White Castle’s Customer Focused Marketing Success Continues

Steven Johnson the Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® believes that, it's clear that White Castle's strategic focus on consumer interactive participatory marketing is what sets them apart in the fast-food marketplace. Their latest campaign for the summer season exemplifies this approach, showcasing how they engage with customers in a dynamic and personalized manner.

White Castle, America's pioneering fast-food hamburger restaurant, is once again demonstrating its knack for innovation and customer engagement with the return of the Hidden Valley Ranch Chicken Rings and the exciting introduction of Smoky BBQ Chicken Rings. These mouthwatering all-white meat Chicken Rings are available at a remarkable value—just 12 for $3.99 at participating locations. 

The Smoky BBQ Chicken Rings bring a perfectly balanced blend of spices, offering bold flavor without overwhelming sweetness or spiciness. Meanwhile, the Hidden Valley Ranch Chicken Rings are seasoned with the iconic Hidden Valley Ranch mix, featuring a tangy blend of garlic, chives, and a touch of buttermilk.

"Our culinary team thrives on creativity, and these Chicken Rings are a testament to that," said Chef Phillip Bach, Head Chef and Director of Product Innovation at White Castle. "The unique seasonings elevate our classic Chicken Rings, promising a delightful and adventurous taste experience."

White Castle's commitment to versatility and customer satisfaction is evident in the Chicken Rings' adaptability. Cravers can enjoy them as a complement to their favorite Sliders or as a stand-alone entrée. With most White Castle locations open 24/7 and others open past midnight, customers can indulge in these delicious offerings whenever the craving strikes.

“These Chicken Rings are perfect for summer gatherings with family and friends,” said Jamie Richardson, Vice President of White Castle. “The combination of delicious flavor and unbeatable value at 12 for $3.99 makes them an irresistible treat.”

In addition to the Chicken Rings, White Castle is offering Shareable Meal #9 for the summer—a family-friendly option featuring 10 steam-grilled Original Sliders, 20 Chicken Rings, and a sack of crispy crinkle-cut fries. This meal is perfect for Cravers looking to feed their family affordably and conveniently.

White Castle's summer promotions continue their tradition of offering exceptional value and unique taste experiences. With a variety of deals and special offers, White Castle ensures that every customer can enjoy their favorite treats at great prices. Highlights include a BOGO free small shake during the Summer Solstice, free Sliders on National Onion Day, and discounted combo meals over the Independence Day weekend.

Here are the exclusive offers scheduled for June and July:

Occasion	Offer	Dates
Summer Solstice	BOGO free small shake after 8 p.m.	June 20 – 23
National Onion Day	BOGO 2 free Sliders (limit 2 free)	June 27 – 30
Independence Day	BOGO individual combo meal	July 4 – 7
National French Fries Day	BOGO free small fries (online orders use code FRYDAY)	July 12
National Cheesecake Day	BOGO free dessert-on-a-stick (online orders use code CAKEDAY)	July 30

“The summer season is packed with memorable moments, and we're here to help you make the most of it,” added Richardson. “White Castle has always focused on value, and we’re your go-to spot for great food at appealing prices, whether it’s morning, noon, or late-night at Night Castle.”

White Castle’s participatory marketing strategy, which includes engaging social media promotions and interactive deals, solidifies their position as a leader in the fast food industry. By fostering a direct connection with customers and providing exceptional value, White Castle continues to set the standard for consumer-focused innovation.

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 than 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. 

In a Battle for

Share of Stomach

Marketing Messaging Matters 

Bundled Meal Deals to Drive Einstein Bros. Bagels

Family time is becoming Einstein Bros. Bagels time according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. With everyone at home time starve parents are fast becoming over stress.

Einstein Bros. Bagels has developed a branded message and grocerant niche mix & match set of bundled product offerings to drive top line sales and bottom line profits all while edifying its own brand according to Johnson.

A family that eat together is happier together so Einstein Bros. Bagels is encouraging families to make their time together count through the launch of Family Meals. Offering a fun and easy way to engage the whole family for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Family Meals are available now through take-out, Order Ahead on the Einstein Bros. Bagels mobile app or calling ahead to your local store. Let’s look at the offerings:  

Hot & Ready Brunch Box: Feeds six to eight people, $29.99

A made-to-order box for families looking for a treat after a hard week of working from home and/or home schooling, this box includes six fresh-baked bagels, one tub of shmear, three egg sandwiches cut in half (one Farmhouse, two Bacon & Cheddar), four blueberry muffins and four twice-baked hash browns. 

Take & Make Pizza Bagel Kit: Feeds six people, $9.99

With this easy-to-make pizza kit, parents no longer need to dream of the day kids make dinner. The kit includes all of the ingredients needed to make six Cheese Pizza Bagel slices and six Pepperoni Pizza Bagel slices, giving kids a fun activity and their parents a break. 

Take & Make Bagel Deli Kit: Feeds six people, $29.99

Guests can set up a sandwich shop in their kitchen and have the family build their own fresh-baked bagel sandwiches for less than $5 per person. This kit includes six fresh-baked bagels, plenty of turkey and ham, cheddar cheese, fresh-cut tomato, onion and lettuce, and comes complete with mayonnaise and mustard packets.

Chad Thompson, VP of Culinary Innovation, Einstein Bros. Bagels stated “As more consumers continue to work from home and schools remain temporarily closed, we know that families are spending a lot of time together, and we want to make sure they make the most of it,” “Our three Family Meals provide a good reason for everyone to gather around the kitchen table and enjoy a great meal together.”  

Einstein Bros. Bagels is urging guests to use the Order Ahead capability through the company’s app, available on Google Play or the App Store, where guests can submit and pick up their order quickly in-store. Order Ahead is available at select Einstein Bros. Bagels locations across the country, excluding franchise and license locations inside hotels, airports, hospitals, colleges.

Mix & Match meal bundling is one of the hallmarks of the grocerant niche messaging according to Johnson.  If success does leave clues and it does, Einstein Bros. Bagels is doing all the right things.

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.

7-Eleven’s Global Stores and Technology Edge

Amazon Go’s cashierless technology is for ‘sale’ , however 7-Eleven’s operational efficiency and technology currently in place might just be the obstacle to slow Amazon down.  7-Eleven with owns, franchises and/or licenses more than 69,077 stores open around the world one thing is clear according Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® there is no other food retailer better at evolving that 7-Eleven.

Time starved, cash strapped consumers have come to adore 7-Eleven, and consumers have been rewarded with innovation after innovation.  Today, 7-Elevens digital team is at the industry forefront expanding effortless and convenient solutions with relevance to edifying its relations with today’s consumers.

Technology adoption at 7-Eleven today as a platform has 25 million loyalty members through its 7Rewards loyalty program. Since expanding its 7Rewards loyalty program two years ago, 7-Eleven has seen membership in the app-based platform almost triple (266%) from 9 million to 25 million members.

How are you engaging consumers? Is your brand driving relevance with technology?  While technology is important Foodservice Solutions® grocerant scorecards indicate that Gen Z and Millennials are drawn to 7-Eleven in large part because of ‘price’ and new fresh food and beverage offering many of them with the ‘halo’ of better for you around them.

Within every sector for foodservice today it is still the food & beverage offerings customer frequency first and technology can edify that relationship in a proactive, meaningful and measurable way.

For international corporate presentations, regional chain presentations, local educational forums, or keynotes contact: Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions.  His extensive experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert and public speaking will leave success clues for all. For more information visit www.GrocerantGuru.com , www.FoodserviceSolutions.us or call 1-253-759-7869

Restaurant Sector: Grocerants are the next new Normal

At the intersection of get me out of the house and What’s for dinner, consumers seeking solutions to how to feed the family. Many are afraid of stepping outside, many others are leery of what germs are on the packaging, delivery item, and payment methods. For 80,000,000+ restaurants are closed and many of those may never reopen even if this only last 4, 6, or 8, more weeks.

Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru®, Steven Johnson based in Tacoma, WA believes that there is a huge opportunity for independent restaurants and chain restaurants to evolve their current business model, with long-term relevance, focusing on grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat meals and meal components with mix & match product bundling.

The grocerant niche has been the undercurrent of global foodservice growth for 19 plus years according to Johnson. Three key elements that continue to expand in importance for consumers are the fact consumers are looking for value both dollar value and time savings, convenience they want options and new points of distribution, experience means no extensive cooking or clean-up.

Restaurants that evolve with customer relevance touchpoints will make a Huge Comeback.  Consumers are becoming claustrophobic and will need an outlet to socialize and within the options those garnering the most success will have branded, craveable, grocerant niche mix & match product options according to Johnson.

In 2020 very few like cooking and being FORCED to wash dishes and clean up daily.  Branded restaurants will come back with SPECIALS to drive people back. Restaurants that want to keep those customers coming will start today thinking about how they can best evolve their business model and customer touchpoints. Are you looking a customer ahead?

While grocery stores are selling untold cases of canned food to consumers much of it will sit on the shelves in consumer homes slowing sales in grocery stores.  The simple fact is Non-traditional fresh food ‘grocerant’ retailers with drive growth over the next 10 years, outpacing that of the legacy both restaurants and grocery stores. 

Foodservice Solutions® team is here to help you drive top line sales and bottom-line profits. Are you looking a customer ahead? 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.

Are you a Player

in the Battle for Share of Stomach

Nontraditional Food Channels Are Growing and Disruptive

The consumer is dynamic not static.  According to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® when the consumer moves food retailers must move with them or risk losing market share. 

The ‘playing field’ is different that it was in 1960, 1980, 2,000. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics US Households had 2.52 people in 2019, 128.58 us households in 2019 with 34.51 million 2 person and 36.48 with one person. Now stop here and think. The fast is 70.99% of all US household is comprised of one or two people.  Are you selling mix & match meal components for one or two people?

Is it any wonder that within the restaurant sector that QSR’s and Fast Casual transaction represented 83.4% of all restaurant industry transaction in 2019? Grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepare food continue to drive growth.  Is your brand evolving with consumers?

Recently, Pentallect estimated that the nontraditional food channels currently account for $210 billion in consumer expenditures, and projects 7% annual growth for these channels over the next five years, versus 3.5% for foodservice and 1% for traditional retail, which encompasses supermarkets, supercenters, mass/drug, and dollar stores. The nontraditional channels are projected account for 30% of food industry growth over the next five years.

Battle for Share of Stomach

Bob Goldin, a Pentallect partner and co-author of the study, noted that “nontraditional channels represent a ‘sweet spot’ in the food and beverage industry. Their growth is based upon strong consumer appeal and generally favorable business models. Without question, they demand increased attention from suppliers.”

Pentallect President Rob Veidenheimer observed that “each of the channels has unique consumer appeal and continues to evolve at a very rapid rate. We have studied these channels closely over the past several years and see them as significant share gainers for the foreseeable future.”

Legacy grocery stores continue to have close stores with new smaller footprint food retailers stepping up to replace them.  The restaurant sector customer migration to the fast food and fresh food fast concepts has been disruptive.  What’s next?  Well our Grocerant Guru® has been tracking this sector longer than anyone else, has the pulse of the consumer.  This is a global trend is your brand evolving the touchpoints and attributes driving consumer today?  

For international corporate presentations, regional chain presentations, local educational forums, or keynotes contact: Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions.  His extensive experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert and public speaking will leave success clues for all. For more information visit www.GrocerantGuru.com , www.FoodserviceSolutions.us or call 1-253-759-7869