Grocers vs. Restaurants: Can Kids Eat Free Platforms Succeed Everywhere?

 

Kids Eat Free promotions have long been a cornerstone for family-oriented restaurants like IHOP and Denny’s, offering a compelling traffic-driving incentive for parents. However, as guest traffic declines across restaurant categories, this once-exclusive restaurant strategy is now being adopted by non-traditional fresh food retailers, convenience stores (C-stores), and even grocery store delis. Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® thinks it’s time to delve into whether this strategy works across all sectors, updated with food industry facts and new insights into marketing to children.

Kids Eat Free: Is It Right for Your Business?

The immediate answer to whether these promotions work is simple: yes, they drive traffic. However, a better question is whether this strategy aligns with your business goals. "Free" is always appealing and can pull in customers, but profitability must remain a priority. Restaurants are now joined by grocers experimenting with similar tactics.

Take Kroger’s innovative Kids Fresh Friends program. Launched last year, the program provides kids with a card enabling them to get a free piece of fruit each visit. Ken McClure, customer communication manager for The Kroger Co., reported that in its first eight weeks, the program distributed nearly 40,000 pieces of fruit—close to 5,000 pieces per week. The initiative shows how grocers can leverage these strategies not just to attract families but also to subtly drive sales in other categories. Meanwhile, United Supermarkets in Texas and national chains like Whole Foods and PCC Markets offer kids free healthy snacks such as apples, oranges, and bananas every day.

Restaurants, Grocery Stores, and C-Stores: Tailoring the Approach

The Kids Eat Free model may not always guarantee customer loyalty. Restaurants typically add strings to the deal, such as requiring an adult meal purchase or limiting the number of free meals to two children per adult. These provisions aim to mitigate potential losses, but overuse of such promotions can devalue the product. For example, if families perceive kids’ meals as worth $0 today, why should they feel comfortable paying $5 tomorrow? Worse, ongoing promotions can create dependency, prompting backlash when they’re discontinued.

C-stores and grocery store delis could carve out a more sustainable model by bundling value-added options with healthy snacks or meal components. For example, offering “Lunchbox Builder Kits” featuring fresh fruits, mini sandwiches, and a juice box for free with an adult meal purchase could appeal to parents while driving cross-category sales.

Marketing to Kids: Key Insights Across Channels

1.       Convenience Stores:

o    Snack-centric branding with “fun-sized” or “grab-and-go” healthy snacks targets kids and parents alike.

o    Tie-ins with popular sports or cartoon characters can build interest and make healthier options enticing.

o    Loyalty programs for families could reward repeat purchases while promoting value and excitement.

2.       Restaurants:

o    Balancing indulgence with health-conscious offerings can cater to parents seeking occasional treats for kids.

o    Interactive experiences, such as coloring menus or themed meal nights, enhance engagement and increase dwell time.

o    Seasonal promotions like “Kids Eat Free Summer Specials” can drive urgency without creating dependency.

3.       Grocery Store Delis:

o    Building family-centric deli meal bundles with complementary items for parents and free snacks for kids can deliver convenience.

o    Engaging in-store displays showcasing kids' favorite meals or snacks next to healthy options subtly reinforces better choices.

o    Digital campaigns highlighting back-to-school lunch solutions attract busy parents and ensure cross-category sales boosts.

The Economics of "Free"

While the success of a Kids Eat Free platform may vary, planning is essential. Here are actionable tips for implementing this promotion:

·         Cost Analysis: Calculate exactly how much extra traffic is needed to break even. Track food costs and guest-count spikes to monitor return on investment.

·         Marketing Outreach: Ensure the promotion is well-publicized through social media, local radio, or direct mail to maximize reach.

·         Strategic Duration: Limit promotions to specific time frames, like summer months or school vacation periods, to keep expectations in check.

Long-term Opportunities

Instead of viewing Kids Eat Free as a temporary traffic solution, businesses can integrate it into loyalty-building strategies. Programs like Kroger’s Fresh Friends can be scaled by emphasizing health, sustainability, and convenience. Similarly, innovative promotions in grocery stores and delis can position these sectors as viable alternatives to restaurants for affordable family dining.

As families continue to juggle rising costs and packed schedules, the Kids Eat Free platform—when paired with fresh food innovation and strategic marketing—has the potential to transform not just dining occasions but how families source convenient and affordable meals.

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.

If You Want to Build

SHARE OF STOMACH

Kids Matter

Kwik Trip’s Fried Chicken Contest will Drive Sales Here are Five Reasons Why

 

Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® congratulates Kwik Trip on it fist-of-its-kind chicken sweepstakes, as he believes it will garner incremental sales. Here are five reasons why:

1.        Kwik Trip’s Fried Chicken is a consumer favorite.

2.      Global Chicken Consumption is Massive: Around 60 billion chickens are raised for meat each year worldwide, with over half originating in Asia. This makes chicken the most consumed meat globally, surpassing even pork and beef.

3.      Nutritional Value: Chicken is a good source of lean protein, containing around 31 grams per cooked breast. It's also relatively low in fat compared to other meats, especially when skinless and trimmed. Additionally, chicken offers various essential vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, iron, and selenium.

4.      Ethical Considerations: Concerns surround the welfare of chickens raised in factory farms, often subjected to cramped living conditions and controversial practices like debeaking. Consumers increasingly seek alternatives from ethically sourced farms or adopt plant-based diets.

5.       Culinary Versatility: Chicken is a versatile ingredient, adapting to diverse culinary styles worldwide. From classic fried chicken in the US to butter chicken in India, to Japanese chicken teriyaki, its adaptability contributes to its widespread popularity.

Now about the Fried Chicken for Life Sweepstakes, Kwik Trip will offer Kwik Rewards members the opportunity to win fried chicken for life. Paige Geary, Kwik Trip social media supervisor, stated, "The Fried Chicken for Life Sweepstakes will be a big activation for us on our social media accounts these next few weeks," ... "To help jumpstart sweepstakes excitement, we sent our 100-plus brand ambassadors a care package which includes chicken leg keychains, bumper stickers and personalized disposable bibs."

The sweepstakes will officially end on April 8, after which one randomly selected guest will receive one eight-piece fried chicken meal per week, for life. More information about the sweepstakes, along with a full list of rules and restrictions, is available here. 

Now about the Chicken; Kwik Trip offers hand-breaded dark and white meat fried chicken, as well as tenders, roasted whole chicken, crispy fried chicken sandwiches and boneless wings. Each time a registered member purchases any of those products, they will earn sweepstakes entry to win a lifetime supply of the convenience retailer's fried chicken.

"Throughout the years we've given boats, RVs and trucks away, but this will be the first sweepstakes of its kind for us and we're going to have a lot of fun with it," said David Jackson, Kwik Trip director of loyalty and digital marketing.

La Crosse-based Kwik Trip is a family-owned convenience store chain which operates more than 870 locations. Stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan operate under the Kwik Trip banner, while stores in Iowa, Illinois and South Dakota operate under the Kwik Star banner. 

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

Little Caesars if a Super Bowl ‘Pick 6’ Happens They are Offering Free Slices-N-Stix

 

Ok, I guess I now have a reason to watch the Super Bowl thanks to Little Caesars.  If there is a ‘Pick 6’ there is a 50 percent chance your team got the ball.  That is reason enough to be happy.  However, if your team ends up winning the game, or not you still get a reward. That’s the power of a positive, proactive, food marketing program according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

So, of course there is a catch, pizza and football fans who pre-register for Little Caesars’ Slices-N-Stix Super Bowl Trigger Promotion will receive a free Slices-N-Stix if a pick 6 occurs in this year’s game.

What even is Slices-N-Stix? Pretty much your dream come true. Slices-N-Stix is four slices of pepperoni pizza, combined with eight Italian Cheese Stix, plus Crazy Sauce. It also comes in bacon and jalapeno varieties.

You in? Here’s how fans can pre-register for the promotion:

1.       Sign in or create an account on the Little Caesars app (yes, on your phone, not the website)

2.       Tap the “Challenge” option in the app menu to see the official Pick 6 Challenge

3.       Tap “Accept Challenge” to let us know you want a slice of the action

4.       Purchase a Slices-N-Stix, Slices-N-Stix Bacon, or Slices-N-Stix Jalapenos on the app between February 5 and 10.

5.       Sit back and enjoy Super Bowl LVIII and pray to the pizza gods that a pick 6 happens.

If a pick 6 happens, every guest who pre-registered will receive a code through their app on February 26 to redeem for a free Slices-N-Stix.

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

7-Eleven Is Getting All Charged Up for the Next Generation of Customers

 

Looking a customer ahead is what good companies do.  It is one of the successes that Steven Johnson our Grocerant Guru® regularly discuses on this blog.  7-Eleven the world’s largest convenience store chain has picked up and shared more success clues than almost any other retail food chain.   

Now 7‑Eleven Inc. is getting into the electric vehicle (EV) charging arena with its proprietary 7Charge network that is a big step-up in customer focus and a clue that they are looking a customer ahead.  While gasoline is not going away any time soon.  There will soon be a new generation of drivers that may never own a gasoline powered automobile.

So, 7-Eleven’s 7Charge is entering the market at select stores in Florida, Texas, Colorado and California. With the launch, 7‑Eleven intends to build one of the largest and most compatible EV fast-charging networks of any retailer in North America. Rollout will begin in the United States before making the jump to Canada.

The press release from 7-Eleven stated, the 7Charge network will offer EV drivers 7‑Eleven's trademark convenience and accessibility. 7Charge sites allow customers to charge any EV make and model compatible with common CHAdeMO or Combined Charging System plug types, and the 7Charge app offers a new level of convenience and coordination to customers looking for a seamless charging and payment experience.

So, the 7Charge app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play, or by visiting 7‑Eleven.com/7charge.

Joe DePinto, president and CEO at 7‑Eleven, stated, "For over 95 years, 7‑Eleven has innovated to meet our customers' needs — delivering convenience where, when and how they want it," said. "Now, we are innovating once again to meet our customers' where they are by expanding our business to provide EV drivers convenience of the future ... today."

This new 7Charge network will deliver on the growing consumer need for EV charging infrastructure. By expanding the 7Charge network, while continuing to utilize third-party fast-charging network options, 7‑Eleven will have the ability to grow its network to match consumer demand and make EV charging available to neighborhoods that have, until now, lacked access, the company said.

While it is still rolling out, once the network's expansion is complete, 7‑Eleven will have one of the largest and most compatible fast-charging networks of any retailer in North America serving communities and customers at charging stations across its entire family of brands including Speedway and Stripes stores.

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

7-Eleven Free Large Pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday

 

Free works.  Are you looking for a way to extend you brand value.  Do you have a menu item that consumers continue to buy, sales are increasing, customer like, but not enough consumers think of your brand first or second when that think of that menu item.  If that is the case they you need to drive customer trail, because after trial comes adoption.

According to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® 7-Eleven has such a product.  That product is Pizza.  How are they going to exploit their brand value messaging.  They are targeting the Super Bowl of Pizza sales days and every pizza company out there.  Yes, &-Eleven is giving away free pizza on Super Bowl Sunday.

Are You Garnering a 

Larger Share of Stomach

What is your Customer Acquisition Cost

So, to kick off football fans' favorite day of the year, 7-Eleven, Inc. is giving customers a free large pizza through the 7NOW Delivery app. This big deal for the Big Game is only available on Sunday, February 12.

All pizza flavors are included in this deal, including Extreme Meat, Cheese, Pepperoni Pizza and Breakfast Pizza, available at select stores! No matter customers' pizza preference, 7-Eleven has got 'em covered. Exclusively available through the 7NOW Delivery app, the deal will be applied automatically at checkout on February 12 only. Talk about a touchdown!

7-Eleven Senior Director of Hot Food, Vareesha Shariff, stated, "Whether you're a football fanatic or just tuning in for the commercials and halftime show, the Big Game is the most exciting Sunday of the year," ... "What better way to celebrate than with free pizza delivered straight to your doorstep?"

In case you did not know, with more than 3,000 items to choose from, the 7NOW Delivery app offers customers a convenient way to enjoy their favorite foods and watch party essentials – from savory taquitos to 5 for $5 bone-in wings -- all without missing any of the action. Delivery is available throughout the U.S. and offers real-time tracking that lets customers know when to expect their orders, typically in about 30 minutes.

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

Chester’s Chicken Partners for Truckersgiving

Talk about driving new electricity into a brand.  Chester’s Chicken is doing just that with a targeted partnership edifying its fresh fried chicken with truck drivers it what they are calling ‘Truckersgiving’.  Now that is a great way to edify your brand and customers at the same time according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Regular reader of this blog are going to love this, Chester's Chicken, the fresh fried chicken quick-service restaurant concept, in collaboration with Love's Travel Stops, are bringing back Truckersgiving, the annual holiday season celebration that recognizes and appreciates professional drivers for their service.

Today, just one week before Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 17) Chester's and Love's will honor truck drivers with a free Super Snack meal for the first 100 guests at each Chester's located at Love's. Additionally, the first 20 road warriors who show their commercial driver's license at each location will also receive a custom Chester's trucker hat.

William Culpepper, vice president of marketing, Chester's Chicken, stated, "The role of professional drivers remains critical – especially during the holiday season – with the average driver clocking 60 hours of driving in one week," ... "We launched the first Truckersgiving with Love's last year, and it was so well received that we had to bring it back in an even bigger way. Truck drivers are some of our best and most loyal customers, so offering this free meal to drivers across the country is our way of saying thank you for their important work."

Each Super Snack meal includes two pieces of Chester's signature fried chicken – a leg and a thigh – and a side of potato wedges. Chester's specially marinated and double breaded chicken has bold flavor with a perfect crunch that's a favorite for anyone on the road. Chester's is especially popular with truck drivers and road trippers given its store-in-store concept that spans truck stops and convenience stores.

Currently there are 141 Chester's restaurants found within Love's, spanning 34 states. Roughly 60 professional drivers visit a Love's two to three times in an average week – and the week prior to Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times for truck traffic.

Joe Cotton, vice president of restaurant services, Love's, stated, "Professional drivers can't be thanked enough for their hours on the road," …. "Truckersgiving is a new favorite tradition we're proud to host with Chester's Chicken to celebrate our professional truck driver customers and kick off the holiday season."

Professional drivers can claim the Truckersgiving Super Snack meal by stopping by any Chester's restaurant within a Love's during operating hours on Thursday, Nov. 17, and scanning the barcode on their Love's Connect App or by swiping their My Love Rewards Card. Trucker hats will be given out at each joint location to the first 20 truckers who also show their commercial driver's license.

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, smaller footprint, developing brands, fresh flowers, grocerant positioning, fresh food messaging, autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, plates, glasses, cash-less payments, digital hand-held marketing.

All retailers to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food that is portable according to Johnson. 

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