McDonald’s Old Partnerships Make for New Electricity

Looking A Customer Ahead McDonald’s renews a successful platform.  Differentiation does not mean different it means familiar but with a twist as according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  There are very few foodservice companies that understand that as well as McDonald’s according to Johnson.

Success does leave clues and McDonald’s has in the past had outstanding success with a partnership with Disney the team at Foodservice Solutions® believes that this renewed relationship / partnership will be the new electricity  that will fuel incremental growth at McDonalds.

Happy customers equals Happy Meals and this renewed Happy Meal Deal with Disney  clearly creates new electricity to drive sales for both Disney and McDonald’s with a focus on customer relevance.

In the minds-eye of Johnson, there is one dominate element that will power success within retail and foodservice over the coming years and that is partnerships. Johnson calls it the new electricity that is partnerships specifically strategic partnerships.   

The new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh food, grocerant Mix & Match bundling, foodservice consultants, urban farming (produce, seafood, etc.), autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, cash-less payments, digital hand held marketing.

Retailers the ilk of McDonald’s to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing fresh food that is portable in some form.  That will require brands to embrace new fresh food partnerships more now than ever before according to Johnson.

This new multiyear agreement enables McDonald’s to promote movies on its meals, starting with "Incredibles 2."  The multiyear, “non-exclusive” deal enables McDonald’s to cross-promote Disney movies on its Happy Meals.

The deal will start with the Pixar Animations Studios movie “Incredibles 2,” which debuts in theaters on June 15. That will be followed by the Disney movie “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2,” which debuts on Nov. 21.

This agreement is important as it has improved the nutritional content and lower the calories in its Happy Meals it is those changes that paved the way for the chain’s first marketing relationship in more than a decade with a focus on kids.

McDonald’s U.S. Chief Marketing Officer Morgan Flatley stated  “This relationship combines the ingenuity in food and entertainment to encourage more balanced meal selections in our Happy Meals and inspire families in fun and innovative ways,” McDonald’s and Disney had co-promotional deals for years, with movies such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Finding Nemo” on the burger chain’s Happy Meals. But Disney ended the relationship in 2006 over nutrition concerns.

Success does leave clues the consumer is dynamic not static according to Johnson.  How has your company evolved?  Who should you be partnering with to find your new electricity? Have you evolved to the point you need new partners or should you be rekindling previous relationships? 

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.

At Starbucks Partnerships Matter

In what just might become the next big thing in foodservice retail once again very well may be branded partnerships that’s according to Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru® Steven Johnson. 

Just think as Starbucks is closing its online store it is signaling to the industry that is a 'seismic shift'  is about to hit the fresh food retail branded world.  Note: Starbucks' online store is selling items at up to 50% off "while supplies last. Check it out at www.Starbucks.com/shop.

A recent press release noted that Starbucks' online store is discounting items up to 50% as the coffee giant prepares to shutter the store for good. The company will close its online store on October 1, a Starbucks representative confirmed to Business Insider.

Starbucks' online store is selling items such as glasses, mugs, coffee brewers, and espresso makers, in addition to coffee, tea, and beverage syrups. People will still be able to buy items currently sold online at third-party sellers like Amazon and Starbucks' grocery partners.

Starbucks spokesperson Maggie Jantzen  stated "We're continuing to invest in amplifying Starbucks as a must-visit destination and are looking across our portfolio to make disciplined, thoughtful decisions… "Continued integration of these digital and mobile customer connections into our store experience is among the highest priorities for us, and to enhance that focus we've looked for ways to simplify our current efforts."
Starbucks

Jantzen said that Starbucks will keep frequent visitors of the online store up to date on product availability, especially as certain items sell out. As Starbucks shutters its online store, the coffee giant is looking to build "commercial partnerships" with digital companies.

"These partnerships, we believe, will enable us to leverage our brand, our global retail footprint, and the customer base in order to extend our reach," CEO Kevin Johnson said in a call with investors in late July.

In case you had not noticed Starbucks is also growing its consumer packaged goods (CPG) business, selling items such as K-cup pods and bottled Frappuccinos in grocery stores. Earlier in August, Starbucks announced that it would begin selling its new bottled Pumpkin Spice Latte in grocery stores later in the month.

Starbucks has made serious investments in digital over the last few years, as executives have witnessed retailers struggle to cope with the rise of ecommerce. Currently, mobile payments make up 30% of Starbucks orders in the US.

"Retailers who are agile and reimagine the art of the possible will be big industry winners," Johnson told investors on the industry's "seismic shift" towards digital and mobile. "Those who do not will struggle mightily."

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