing Director, Connor Nolte, stated, “College athletics have always been a huge part of our Wings Over communities, so for our first major NIL Campaign, it was crucial for us to collaborate with Student-Athletes. College athletes have loved eating at Wings Over for years, so we are incredibly excited to finally give them the opportunity to share their favorite meals and flavors with their fans by creating their own custom Madness Meals,”

Nolte continued, “Our main priority was to showcase and highlight our incredible Student-Athlete Partners by creating a meal that has their name on it, and they are proud of,”

Here take, a look at the “Madness Meals” campaign is headlined by some of the top Men’s & Women’s NCAA Basketball athletes in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, including: Al Durham, Aziaha James, Christyn Williams, Chucky Hepburn, Darryl Morsell, Jacy Sheldon, Jada Boyd, Jared Bynum, Kateri Poole, Kennedy Todd-Williams, Leaky Black, Malaki Branham, Maya Dodson, Nate Watson, Noah Horchler, Ryan Cormac, Sam Brunelle, and Tyler Wahl.

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 us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

Is Walmart’s Ghost Kitchen a Real Effort at Grocerant Fresh

 

If one thing is clear it is that any brand can enter the grocerant niche filled with Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food. Some entrants the ilk of IKEA, COSTCO have done outstanding jobs selling both Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food in excess of $2 Billion US a year in sales according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Even the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, recently announced a delivery-only concept called Pistons Dish in partnership with ghost kitchen provider Reef Technology that regular readers of this blog know well.. The menu features basketball-inspired items with names like Hooper’s Honey Walnut Shrimp and Fast Break Falafel, but also promises “select Pistons merchandise.” All of it is available via DoorDash, Grubhub, Seamless and Uber Eats.

Regular readers of this blog are well aware that Edible Arrangements now just Edible and Walmart, which is working with a company called Ghost Kitchen Brands to offer both restaurant food and packaged goods for delivery and pickup from Walmart stores in Canada. A customer could feasibly order a Quiznos sub along with a Red Bull and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s from one of those locations. Walmart said the idea is to make its products more accessible.

Sam Hamam, senior director of licensees at Walmart Canada, stated “We’re very excited to be the first retailer to team up with Ghost Kitchens,” … “We’re always looking at ways to improve our customer shopping experience with greater access to affordable products, services and brands.”

One of the key success platforms of grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food is the ability to mix and match items. According to Johnson, the ability to mix and match meals and meal period components is an element that consumers truly want.

Last summer, DoorDash launched its own chain of delivery-only hubs called DashMarts in eight cities, offering convenience and grocery goods along with restaurant retail items such as sauces from chef Stephanie Izard. It is interesting to note that DoorDash refers to its DashMarts with what feels like a fitting term for this new breed of ghost kitchens: micro-fulfillment centers much akin to what Amazon has become.

Now here is the problem for Walmart, they have tried over and over again to make grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food a CPG product. That is exactly why they continue to salter in the grocerant area.  They are not alone just look how bad Kroger has done with fresh prepared food sales and profitability?  Albertsons and Safeway getting better but there remains no doubt that all legacy grocery stores will do all they can to make fresh food a CPG product. That will continue to cost them dearly and they will capitulate incremental sales to the restaurant sector and dollar store sector because of that.

There is a difference between the comfortable, familiar, and doing the same thing over and over again. That difference within the food space is where the customer has been migrating for the past 15 years. It’s time for more companies to start looking and acting like IKEA, COSTCO, and the Detroit Pistons.   

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 us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

Tijuana Flats Enjoy March Madness with US

 

It’s that time a year that our colleagues, friends and family ask us to join their March Madness ‘pool’ and compete just for fun or for a little bet on the side. With the freshness of each new spring March Madness is the one time spots fans, non-sports fans simply come together to play ball according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Success does leave clues and family, friends, and colleagues combine to make March Madness the perfect event to drive top line sales and bottom-line profits according to Johnson.  Restaurants are designed to bring consumer together and Tijuana Flats is doing just that. No matter what team you support Tijuana Flats is going to help you enjoy the game.

Tijuana Flats is helping its guests tip off Selection Sunday and the opening weekend of March Madness with two mouth-watering deals. Guests can choose from taco, burrito or wings take-home meal kits and receive a free gallon drink and dessert with their order on March 13 and 14. In addition, all DIY Bar catering orders for 10 or more people on March 14 will receive a free gallon drink and dessert.

To receive their free gallon drink and dessert, guests must use the code MMTH7521 at checkout. The offer includes the choice of a gallon of iced tea or lemonade, and one dessert, either the new churro bites or the Flathead favorite, cookie dough flautas. Taco, burrito and wings take-home meal kits feed 4–6 people and are available for curbside pickup, to-go, or delivery, and are not available for dine-in.

For larger parties, guests can order a DIY catering bar for 10 or more people, and receive free drinks and dessert. Drink options include iced tea or lemonade and dessert options include churro bites or cookie dough flautas. Guests must mention the promotion to receive the offer, which is not valid with any other offer or promotion and is not available through third party delivery services. Orders must be placed by calling (844)-4TFLATS (483-5287) by March 13, 2021.

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. 

Zippin Expands Non-traditional Locations to Expand the Brand

Regular readers of this blog know that Zippin is a check-out free retailer. Well in order to drive adoption Zippin has now has partnered with Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., to open the first in the world in-arena checkout-free convenience store and according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® that’s the incremental visibility that the brand need.

The new Zippin store will be located at the Southwest entrance of Golden 1 Center and will be open during Sacramento Kings home games and concerts at the arena. Sacramento Kings Chairman and Governor Vivek Ranadivé stated “We are committed to leveraging technology to identify and deliver cutting-edge, innovative solutions that enhance the fan experience,”  “Using AI-driven checkout-free technology we are excited to deliver a first-of-its-kind frictionless shopping experience ensuring our guests are able to get back to the action as quickly as possible.”

Starting this month (October 2019), Golden 1 Center fans and guests will have the opportunity to purchase food and beverage items such as popcorn, draft beer and a variety of snacks and drinks without the hassle of checkout lines and self-scanners.

For those of you who are not regular readers of this blog; San Francisco-based Zippin uses AI technology with cameras and sensors to accurately identify who bought what as shoppers walk around the store shopping naturally. So, here is how it will work:

Using the award-winning dual mode Sacramento Kings + Golden 1 Center app and/or the Zippin app, fans and guests can visit the store, grab items off the shelves, and exit without waiting anywhere or scanning any items. The receipt will appear in the app.

Shoppers who do not have the app will be able to enter the store by presenting a valid credit or debit card at the entrance.

Zippin’s technology also provides real-time inventory tracking allowing concessionaires to re-stock at just the right intervals and maximize sales conversion. As Zippin keeps accurate count of all the products on every shelf in the store, shoppers will be able to use the Kings or Zippin app to browse what is available in the store from anywhere.

Zippin CEO and Co-founder Krishna Motukuri stated “Banish the checkout line. That’s Zippin’s motto,”“I can’t think of a better place than a sports venue to eliminate the checkout line. When Zippin launches in Golden 1 Center this Fall, Sacramento Kings fans will be able to walk in, grab a beer, and walk out in under 30 seconds.”

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

Live Sports, Snacking, and Food Sales Success

With the Superbowl just concluded maybe we should look at how much is was spent and who is buying what?  One thing is clear that is live sports on TV drives incremental consumption of snack foods and if you are not offering consumers a package of snacks you are missing out, according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

So, who is spending what on ‘super bowl’ game day? Well, biggest spenders are those “ages 35-44 at an average $123.26 while the lowest are those 65 and older at $40.97. Viewers in the Northeast plan to spend the most, at an average $94.89, followed by the West at $84.01, the South at $79.09 and the Midwest at $69.24”.

Frito-Lay North America unveiled its inaugural U.S. Snack Index, a poll asking consumers what they plan to snack on during this year's big game.  Key insights from the U.S. Snack Index include:

1.       Nine out of 10 viewers plan to have at least one snack during the game. In addition, 80 percent of Americans will have potato chips or tortilla chips. 

2.       No two cities are exactly alike when it comes to Super Bowl snacking preferences. Chicago's top pick is popcorn. Los Angeles had the highest percentage of potato chip lovers, while Boston chose tortilla chips as their top pick.

3.       Nearly half of Gen Z and millennials selected cheesy snacks as a top pick. In addition, spicy snacks fared best with these age groups.

4.       Salsa was the overall top dip choice. French onion dip was the most popular dip for potato chips, while both salsa and guacamole came in high for tortilla chip dipping.

5.       More than one-third of those polled planned to share their photos on social media.

6.       More than half of viewers prefer to prepare simple recipes when they are attending a partly or hosting their own gathering.

Sporting events occur all year long.  How are you edifying your fresh food offering to garner a larger share of stomach?

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.