Food Technology and College Students No Looking Back

 

Who has not heard or told stories about college students drinking? Ok, who has stories of their own college days drinking?  In the food and beverage world that continues to evolve there is a new story developing about students and drinking.  This time it is much better for them and much better for their parents.

In case you have not heard, Jamba and Blendid announce the addition of two new Jamba by Blendid autonomous robotic kiosk locations. The new locations at Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia and Kennesaw State University in Marietta, Georgia mark the first Jamba by Blendid openings on college campuses, expanding beyond the current pilot locations in a shopping mall and big box retailer. This is a significant step as Jamba and Blendid continue to explore opportunities to open more Jamba by Blendid kiosks in a variety of non-traditional venues, including gyms, hospitals, airports, and more.

That’s right grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food and beverages for college students.  It’s time that family and friends pitch in and buy those kids some gift cards according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA Based Foodservice Solutions®.

Geoff Henry, president of Jamba, stated, “Since the beginning, we have wanted to test the Jamba by Blendid kiosks on college campuses. We know there is increasing demand for more ways to access our products and by introducing our robotic kiosks at colleges and universities across the country, we are making it even easier for consumers to enjoy smoothies 24/7,” … “It has been rewarding to see guests engage enthusiastically with our kiosks, and we are looking forward to speaking with future operators who are interested in testing with us and learning more about the opportunity.”

In our time starved world, lifestyle brand leader known for serving on-the-go freshly blended smoothies, juices, bowls and shots, Jamba has witnessed increased demand for additional ways to access everything that the brand has to offer. Using Blendid’s innovative, autonomous, and contactless food automation platform, Jamba by Blendid leverages machine learning, robotics, and artificial intelligence to create easily accessible nutritious food options made on-demand and customized to meet the lifestyle and taste preferences of individual consumers.

 Adding Jamba by Blendid kiosks on college campuses gives on-the-go students, staff and faculty members easy access to get high-quality, fresh smoothies in a way that seamlessly fits in to their busy schedules, no matter the time of day.

Vipin Jain, CEO and co-founder of Blendid, stated, “By utilizing robotics and AI technology, we can achieve our team’s mission to make delicious and customized food accessible to all. We’re thrilled to have accomplished this at the first two Jamba by Blendid pilot locations, and the positive guest feedback validates the potential of our robotic kiosks at a variety of different locations across the country,” … “We look forward to learning how these new campus communities utilize the kiosks as we pursue additional opportunities in similar settings.”

Guests visiting the Georgia College and Kennesaw State University kiosks can enjoy seven delicious plant-forward smoothies, as well as Jamba’s popular Boosts. They are available in 14 oz servings and include one nutrition boost for no additional charge. When ordering, guests will have access to the macronutrient breakdown based on their order customizations. Both locations will be open extended hours and guests can place orders in person at the kiosk or they can order ahead with the Blendid app on Android or iOS. Additionally, they can make a payment using their respective college’s dining cards.

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

Innovation & Disruption are the Undercurrent Threatening U.S. Chain Restaurants

If success does leave clues, then lack of success, could be defined as year over year customer count declines and year over year sales that rise only due to price increases.  Chain restaurants in the U.S. clearly have felt the undercurrent of customer migration to new non-traditional fresh food grocerant niche outlets and now new innovations are driving incremental customer migration.  

Grocerant Guru® Steven Johnson, based in Tacoma, WA with Foodservice Solutions® stated “there is no doubt that Reis & Irvy’s the world's first fully-automated robotic frozen dessert vending kiosk designed to disrupt brick-and-mortar competitors.

These new kiosks are unattended robots that eliminate the need for costly rent and labor according to Johnson.  With the halo of ‘better-for-you’ they also significantly reduce food safety concerns and are capable of operating 24-hours a day. 

Talk about fresh food fast, Reis & Irvy’s signature robots can dispense servings of frozen yogurt, ice cream, gelato and sorbet topped with a selection of six delicious toppings in under 60 seconds. The machines are equipped with self-checkout touch screen ordering and payment options, as well as delicious frozen dessert provided exclusively by Dannon (global trusted brand) edifying the fact that in 2019 foodservice partnerships drive top line growth, and NEW ELETRICITY according to Johnson.  

Note: Reis & Irvy’s unattended soft serve kiosks were approved by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for a variance that allows them to operate in the state of California.

Reis & Irvy’s team has been working with CDPH to obtain this variance for almost a year. Approval to operate in California comes with specific and important requirements. The most significant is the use of the Hydra Rinse Mobile System for cleaning and sanitizing. This cleaning system replaces the 24-hour cleaning schedule requirement in California, with a schedule that allows operators to service their kiosks once every 72 hours. In addition, operators will find the length of time it takes to fully service their units is cut in half.

 How are you driving top line sales, reducing labor cost, and extending your brand?  Does your brand look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Are, your year over year sales up?  Are, your year over year customer counts up?

So, what are you doing too drive new electricity?  According to Johnson, “Brand relevance is in part driven with innovation in new menu related 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, plant based  foods,  sampling, toy’s, beer, 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 food and beverage retailers to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food and beverages that are portable, fresh, with differentiation that is familiar not different. Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us for more information.

Battle for Share of Stomach

Kiosk Drive Sales for Le Macaron French Pastries

Le Macaron French Pastries, is getting closer to customers according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. Success does leave clues and Le Macaron French Pastries has folded into its overall growth strategy growth for people looking for a branded opportunity who are seeking flexibility with their business and a lower cost investment.

Le Macaron’s new franchise opportunity aims to lean into the growing quick-serve and snack brand trend of kiosks, mobile carts, and express locations. As consumers’ on-the-go lifestyle continues to accelerate, Le Macaron French Pastries seeks to capitalize on these captive audiences at malls, airports, sporting events, festivals and other gatherings.

Rosalie Guillem, CEO and co-founder of Le Macaron French Pastries  “We wanted to create an opportunity that allows our franchise owners to work in nonconventional environments and offer guests a sweet treat when they are unable to access one of our locations,”… “Our products can easily be eaten on the go, so a mobile kiosk aligns perfectly with our brand. This will only accelerate our growth as we welcome a new group of franchisees looking to enter the fast-casual industry.”

The mobile kiosk investment ranges between $91,000 to $127,000—making it an ideal opportunity for entrepreneurs who are looking to enter the space at a lower investment with a simple business model and unlimited growth potential. Le Macaron French Pastries operates through a simple business model that requires zero on-site baking from franchisees. All products are made by French Chef Didier Saba in the kitchen headquarters, allowing café owners to focus on customer service.

 “We opened a Le Macaron French Pastries mobile kiosk because of the simplistic business model, reduction in overhead costs and finding real estate for the cart is easier since it has a smaller footprint,” said Luke Freshwater, owner of Le Macaron French Pastries in Pittsburgh. “We are seeing incredible success because the French macarons are a high-quality product and we are able to connect with our customers since we have such a small and passionate staff.”

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, www.Linkedin.com/in/grocerant/ or www.twitter.com/grocerant/

Subway’s Digital Branded Invitation

Subway’s unique ability to extend, expand, and edify its brand with customer relevance comes through time and time again according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Recently Subway began to once again transform the customer experience through a digital omnichannel approach, with the integration of the app, remote ordering and, in-restaurant kiosks. All strong brands continue to evolve and Subway is just now beginning to explore the digital space with serious vigor and the team at Foodservice Solutions® believes with a little time and tweaking that Subway will get it right.

So when Subway asked its most dedicated customers what they want from a loyalty program. They found out that their consumers wanted a loyalty program that gives them flexibility in how they earn and redeem. They wanted a completely personalized experience. This March, customers will get just that with a revamped Subway MyWay Rewards program.

The new Subway MyWay Rewards program will redefine choice and accessibility to Subway’s more than 37 million sandwich and salad combinations. The program will be a customized experience—from how customers join, earn and redeem, to surprise rewards and exclusive offers.

Subway Chief Digital Officer Carissa Ganelli  “We know time and money are important to our guests,” ..“It’s important to us that we deliver a seamless, convenient experience to help our customers get what they want when they want it, and what they want is our delicious, nutritious, and affordable food.”

Remember that there are close to 28,500 participating restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, Subway MyWay Rewards will be the largest loyalty program for earning and redeeming rewards in the quick-service restaurant industry.

Here’s how it works:

Easy Sign-Up

·         Join Subway MyWay Rewards through the Subway App, online at Subway.com, or in-restaurant with a Subway card

·         Guests can earn rewards no matter how they pay via the Subway App, Subway Card, cash or credit

Flexible Earning and Redeeming

·         Earn 4 tokens per dollar spent; hit 200 tokens & automatically receive a $2.00 Reward

·         Tokens are applied to guests’ accounts with every purchase

·         Redeem $2 Rewards on any menu item: sandwiches, salads, cookies, drinks—you name it

·         Plus, guests will receive bonus token earning opportunities

Surprise Rewards

·         The more guests order, the more surprises they get, like free cookies, chips and more

·         Guests will also receive a birthday surprise, too

So how do you plan on surprising your customers? Subway MyWay Rewards is part of Subway Digital’s work to transform the customer experience through an omnichannel approach, with the integration of the app, remote ordering and, in-restaurant kiosks.

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