New Seasons Market Partnerships Drive Customer Loyalty

 

When New Seasons Market partnered up with Afresh the goal was simple, give the customer what they want at the price they want while providing the freshest products they can.  According to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® who stated, “edifying the customer relationship will always add incremental value too the brand while driving new electricity with consumers.”

Technology matters to consumers and regional foodservice companies according to Johnson.  So, when regional natural grocer New Seasons Market partnered with Afresh Technologies, to bring the tech company’s AI-driven technology company’s Fresh Operating System into select stores in the Pacific Northwest, it was clear both the customer and company would win.

In a press release from company, stated, “The partnership will help New Seasons Market reduce complexity within its stores, optimize produce operations, increase sales and deliver fresher produce to consumers.” 

In case you did not know, New Seasons Market, is a Portland, Ore.-based operator of 19 stores in Oregon, Washington and Northern California, is joining with Afresh as part of its commitment to supporting the regional food economy, honoring local farmers, ranchers and growers, while ensuring delivery of the freshest foods available.

In short, New Seasons goal working with Afresh’s AI-powered solution to create more efficient truck-to-shelf ordering, reducing back stock, and increasing the longevity of fresh produce before it even leaves the store.  

New Seasons Market is going to pilot Afresh software through 2022 to learn how to achieve significant reductions in food waste, reach superior freshness and in-stock rates, and increase operating margins.

New Seasons Market CEO, Nancy Lebold, stated, “New Seasons Market was founded with the vision of cultivating good for generations by taking care of our staff, our communities, regional producers, and the environment,” ... “Partnering with Afresh allows us to support these goals by leveraging technology that makes our food fresher and less wasteful. I’m excited for the game-changing impact Afresh will bring to the customers we serve, our sustainability efforts, and our bottom line.”

New Seasons Market CFO Karen Molis, stated, “We’re always working to be more sustainable and looking for new ways to reduce waste and give back to the community. As a member of the Pacific Coast Collaborative, we’re working with other companies toward a shared ambition to effectively prevent and reduce food waste along the West Coast,”  

Molis continued, “New Seasons Market will pilot Afresh software through 2022 to learn how to achieve significant reductions in food waste, reach superior freshness and in-stock rates, and increase operating margins. Stores using Afresh have reduced food waste by 25%, minimized out of stocks by 80%, and increased sales by an average of 3% month over month.”    

CEO and co-founder of Afresh, Matt Schwartz, stated, “Working with New Seasons Market is a natural fit for Afresh, as our corporate missions are so well aligned in our shared goals to eliminate food waste and increase access to fresh food,” … “Through our AI-driven approach built specifically for fresh, we will help New Seasons Market transform its fresh departments so that they can continue to build and nourish the communities they serve.”

How are you driving 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.”  That said, what are you waiting for?

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, AI, 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. 

Looking for success clues of your own? Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced food marketing and business development ideations. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities, technology, or a new menu product segment.  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

New Seasons Market Customer Focused Foodservice

The undercurrent of retail foodservice success can these days be found on the West Coast of the United States.  According to Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru®, Steven Johnson one of those industry leading companies is New Season Market.

New Seasons focus on the customer, grocerant niche fresh prepared meals and meal components have elevated New Season Market in the minds-eye of the consumer as the place for Breakfast, Lunch, coffee, a snack and dinner according to Johnson. 

The ability of consumer to bundle meal components from a staggering number of options that range from 70 to 130 dishes a day has created a platform for family customer adoption.  Including focused on the way to work day-parts, coffee and newspaper mid-day, lunch, after school fresh snacks for the kids, and dinner for the entire family.

New Seasons Market Tracy Hardin, group director of merchandising for deli and bakery stated “To ensure customers have lots of options, New Seasons’ stores have anywhere form 70 – 130 dishes every day, depending on each unique location,”.  The food is prepared by the chain’s very own chefs from scratch at its central kitchen and on on-site in each store.  , Hardin adds.

Empowered decentralization is one key to New Seasons success Hardin continued saying “Customers can choose from inventive New Seasons chef-prepared offerings, unique to every store,” … “Some examples include ramen and hot wok bars, self-serve salad bars, hot bars with new options daily, made-to-order sandwiches, or a Latin American grill featuring Arepas.

It must be noted that consumers have placed a ‘halo’ of better for you’ around New Seasons since they offer Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified breads baked daily, and well-stocked grab-and-go options at all of our stores. Customers can take all of it to go – or stay and enjoy indoor and outdoor seating. At some stores, there’s even the option to enjoy it alongside a pour of wine or beer.”

The undercurrents of fresh prepared food are driving customer adoption in every sector of retail foodservice today.  Is your company increasing customer counts year over year?  Are your top line sales and bottom line profits both growing?  Do you understand the path to purchase for grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food?  We do.  www.FoodserviceSolutions.us Email: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us