Sonic Drive-In is Evolving Menu Relevance

Restaurant labor cost continue to rise, utilities continues to rise, rents are leveling off, but food cost are not, and consumers continue to migrate from traditional restaurant and grocery formats to new non-traditional points of fresh food distribution seeking new fresh food experiences according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Fast food restaurants are in an intensifying battle for share-of-stomach and if chain restaurants are not evolving with or faster than consumers they are most likely capitulating market share.  Sonic Drive-In is one company that does not plan lag behind.

In an effort to garner incremental Gen Z and Millennial customers Sonic is rolling out a ‘blended burger’ line system-wide to offer a 350 calorie cheeseburger with a halo of ‘better-for-you’ or as they say with” health and sustainability halo for $1.99.

Scott Uehlein, VP of product innovation and development for Sonic stated “The new Signature Slinger burgers are a blend of beef and diced mushrooms. …. the combination provides a juiciness and amped-up beef flavor. Signature slinger burgers “makes you feel like you’re getting away with something,”

According to Uehlein Sonic is the first national quick-service chain to offer a blended burger system-wide.  The new sandwich consists of a blended patty topped with melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato, diced onion, a crinkle-cut pickle chip and mayonnaise, all served on a brioche-style bun.

Sonic has found its new electricity to drive top line sales and bottom line profits it could be according to Johnson in a blended ‘better-for-you burger.  Sonic’s partnership with the mushroom council is on supply and innovation is the platform for the new electricity, according to Johnson; partnerships specifically strategic partnerships are driving retail success today. 

Johnson stated that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh foods, grocerant consultants, urban farming (produce, seafood, etc.), autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, cash-less payments, digital hand held marketing.

Retailers the ilk of Sonic 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 in some form.  That’s exactly what Sonic did here. That will require brands to embrace new fresh food partnerships more now than ever before according to Johnson.

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.

Sonic Drive-In is Getting ‘Better-for-You’

The undercurrents of the ‘better-for-you’ fresh food movement have been well documented on this blog as regular readers know.  In fact Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® has for years pontificated that the ‘halo’ of better-for-you is what is driving the continued success of the grocerant niche.

Sonic Drive-In stepped up to the plate and is now a first of its kind in fast food ‘better-for-you’ burger. The new cheeseburger patty is made with three simple ingredients: 100-percent pure beef blended with savory mushrooms and seasonings to create a juicy, flavorful patty that is almost too good to be true.

Here is the consumer focused good news the burger has a ‘halo’ of good as its starting at under 350 calories, and only cost $1.99.  Scott Uehlein, vice president of product innovation and development for Sonic stated “Adding mushrooms right into the burger patty amps up the incredible flavors of the 100-percent pure beef and seasonings you get in each bite. This burger truly raises the bar for every other restaurant.”

This is a huge boost for the Mushroom industry and clearly creates new electricity to drive sales for both Sonic and the Mushroom industry. Bart Minor, president of the Mushroom Council, Stated  “The trend of blending mushrooms into a burger patty has been atop a number of food trend lists this year and we can’t wait for guests to experience Sonic’s uniquely delicious creation."

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 consultants, urban farming (produce, seafood, etc.), autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, cash-less payments, digital hand held marketing.

Retailers the ilk of Sonic 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.

What is your new electricity? Success does leave clues www.FoodserviceSolutions.us  is the global leader in grocerant niche business development.  We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities.  Has your company had a Grocerant ScoreCard completed a Grocerant Program Assessment, or new Grocerant niche product Ideation?  Want one?  Call 253-759-7869 Email: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us