The Honey Baked Ham Finds Relevance in Tailgating

 

Expanding relevance to your existing customer base is key too edifying a long-lasting loyal relationship and The Honey Baked Ham Company has found new relevance in tailgating according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

If you listen to your customers, you can drive both top-line sales and bottom-line profits. The Honey Baked Ham Company heard from customer across America that they’re tired of chips and dip and chicken wings at their tailgate spreads, and want to shake things up this season. Close to 85 percent of sports fans want to see ham at their upcoming tailgates and watch parties. To answer fan demand, HoneyBaked has launched easy, distinctive, delicious Tailgate Packs featuring Honey Baked Ham’s traditional bone-in ham, sliders and sandwiches that come pre-packed and ready to feed your gameday crowd. 

Tripp McLaughlin, CMO, The Honey Baked Ham Company, stated, “The Honey Baked Ham Company has been a part of family traditions for generations, gathering people to celebrate with unique, delicious food,” ... “It’s a natural fit that the company associated with tradition and connection plays a role in gathering fans during football season.”

Fans will tailgate like never before with HoneyBaked's four new Tailgate Packs, featuring fan-favorite menu offerings designed for effortless, high-quality meals to fit any party size. These sharable, no-mess, handheld choices are easy to order ahead and pick up for your tailgating or homegating celebrations.

McLaughlin continued, "Our research into sports fans' preferences revealed that convenience, quality and taste are paramount for our target audience,”. “Tailgating enthusiasts particularly prioritize taste (68 percent), ease of preparation (57 percent) and quality (47  percent) – precisely what HoneyBaked offers its fans. In response to these demands, we have developed Tailgate Packs."

The Tailgate Packs lineup includes:

·         Half Ham Playmaker Pack: A make-your-own ham sliders kit. Includes an 8 pound Bone-In Half Ham, four containers of deli sides including Potato Salad or Broccoli Bacon Bliss and two 12-packs of King's Hawaiian Rolls.

·         Pick 2 Slider Pack: Includes two 12-packs of Take & Bake Sliders and eight bags of chips, offering options like Ham & Swiss Sliders, Garlic Herb Turkey & Cheddar Sliders and new Turkey Bacon Ranch Sliders (limited-time only).

·         Big Game Sandwich Pack: Choose from an assortment of HoneyBaked's most popular sandwiches, made with their signature meats, cut in halves, and presented on a buffet tray. Includes one bag of chips per person. Choose from: Ham Classic, Smoked Turkey Classic, Turkey Bacon Ranch, Tavern Club, BBQ Smoked Stacker, Ham Salad, Chicken Salad, The HoneyBaked and Roasted Tomato and Cheddar.

·         Sandwich Playmaker Pack: Everything you need to make your own sandwiches, featuring a choice of Honey Baked Ham, Smoked Turkey Breast, or Roasted Turkey Breast, assorted sliced cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes, condiments and fresh bread. Served with your choice of two deli sides (Potato Salad or Broccoli Bacon Bliss) and one cookie per person.

 

With the Tailgate Packs, HoneyBaked is making it easier for gameday hosts to have more convenient options to serve premium, delicious meals to family and friends whether they are tailgating at the game or watching at home.

In case you would like to know how, HoneyBaked is supporting this product launch with its largest marketing campaign in company history outside of the holidays – “Gameday is a HoneyBaked Day.” This program includes TV advertising on both the SEC and ACC networks, digital video, social advertising, in-store POP, on-site activations at college football games throughout the fall, public relations and spokesperson collaborations with ESPN hosts Laura Rutledge and Katie George.

"When it comes to tailgate spreads, sports fans are always searching for convenience, exceptional taste, and top quality and HoneyBaked delivers precisely that with its Tailgate Packs,” adds ESPN Host Laura Rutledge. “The Tailgate Packs will surprise and delight tailgate-goers and pregame party guests at every game this football season.”

Tailgate Packs are available at your nearest HoneyBaked location or visit honeybaked.com/tailgate to buy online and pick up in store before your next pregame gathering.

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.

Honey Baked Ham Grocerant Heat-N-Eat for Easter

 

Spring is in the air, families are planning Easter get togethers that will surely include Easter Egg Hunts, games, lots of hugs and food, glorious food.  After nearly two years of separation for some families this year will be special.  According to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®, “planning all the activities to entertain the kids, the adults, and cleaning the house, before the inspection by the relatives; call The Honey Baked Ham Company, let them put together the perfect Easter Meal so you can enjoy the day playing with the family as well.”

So, once again this Easter, The Honey Baked Ham Company is getting ready to hand-glaze premium hams for holiday celebrations across the country. Each Honey Baked Ham and Turkey Breast is individually crafted by professionally trained and certified Master Glazers. Using a unique torching process and secret blend of ingredients, HoneyBaked's 200 plus Master Glazers across the country create the perfectly sweet and crunchy glaze that has been enjoyed by HoneyBaked-lovers for more than 60 years.

Brian Heffern, HoneyBaked Master Glazer, stated, "Glazing is an art," ... "It starts with hand-coating 12 layers of our special-recipe blend of ingredients on a spiral-sliced ham. The layers are sifted onto the top of the ham in a circular motion one layer at a time, as the Master Glazer evenly hand-coats the tops and sides of the ham with delicious flavor."

Heffern continued, "This is followed by a torch that melts and caramelizes the glaze into every layer of the ham, fusing the sweet and savory flavors into each slice of ham. The glaze drips down the sides of the ham to cover every inch in golden glaze,".

The Honey Baked Ham process requires precision, craft and weeks of practice so that every ham and turkey breast meets the standards of the Master Glazers. In 90 seconds, each ham goes from sliced and unseasoned to beautifully colored and crispy with a mouthwatering flavor.

So, this Easter, let your family and friends enjoy their signature glaze with the following HoneyBaked holiday meals, perfect for gatherings of all sizes, available at retail locations:

The Honey Baked Ham & Turkey Feast includes either an eight- or nine-pound Bone-In Half Ham with a Turkey Breast – both hand-glazed to perfection – and four Heat & Serve Sides like Maple Sweet Potato Souffle, Double Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese, Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin or Baked Cinnamon Apples – all made from the finest and freshest ingredients.

·         The Signature Honey Baked Ham Meal comes with a choice of an eight- or nine-pound Bone-In Half Ham and four Heat & Serve Sides.

·         The Quarter Ham Meal comes with a Quarter Bone-In Ham and three Heat & Serve Sides.

·         The Boneless Ham & Turkey Duo includes a Boneless Half Ham and Turkey Breast.

·         The Turkey Dinner comes with a Turkey Breast and a choice of three Heat & Serve Sides.

·         The HoneyBaked Brunch includes a Quarter Ham, two Heat & Serve Sides, Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake and Sweet Glaze HoneyBaked Bacon.

You don’t have to wait. For families getting a jumpstart on their Easter meal planning, enjoy $5 off any Bone-In Half Ham or Easter meal for early pickup at retail stores during Gold Pick-Up Days, April 12–13, 2022 (coupon required). HoneyBaked also offers a wide variety of Easter and family meal offerings that ship directly to your home. Visit honeybaked.com to order your Easter meal or pick up at your nearest HoneyBaked location.

Jim Dinkins, Chief Executive Officer at The Honey Baked Ham Company, stated, "Since 1957, HoneyBaked has been a part of Easter celebrations with our signature glazed hams," ... "We appreciate the work our Master Glazers put into making every single ham the perfect centerpiece to this holiday meal." 

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideas look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how you can Mix & Match bundled meal solutions that sell? The Grocerant Guru® 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 one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

Honey Baked Ham Company Fresh Fast Holiday Meal Solutions

 

At the intersection of being time-starved and lacking the skill-set to cook a holiday meal from scratch, The Honey Baked Ham Company has a great set of solutions for anyone that is looking for a great holiday meal any time this holiday season according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

So, if you are an out-of-practice host or a first-time host, The Honey Baked Ham Company has you covered for all your holiday gatherings with simple ways to serve, gift and shop during the festive season. They have everything from delicious holiday meals with convenient ordering options to unique host gifts, HoneyBaked is dedicated to helping everyone spend less time in the kitchen and more time reuniting with their loved ones this Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving.

HoneyBaked's holiday meals, even have a brand-new full-flavored brunch option. HoneyBaked entrees are fully-cooked and undeniably delicious. They include savory hams, turkeys and sides, perfect for any and all Friendsgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s get togethers.

Here are some of your grocerant niche options:

·         For the Seasoned Host: Serving 12 to 16, the Signature Ham and Turkey Feast will feed all guests (with leftovers to follow). Enjoy the 24-hour slow smoked Honey Baked Ham, Bone-In Half, with the signature sweet, crunchy glaze. The meal also includes a lighter, more delicately flavored Turkey Breast that pairs perfectly with the Cranberry Walnut Chutney. It's not Thanksgiving without the sides. And this meal comes with four Heat 'N Serve Sides, two varieties of choice. Made from the finest and freshest ingredients, these include Green Bean Casserole, Maple Sweet Potato Souffle and Double Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese.

·         For a Small Party of Ham-Lovers: Try HoneyBaked's Bone-In Quarter Ham Meal. Slow cooked and glazed to perfection, this ham is just right for gatherings of four to six. The meal includes two Heat 'N Serve Sides – delicious complements to the savory ham.

·         For the Traditional Holiday Host: Take home the classic Turkey Dinner made with 100 percent premium white meat turkey breast, along with your choice of two or three Heat 'N Serve Sides.

·         But First, Brunch: For those who cannot wait until dinner, try the new HoneyBaked Brunch that comes with a quarter ham, two Heat 'N Serve Sides, HoneyBaked bacon and coffee cake. This will have you ready for a nap (and another slice of coffee cake) before the main attraction!

 

Ah, yes once again there is more, to gift fellow Ham Fan and foodie hosts, HoneyBaked has unique, and tasty ideas like the Southern Pecan Pie, signature sauces, or a gift card so they can pick their favorite dish.

JoAnn Herold, Chief Marketing Officer at The Honey Baked Ham Company, stated, "As people are opening up their homes again to those near and far, we want to help families and friends reconnect over the shared experience of a comforting meal – one without the stress that can sometimes come with menu planning and prep". …"HoneyBaked is here to help celebrate time together while making memories that will last beyond the holiday season."

Gen Z and Millennials will find incremental relevance in the fact that ordering this year's holiday meal has never been easier. Meals and gifts can be purchased in store or bought online and picked up at the nearest HoneyBaked location. Select products can also be ordered at honeybaked.com and be shipped right to the doorstep.

Looking one customer ahead, families planning ahead, The Honey Baked Ham Company is offering Gold Pick-Up Days. This special offer includes $5 off any Bone-In Half Ham or holiday meal for early pickup at retail stores between November 21 – 22, 2021 (coupon required).

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideas look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how our Grocerant Guru® 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 one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

Wendy's Breakfast More Talk than Chalk

Chalk one up for the home team is an old adage we have all heard.  Touting the success of a new limited time offer or menu item is not the same as touting the success of an entire daypart; according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Marketing messaging, total unit sales, and profitability have to go hand in hand. It is still an open question to some Franchisee’s if reentering the AM daypart for the third try will be sustainable over time. Not to worry, The Wendy’s Co., has not given up in a sign that expanding messaging is still needed, new meal deal promotion began recently with a bus-stop giveaway in Providence, R.I., that was aimed at building awareness according to the company.

The bus stop pop-up in Providence’s Kennedy Plaza is just part of the company’s $15 million effort this year to get Wendy’s consumer’s’ to think Wendy’s breakfast first. Since price matters for all dayparts, they added a new systemwide meal deal of two select breakfast sandwiches — a choice of Sausage, Egg and Swiss Croissant; Bacon, Egg and Swiss Croissant; or Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit — for $4 through early August.

Todd Penegor, Wendy’s CEO, in May’s first-quarter earnings call, said breakfast awareness was “a trial game.” This third trial of the AM daypart is costly for franchisee hard pressed to find enough workers as it is according to Johnson.

Not only do the Wendy’s franchissee have to battle Burger King, McDonalds, 7-Eleven, Wawa, they have to battle Dunkin Donuts in the Northeast for share of stomach.  The company said the July 14 pop-up giveaway was “part of a larger competitive breakfast takeover in the Providence market, dubbed #DitchTheDonut.” The promotion included bus-cling and billboard advertising and a sweepstakes at Instagram’s @DitchTheDonutSweeps through Aug. 13. The sweepstakes award of “breakfast for a year” will be in the form of $550 in Wendy's gift cards.

Battle for Share of Stomach

That battle for share of stomach will require both time and money according to Johnson. Penegor said on that call,  “What we need to do is continue to get folks to come in and try our food,”. “

Penegor, continued “We’ve got to continue to create awareness to bounce those folks back from lunch and dinner into breakfast, which then drives incrementality to our business, because it’s another visit, another frequency that gets picked up along the way,”

“Awareness leads to trial,” he said. “Trial leads to repeat trial, and the repeat leads to growth.”

At the intersection of franchisee profits and brand messaging the consumer will be both the judge and jury deciding if the third try at breakfast for Wendy’s will work or not?  What do you think?

Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a Grocerant ScoreCard, or for product positioning or placement assistance, or call our Grocerant Guru®.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or 253-759-7869 

Dickey’s Grocerant Ready-2-Heat Holiday Feasts for Thanksgiving

 

Are you sure you want to cooking a big holiday meal for the family and then pack up leftovers for everyone to take home? COVID-19 has most of us stuck home this year.  However, cheer-up you can still treat, your kids, grandkids, and family with a holiday meal on you.  It’s simple call Dickey’s Barbecue Pit they everything you need for your family to enjoy a stress-free Thanksgiving with time left over to think about you.

Being socially distanced does not mean you can’t still enjoy the celebration with a meal according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

This year, Dickey’s customers can order individualized holiday box lunches containing slow-smoked carved turkey sandwiches, sides of cornbread dressing, bags of chips and cookies along with a to-go sauce of the guests’ choice. The family-owned restaurant brand is also offering a deluxe version of its new holiday box lunch option that includes an additional fan-favorite holiday side of southern-style green beans.

For mid-size gatherings of eight to 12, Dickey’s is also offering a new ready-to-eat Holiday Big Yellow Box which comes with sliced turkey breast, cornbread dressing, gravy, baked potato casserole, green beans with bacon and a dozen buttery rolls.

Available for pickup and delivery throughout the holiday season from participating Dickey’s locations, guests can enjoy these heat-and-eat options:

The Complete Feast – Choose from smoked turkey, prime rib, Cajun-fried turkey or spiral ham along with cornbread dressing, gravy, baked potato casserole, green beans with bacon and a dozen buttery rolls.

The Dinner Feast – Choose from smoked turkey, prime rib, Cajun-fried turkey or spiral ham along with cornbread dressing, gravy and a dozen buttery rolls.

À La Carte Menu – Order any of Dickey’s slow smoked holiday meats of savory sides individually.

Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants stated, “This year is anything but traditional and we want to do what we can to help make sure that all of our guests enjoy Thanksgiving without the added stress of having to cook,” says “Our holiday feasts have always been a big hit and this year, we’ve debuted the Holiday Big Yellow Box, which is a delicious Ready-2-Eat option. Whether you’re looking for delicious, high-quality sides, slow smoked meats or dessert, Dickey’s is here to help.” You can order and pick up and or have delivery from most locations. Have a Happy Thanksgiving Meal or Give a Thanksgiving Meal.

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

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Holiday Feast fit for your Family

Lack of cooking skill-set is the number one reason that consumers opt to buy pre-bundled holiday meals from restaurants, grocery stores, and meal kit companies according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants stated “Our Holiday Feast options are crafted with care to ensure our guests have the most delicious and convenient holiday dinner with their loved ones.”

While Dickey’s offers a variety of holiday menu items for guests from full Feasts to à la carte options. The Holiday Feast includes the guests’ choice of a whole Smoked Turkey, Cajun Fried Turkey, Spiral Cut Ham or Prime Rib along with classic sides such as cornbread dressing, green beans, baked potato casserole and a dozen buttery rolls. The Holiday Feast feeds 10-12 people. For guests looking to have a smaller meal or who would prefer to build their own spread, the Dickey’s holiday menu items are sold à la carte.

Dickey’s guests can purchase their Holiday Feast or à la carte options at their local Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, online at dickeys.com or through the Dickey’s App. Dickey’s holiday menu items are prepared in-store, and require heating before serving. Guests will receive heating instructions for their meal.

So, are you expanding your menu options to include a grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat or Heat-N-Eat Holiday meal? 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 Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant/ or twitter.com/grocerant

Is Boston Market Getting On Track

Regular readers of this blog know that Boston Market’s sales building conundrum has not been a anything that could not have been predicted.  However the team at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® wonders aloud ‘could it be that Boston Market is back on track’?  Our Grocerant Guru® just might be the hold out saying it’s still too early as tactics and strategy at Boston Market have over the past 7 years lacked a cohesive grocerant niche focus.’  

However in an effort to edify sales Boston Market announced a limited time offer  (LTO) for $109.99, a Heat & Serve Ham Dinner for 12.  The offer included spiral-sliced or boneless ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, cinnamon apples, sweet potato casserole, fresh-baked cornbread and two apple pies—can be picked up in restaurant or delivered directly to your door through the Boston Market Home Delivery program.

Boston Market Vice President of Marketing, Tim Hartmann stated “Easter and the arrival of spring are an ideal time for reflecting over a traditional holiday meal,” says. “With multiple festive offers and ways to celebrate, consumers can find everything they need at Boston Market to serve a truly special and delicious Easter meal this year. After all, less cooking time means more family time."

The full menu of Boston Market Easter meals include:

·         Heat & Serve: Chilled complete meals, entrees, sides or pies to feed four to twelve are fully cooked and can be ordered ahead of time for pick up at any Boston Market restaurant on March 29 and March 31 from 11 a.m.—8 p.m. or Easter Sunday from 8 a.m. —4: p.m. Complete Easter Dinners or Essential Easter Dinners include ham, turkey or both starting at $69.99. Complete Easter Dinners feature everything needed for a complete feast, including entrees, sides, cornbread and dessert; Essential Easter Dinners include an entree, sides and cornbread.

·         Home Delivery: Anyone in the continental United States can now order a chilled complete Boston Market meal and have it shipped directly to their door. Choose from six pre-cooked Easter feast options at BostonMarket.com and place your order before March 27. Each order will ship frozen and once fully thawed, be ready to heat and serve within two to three hours.

·         A La Carte: Enjoy chilled, fully cooked main dishes, individual sides or desserts, which can be picked up at Boston Market locations nationwide between March 29 and April 1.

·         Easter Meal: Join Boston Market March 30 – April 1 for a honey-glazed, hand-carved ham meal served with a choice of two sides, fresh-baked cornbread and a slice of apple pie for $12.99 while supplies last. The full menu will also be available.

·         Catering: For as low as $10.49 per person, Boston Market can cater hot, Easter meals for pick up or delivery from March 12 through April 1. Perfect for groups of five to 5,000, the create your own Easter buffet option includes a choice of ham, rotisserie turkey and signature rotisserie chicken.

This offer is not Boston’s Market’s first grocerant niche offering nor is it probably the best LTO that they could have brought to consumers.  However once again they are thinking in the right direction. The team at Foodservice Solutions® does wish they would integrate a cohesive customer focused grocerant niche foodservice positioning in order to garner incremental customer adoption.

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.