At Yum Brand’s Partnerships are Driving Success

Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru® Steven Johnson, called 2018 the year of foodservice partnerships identifying, quantifying, and qualifying ‘partnerships’ as a success platform.  Ever since regular readers of this blog have continued to share stories edifying that success. Thank you. 

Yum Brand’s, Pizza Hut’s expanding partnership with the NFL has fueled top line growth and bottom line profits and now Kentucky Fried Chicken is expanding success in the same way. Kentucky Fried Chicken & Waffles, is a Limited Time Offer (LTO) that will elevate industry buzz and consumer trial that will expand the breakfast day-part garnering incremental sales according to Johnson.

New partnerships can drive sales in foodservice today as your brand is searching for the new electricity to help drive the brand forward according to Johnson.

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, developing brands, unique urban clothing, grocerant positioning, Fresh food messaging, autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, plates, glasses, cash-less payments, digital hand-held marketing.

Foodservice 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.  That will require brands to embrace new fresh food partnerships more now than ever before according to Johnson.

Andrea Zahumensky, chief marketing officer, KFC U.S.  “Our famous extra crispy, savory fried chicken atop a Belgian Liege-style waffle, with the finishing touch of classic Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup, makes for a scrumptious dish I’d put up against versions at upscale restaurants, but we’re offering it at a price just about anyone can afford. And it can be enjoyed at KFCs across the country for brunch, lunch or dinner,”  

KFC noted that the menu item perfectly pairs the southern favorite, Extra Crispy fried chicken, with scrumptiously thick, Belgian Liege-style waffles. The waffle recipe was developed specifically to pair perfectly with KFC’s Extra Crispy fried chicken and is made with a yeast-raised dough instead of a batter. The waffles include pearl sugar imported from Belgium that creates a delectable sweet and crunchy outer texture.

Bob Das, head chef for KFC U.S. “When we decided to create Kentucky Fried Chicken& Waffles, we knew we had to make it really special,”… “As the fried chicken experts, we had the chicken part covered. We went through 15 different variations before landing on our unique Belgian Liege-style waffle, which is sweeter and doughier than American-style waffles. The two combine seamlessly to create an extra delicious dish that KFC fans will love.” 

Brand bridge building advertisements show the Colonel and Mrs. Butterworth, two brand icons, pairing up for the equally iconic combination of Kentucky Fried Chicken & Waffles. How are you expanding your brand? Is your brand invitation building bridges to new customers and old customers with relevance?

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.

Starbucks' Innovation Continues to Drive Retail Sales Growth

Not all chain restaurants practice brand protectionism in fact according to Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru® Steven Johnson one chain restaurant excels at evolving it business model, extending it industry leadership and has for 46 years; that company is Starbucks.

The one thing that Starbucks does better than any other chain restaurant is follow one of Foodservice Solutions® success clues that the team at Foodservice Solutions® developed by identifying, quantifying, and qualifying retail foodservice success. The clue is Build, Measure, Learn, and Repeat.

That is exactly what Starbucks did and customers can now find Starbucks Draft Nitro Cold Brew in nearly 1,000 company-operated stores across the United States. The product has also expanded globally into 16 markets around the world.  Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew is expected to be available in nearly 1,500 stores in 26 markets by the end of 2017.

Sandy Stark, senior vice president, Starbucks U.S. Beverage Category and Global Innovation  stated “The category of cold coffee is heating up,” … “We have always offered iced options but the launch of our cold brew platform in 2015 was a catalyst for our ability to bring in new options like Nitro. As a result, we are seeing less seasonality with cold coffee as it becomes a year-round drink for our customers.”

The Team at Foodservice Solutions® believes that what Starbucks does better than any other chain restaurant is looking beyond the four walls of its stores. Today Starbucks Cold Brew bike, allows licensed partners—such as those located on retail or college campuses—to bring Nitro to customers in a new and unexpected way. The Starbucks Cold Brew bike, a two-tap system on wheels, holds 2—4 kegs and serves Cold Brew coffee on-demand as an extension of a licensed store. There are currently two in operation with an additional eight more expected to follow later this year.

The installation of Starbucks Draft taps in stores has paved the way for Starbucks to continue innovating and testing new products. Are you looking beyond your four walls?  Are your customer counts growing? Do you need help new avenue of distributions ideations, new product ideations new marketing ideations?

Are you trapped doing what you have always done and doing it the same way?  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.