Here’s How Panda Express NRG Partnership Can Drive Interactive Participatory Customer Engagement

 

Panda Express excels at customer focused interactive participatory engagement and it is one of their success clues that they continually build upon according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

The Panda Express and NRG partnership will drive interactive and participatory customer trials according to Johnson.  The collaboration offers several potential avenues for engagement let’s take a look:

Social Media Integration:

·         Livestream events: Panda Express could host live streams in collaboration with NRG, featuring NRG content creators or gamers enjoying Panda Express meals and engaging with viewers through Q&A sessions or challenges. Viewers could be encouraged to try Panda Express themselves and share their experiences using dedicated hashtags or participate in polls related to menu items.

·         Contests and Giveaways: Both brands could run joint contests or giveaways on their social media platforms, offering prizes like exclusive merchandise, NRG coaching sessions, or Panda Express meal vouchers. Participation could involve trying specific menu items, sharing photos, or creating user-generated content related to the partnership.

Interactive Content on NRG Platforms:

·         Panda Express Pre-Game Segment: The newly introduced segment on NRG's "Mission Control" broadcast could be interactive by incorporating polls, quizzes, or trivia questions related to Panda Express or Rocket League, encouraging viewers to participate and potentially win prizes.

·         Original Content on NRG's TikTok: The planned original content featuring NRG's Rocket League roster and content creators could involve challenges, recipe recreations using Panda Express ingredients, or behind-the-scenes glimpses into the partnership, encouraging viewers to try the food themselves.

Panda Express Initiatives:

·         Limited-time menu items: Panda Express could introduce limited-edition menu items inspired by NRG or Rocket League, with a portion of proceeds potentially going towards supporting NRG or esports initiatives.

·         In-store promotions: Panda Express could run in-store promotions or offer special discounts to customers who show proof of purchase from NRG's online store or attend NRG events.

It's important to note that these are just potential examples, and the actual strategies used by Panda Express and NRG might differ. However, the focus on social media engagement, interactive content, and potentially unique offerings suggests an attempt to create a buzz and encourage trial among fans of both brands will work.

 

Fabiola del Rio, Vice President of Integrated Marketing Communications, stated, “Both of our brands recognize the importance of shared experiences in bringing communities together. Just as NRG forges connections through gaming, Panda Express invites guests to connect over good food,” … “This partnership celebrates the inherent social nature of dining and gaming experiences, inviting fans to savor the thrill of victory and the deliciousness of American Chinese cuisine.”

Hauk Nelson, Director of Business Development for NRG, stated, “NRG has always been at the forefront of innovation in the esports industry, and our collaboration with Panda Express marks a monumental leap forward.” ... “This partnership goes beyond the screen, bringing a taste of excitement and community to our fans. Together with Panda Express, we’re setting the stage for a whole new kind of engagement, where the thrill of gaming meets the joy of great food. We’re thrilled to integrate Panda Express into the NRG family and can’t wait to see the energy and enthusiasm this partnership will bring to our Rocket League and broader esports initiatives.”

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

TOUS les JOURS Baking in Technology

 

If you are a food retailer and want to be in business five years from now you have better be integrating technology every day according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® who stated, “flavor, freshness, fast service is important but how, where and why customers come to you and then come back may require a degree of technology you might not yet have.”

Take for example, TOUS les JOURS, a French-Asian bakery café chain offering more than 300 different kinds of artisan pastries, gourmet cakes and desserts baked in-store daily, revealed its Among Us Impostor Cake based off the popular online multiplayer social deduction game created by Innersloth. The Among Us game gained huge popularity during the pandemic, where it drew nearly 500 million monthly active users and received the “Favorite Video Game” award at the 2021 Kids’ Choice Awards.

Now did you understand that their branded game drew nearly 500 million monthly active users?  That’s very big, very, very big. 

In a Battle for Share of Stomach

You Too Can Win

Joon Kwon, Marketing Manager for TOUS les JOURS, stated, “This unique collaboration with Innersloth allowed TOUS les JOURS to channel our inner kid as we created this fun and delicious new character cake,” ... “We’re confident that online gamers throughout the country are going to love the new Among Us themed cake that’s perfect for birthday parties or just sharing with fellow fans of the game.”

So, inspired by the Red Impostor from Among Us, the new cake features chocolate cake layered with ganache-infused whipped cream and choco crunch balls. The cake is finished with a beautiful red glaze and packaged in a themed Among Us box. Perfect for any of life’s celebrations, the new Among Us Impostor Cake joins TOUS les JOURS’ lineup of Among Us-themed treats, including the Among Us Choco Crunch Cake which debuted last year and remains on the menu due to popular demand.

Victoria Tran, Community Director at Innersloth, stated, "We're so excited to collaborate with TOURS les JOURS to create a delicious experience our communities can enjoy. It's such a fun way to celebrate a special occasion or even just treat yourself! We can't wait to see the cake in stores all around the country and the joy it'll bring to people's faces,".

The new Among Us Impostor cake is permanently available at participating locations. Availability may vary by location. You do not need to be a big chain, there are bloggers, gamers, and marketing companies in your home town looking for a start in drive new partnership relationships.  Are you ready to drive new electricity into your brand?

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.

All 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. 

For international corporate presentations, regional chain presentations, 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 GrocerantGuru.com, FoodserviceSolutions.US or call 1-253-759-7869

Is Gamification Wendy’s New Platform for Success

Foodservice Solutions® Tacoma, WA based Grocerant Guru®, Steven Johnson was the first to introduce gamification to chain restaurants back in 2012 when he introduced ‘Threep’. Threep was the first mobile application that rewarded users for having shared experiences in real life. It was consumer interactive, participatory, with real time consumer relevance, adding value to restaurant brands, building sales with incremental group size, and leveraging Micro groups for Macro results.

Most gamification platforms incorporate customer frequency principles through its rewards program, incentivizing usage by allowing users to unlock better rewards and discounts the more they utilize the game or app.   

Wendy’s may be six years late entering gamification but at least it’s getting into the ‘game’ according to Johnson. With the launch of its first tabletop Role-Playing Game (RPG): Feast of Legends Wendy’s is taking all of the right steps so far.

Battle for Share of Stomach

Today, the gaming culture is on the rise, becoming more mainstream in recent years, making it the cool thing to do within a coveted community of individuals. There are 4.7 million RPG fans across the US and 13.8 worldwide. With the rise of gaming and RPG fans, Wendy’s is bringing its own creative spin to RPGs, featuring an immersive fantasy campaign to support its never-ending fight against frozen beef, whether it’s in the real world or the fantasy world of Beef’s Keep.

Feast of Legends launched at New York Comic Con in partnership with Fandom and Critical Role, featuring a panel of gaming enthusiasts. How are you interacting with your consumers? Does your brand marketing team understand gamification? Is your game as interactive for women as men?

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 www.FoodserviceSolutions.us 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.