Bagels for Breakfast are ‘Hip’ ‘Happening’ and Helpful

Einstein Bros Bagels has learned the power of partnerships can drive new electricity for its brand according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  If success leaves clues than Einstein Bros Bagels has picked up one very important one on how to drive brand relevance via partnerships.

Sodexo, Inc. and Starship Technologies revealed that an extra 1,500 breakfast orders have been delivered autonomously shortly after the two companies joined forces to debut the Starship delivery robots on the campus of George Mason University.  

To help celebrate the launch of a fleet of more than 30 robots on campus and raise awareness of the breakfast offerings, the companies are partnering with Einstein Bros. Bagels and offering free breakfast for the remainder of the academic year to the NAU student who places the first order via the Starship app. The school’s nearly 25,000 students and faculty can now use the Starship app (iOS and Android) to order food and drinks from local retailers to be delivered anywhere on campus, within minutes. So, how are you adding relevance to your brand? Are you looking a customer ahead?

How is your brand building 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 food 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. 

Are If 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.

KFC Focus on Security and Mobile Payments

Food security and safety is first for all restaurants but information security is second in top of mind awareness for consumers today according to  Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  KFC is looking for a new electricity to drive incremental top line sales and bottom line profits with a new strategic partnership.

KFC has found that new electricity in a partnership with Ingenico Group to Simplify EMV Migration that strengthens it hand held marketing and payment platform with a new level of security and that security is KFC new electricity, according to Johnson; partnerships specifically strategic partnerships are driving retail success today. 

Johnson stated that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh foods grocerant consultants, urban farming (produce, seafood, etc.), autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, cash-less payments, digital hand held marketing.

Retailers the ilk of KFC 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 in some form and KFC has been and continues to lead at that. KFC keeps upping its game and other brands must embrace new fresh food and technology partnerships more now than ever

So in short KFC has migrated its payments system in the U.S. to Ingenico Group’s Telium Semi-Integrated solution to simplify its path to EMV card acceptance and to reduce PCI compliance scope while providing their customers with more payment options and enhanced payment security. As part of the solution, customers will be able to pay using all forms of electronic payment, including EMV chip & PIN, EMV chip & sign, magstripe and NFC/contactless. That according to Johnson is very important.

KFC now uses a mix of Ingenico Group’s iSC250 and iPP350 smart terminals at the counter and iPP350 smart terminals for its drive-thru’s, providing customers a fast and secure payment solution no matter where they pay. Using a semi-integrated approach, where sensitive cardholder data is routed around the point of sale (POS), allows KFC to better protect its customers’ payment information.

Chris Caldwell, KFC U.S. chief information officer  stated “Upgrading our payment terminals wasn’t just about migrating to EMV—it was about helping to protect our customers’ payment information and giving them the ability to pay the way they want, whether it’s by using their mobile device or their credit card,” .... “Ingenico Group has helped KFC U.S. transition to EMV and implement a seamless payment experience for our customers with best-in-class terminals that accept a variety of payment options.”

Scott Tubbs, chief revenue officer for Ingenico Group  stated “KFC has always been dedicated to creating innovative customer experiences, and upgrading its payments system is the latest improvement it’s made,”  “Ingenico Group’s semi-integrated payment solution provides KFC’s customers with a multitude of payment options without compromising the security of their information.” Do you have a security pillow?

Is your branded evolving with consumers demand for mobile payment?  What is your new electricity? 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

Looking for US Foodservice Investments or Opportunity

Foodservice Solutions® team has fielded more inquires for food industry investment opportunity in January 2017 than any January since 1991.  Regular readers of this blog know we regularly work with clients outside of the United States that are looking for quality United States food industry investments.

The United States has always been a melting pot of inclusion.  A place where opportunity is available for every one of every culture; balancing people, vision, profits, with hard work, and intellectual capital.  Are you looking for long term stable food industry focused investments? Give Foodservice Solutions® a try.

Our services include identifying, quantifying, qualifying, opportunity, and conducing due diligence for your prospective investments.  We can conduct due diligence anywhere you like in the United States, we specialize in the food space. 

Our clients can invest in, buy, and have the team at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® manage operations from chains to single units we specialize in food focused companies the ilk of Restaurants, C-stores, Hotels, Grocery Stores, Orchard’s, Wineries, Foodservice Equipment, any regional /national branded retailers, or buildings including strip centers, technology food focused star-ups, mobile marketing companies, Gas Stations, Fuel Companies, and food magazines.

Global chaos and uncertainty are the new reality and undercurrent driving the increase in clients seeking investments in the United States. The US is not immune to that uncertainty either however the size of the US marketplace provides sustainable strategic advantages over the long term.

So let’s cut to the chase of course there is a fee for our service.  That fee is for up-front due diligence.  That fee is required whether you invest / purchase or not, the fee is for the process of due diligence.  Questions and inquires can be emailed directly too:  Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us .   Success does leave clues if you are looking remember since 1991 www.FoodserviceSolutions.us has been the leader within the Grocerant niche.