Bar Louie Mix and Match Tailgating Success

 

Once again, the restaurant sector is finding success in garnering new customers embracing one of the hallmarks of the Grocerant niche. That hallmark mainstay is mix and match meal bundling according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Now that fall is settling in sport fans are re-establishing or creating new traditions to mark the season.   Sports fans are ready to cheer on their favorite team or those planning their next happy hour outing will jump for joy as Bar Louie introduces its delicious new Tailgate Bundles that will garner the attention of the coveted fan be consisting of Gen Z and Millennials. Here let’s look at the new Mix and Match Tailgate Bundles:

3 Bar Bites for $35 – Gather the crew and score big flavors and big savings with a choice of any three mouth-watering appetizers for just $35. Choose from Bavarian Pretzels, Fried Cheese Curds, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Pepperoni Flatbread or Boneless Wings for dine-in. Available at participating Bar Louie locations now through the end of football season.

$49 Triple Tap Tower – 3 Beers, 3 Taps and 3+ happy teammates! Come together for a tableside offering that’ll quench the driest thirst all season long. Bar Louie’s new triple tap tower allows fans to be their own bartender and serve up 150oz of select domestic beer in one convenient, compact and self-cooling, tabletop keg. Guests can choose from 3 domestic beers for dine-in parties only with a minimum of 3 or more guests required.

$79 Ultimate Team Up – No one has ever seen a pick-6 quite like this. Dine in and enjoy the ultimate prime-time pair of the Triple Tap Tower and the Pick-3 Bar Bite Bundle for an unbelievable price of $79 at participating locations.

No matter how guests choose to dine, Bar Louie is this season’s MVP with its new Dial N’ Dash system. Now, it is even easier than ever to call in to place an order and pick it up. No lines, no mobile app and no added fees.

Brian Wright, CEO of Bar Louie, stated, “Adding the Tailgate Bundle to our menu lineup is the perfect way for guests to sample all the amazing flavors during the pregame, halftime or late-night overtime,” ... “With Dial N’ Dash, guests can order, grab and enjoy their favorites faster than ever. It’s just another way we’re taking customer service to the next level for our guests.”

For more information about the tailgate offers or Dial N’ Dash, please visit barlouie.com.

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

Chipotle Expanding Partnership with U.S. Women's National Team Soccer Players

 

When Chipotle Mexican Grill announced it is partnering with U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) soccer players Rose Lavelle and Sophia Smith to launch their go-to orders as official menu items on the Chipotle app and Chipotle.com for a limited time starting July 1.

There was no doubt that the marketing team at Chipotle was looking at key demographic information the reveled the future growth of Women’s soccer was where they wanted to be according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®. Customers and soccer fans will be able to experience Rose and Sophia's essential training meal while watching the USWNT in their qualifying matches throughout July. 

At Chipotle looking a customer ahead means looking at partnerships that can grow and drive new electricity into the brand for years to come. 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.” 

Johnson stated “that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply and includes such things as fresh foods, smaller footprint, developing brands, fresh flowers, grocerant positioning, fresh food messaging, autonomous delivery, 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 according to Johnson.  Check it out:

 

·         Rose Lavelle Bowl

·         Chicken, Brown Rice, Black Beans, Fresh Tomato Salsa, Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa, Lettuce, Guacamole, and a side of Chipotle-Honey Vinaigrette Dressing

·         Sophia Smith Bowl

·         Chicken, Brown Rice, Black Beans, Pinto Beans, Tomatillo-Red Chili Salsa, Roasted Chili-Corn Salsa, Sour Cream, and Cheese
 

Customers and soccer fans who order either the Rose Lavelle Bowl or Sophia Smith Bowl will be entered for a chance to win an autographed jersey from each respective athlete.

Chipotle, is an official sponsor of the U.S. Soccer Federation, worked with Rose and Sophia to create behind-the-scenes content that showcases how they overcome the challenges of competing at the highest level of soccer. Chipotle's Real Food for Real Athletes platform focuses on helping athletes across all levels perform their best by providing proper nutrition through real food and real ingredients.

Fans can learn more about Rose's journey back from injury to the USWNT and how Sophia's use of meditation is helping her prepare for the spotlight by viewing their "Unwrapped" videos here:

·         Rose: https://www.instagram.com/p/CfU17sCAsvZ/?hl=en

·         Sophia: https://www.instagram.com/p/CfUvG_dF0iy/?hl=en

"Rose and Sophia are ringing in a new generation for U.S. women's soccer, and we're excited to play a part in powering their training regimens as they prepare for the world's biggest stage," says Stephanie Perdue, Vice President of Marketing at Chipotle. 

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

Burger King gets Consumer Interactive & Participatory Marketing

Success does leave clues and global brands have a distinct advantage in food marketing simply because they have more marketing professionals around the world exposed to more and more good ideas according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®

So, here is one example; have you ever heard of the Stevenage Football Club? Probably not—they play in the English soccer fourth division. But the Burger King brand has heard of them. In fact, the brand sponsors the soccer club and is launching the “Stevenage Challenge,” a series of challenges for soccer fans that, if completed, will reward participants with menu favorites like the Whopper sandwich, Chicken Sandwich, and Chicken Fries for free only through Uber Eats.

The goal? To turn possibly the smallest team in the real world into the biggest club in the online gaming world. Now that is a big goal.  It is also filled with consumer relevance and consumer facing touchpoints according to Johnson. All the more reason that Johnson said Burger King just might meet their goal!

The challenges range from simply scoring a goal to the nearly impossible, scoring from a corner kick. All with the new Burger King sponsored Stevenage F.C. shirt on. Soccer and Burger King fans alike can complete the set of challenges listed at www.stevenagechallenge.com. All they have to do is share footage on Twitter of their great soccer feats, and in return they’ll get a free menu item, while delivery code supplies last.

Whether fans take on the “A Nutmeg for Nuggets” or “Impossible for Impossible Whopper” challenge, some have proven to be difficult, forcing fans to find other, more creative ways to complete them.

Fernando Machado, Global CMO of the Burger King brand, stated “It’s almost 2020 and the Internet community is still surprising me,”.  When Machado found out fans have already been sharing their new Stevenage Kit online. "The “Stevenage Challenge” is here to welcome everyone, because thanks to technology, this could be everyone’s team too,” adds Machado.

The team at Foodservice Solutions® wants to congratulate Machado and his team for expanding its partnership with Uber Eats while expanding its brand invitation. Soccer continues to be the fastest growing sport in the world, combine that with BK fresh food and Uber Eats and you have marketing interactive participatory success with happy customers. 

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? 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.

Innovative Comeback Planned for KFC

Football season is in full swing and KFC is customer relevance is important.  Most every college student has seen the movie Rudy at least once. Rudy, the movie has a positive vibe about it and a ‘halo’ of good will that has lasted generations.  According to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® “the marketing team at Yum Brands! KFC unit is doing all the right things to drive relevance into the iconic brand and one-time grocerant niche leader.

Yes, football fans got a Kentucky Fried treat this fall as KFC revealed its latest ad campaign and its newest celebrity Colonel Sanders—Colonel Rudy, played by Sean Astin, who’s famously known for his leading role in the 1993 classic sports film Rudy.

So, as the ad goes both Colonel Sanders and Rudy Ruettiger have similar stories of fulfilling their dreams by doing things the hard way and never giving up. In KFC’s new campaign, Rudy II, fans will see Rudy on a quest to fulfill a new dream – to become the Colonel Sanders.

Actor Sean Astin stated “When KFC approached me to reprise the role of Rudy, but play him as Colonel Sanders, I knew this was something I couldn’t pass up,”. “Getting to recreate some of the film’s iconic scenes with a KFC spin was such a fun experience. Now I’m ready for some football and a bucket of KFC’s Original Recipe fried chicken.”

Rudy II is one of four unique Rudy KFC advertising spots that will air September through November. And, if you watch closely, you might even catch a cameo by the real Rudy Ruettiger. KFC’s Original Recipe bucket of fried chicken is an ideal meal for groups – especially when it’s gameday and you want to ensure you’re on the winning side. If you’re watching the game solo, pick up a KFC $5 Fill Up.

You can choose from KFC’s famous fried chicken, new Mac & Cheese Bowls, Famous Bowls and Pot Pies. KFC $5 Fill Ups are a filling, affordable and convenient meal option everyone can enjoy during football season and beyond.  KFC hand-held-food for immediate consumption is in the center of the grocerant niche and this year with a bit of added relevance for both young and old.

Interested in learning how Foodservice Solutions 5P’s of Food Marketing 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.

Battle for Share of Stomach

At Chipotle Kids Youth Soccer is a Kick Saving You Cash

Customer relevance drives sales and Chipotle Mexican Grill if one were to look only at their stock price over the past year would know that the brand if driving customer relevance according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Regular readers of this blog know that partnerships drive sales so when Chipotle announced that it's hosting a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) entrée or kid's meal for in-restaurant diners wearing a youth soccer jersey, during Labor Day weekend the team at Foodservice Solutions® knew it would be a success.  

Chipotle, is the official restaurant partner of US Youth Soccer and exclusive presenting sponsor of the US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup, is committed to helping young athletes create healthy habits with its real food.

This year Chipotle is making the offer in support of US Youth Soccer's celebration of Youth Soccer Month, September. Chipotle showed soccer support in June when it announced its limited time digital-exclusive menu featuring the orders of all-star players and US Youth Soccer alums, Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle. Additionally, men's soccer star Sebastian Lletget says, "I eat Chipotle all the time" as part of his real ingredients for success.

Chris Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer of Chipotle stated "We love that Chipotle's real food feeds real athletes at all different levels – whether that's a professional international tournament or at a youth game,"

So, the BOGO deal can be applied to entrées as well as kid's meals, and is limited to one free item per jersey; each free item requires purchase of an entrée item or kid's meal of equal or greater value for up to ten free menu items per eligible transaction per visit.

Get this the BOGO offer is valid for any guest wearing a youth soccer jersey while ordering in-restaurant in the U.S. only beginning Saturday, August 31 through Monday, September 2; thus you still have time. It is available for in-restaurant orders only and is not valid for online, mobile or catering. The BOGO is available in conjunction with a Chipotle Rewards redemption, but cannot otherwise be combined with other offers or promotions. The offer is also void where prohibited and additional restrictions may apply.

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? 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.

7 Eleven Looking A Customer Ahead Looks a Lot Like a Restaurant

While traditional grocery stores continue to capitulate market share, convenience stores the ilk of 7-Eleven continue to growth units, same store sales, and bottom line profits according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

So, how do they do that?  Simple, convenience stores are looking like, acting more like, and following success-steps left by chain restaurants and according to Johnson 7-Eleven is doing better at that  than most. Copycat menus, marketing, and mix and match meal offering of grocerant niche fresh prepared food has been the key driver of customer adoption for the c-store sector. Now, 7-Eleven is following the lead of Dominos offering delivery in public parks, ball fields, and gather spots all with a smartphone app.

7-Eleven’s new 7NOW delivery smartphone app users to order their favorite products and get it delivered to anywhere they are.  Copy-cat marketing works, and in just over a year 7-Eleven has copied Dominos delivery which will help drive incremental sales per unit where it is offered according to Johnson.

Here's how it works:

·         To order delivery to a 7NOW Pin, shoppers simply open the app, which will auto locate their current location or show the nearest 7NOW Pin on the app's interactive map.

·         Each 7NOW Pin corresponds to a public place or space where users can receive the delivery.

·         A courier will pick up the order from the nearest participating store and deliver it to the selected 7NOW Pin location or specified address in 30 minutes or less on most occasions.

Success does leave clues.  7-Eleven excels a picking up the right clues and edifying their system with them.  7-Eleven understand that consumers are dynamic.  Your customers are dynamic, they are on the move, are your offering them what they want, where they want it? Are you looking a customer ahead?

Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? 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?  

Live Sports, Snacking, and Food Sales Success

With the Superbowl just concluded maybe we should look at how much is was spent and who is buying what?  One thing is clear that is live sports on TV drives incremental consumption of snack foods and if you are not offering consumers a package of snacks you are missing out, according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

So, who is spending what on ‘super bowl’ game day? Well, biggest spenders are those “ages 35-44 at an average $123.26 while the lowest are those 65 and older at $40.97. Viewers in the Northeast plan to spend the most, at an average $94.89, followed by the West at $84.01, the South at $79.09 and the Midwest at $69.24”.

Frito-Lay North America unveiled its inaugural U.S. Snack Index, a poll asking consumers what they plan to snack on during this year's big game.  Key insights from the U.S. Snack Index include:

1.       Nine out of 10 viewers plan to have at least one snack during the game. In addition, 80 percent of Americans will have potato chips or tortilla chips. 

2.       No two cities are exactly alike when it comes to Super Bowl snacking preferences. Chicago's top pick is popcorn. Los Angeles had the highest percentage of potato chip lovers, while Boston chose tortilla chips as their top pick.

3.       Nearly half of Gen Z and millennials selected cheesy snacks as a top pick. In addition, spicy snacks fared best with these age groups.

4.       Salsa was the overall top dip choice. French onion dip was the most popular dip for potato chips, while both salsa and guacamole came in high for tortilla chip dipping.

5.       More than one-third of those polled planned to share their photos on social media.

6.       More than half of viewers prefer to prepare simple recipes when they are attending a partly or hosting their own gathering.

Sporting events occur all year long.  How are you edifying your fresh food offering to garner a larger share of stomach?

Interested in learning how Foodservice Solutions 5P’s of Food Marketing 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.

Apple Pie, Hot Dogs, and Baseball Not: its Apple Pie, Chicken & Baseball

America’s pastime is baseball even though it ranks third to football and basketball in the televisions ratings. Baseball is the national pastime in the United States because it ‘resonates more deeply in the country’s soul than any other sport.  Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® asks will Hot Dogs be replaced by chick-n-strips with the Chick-fil-A sponsorship?

Recently, it was announced that Chick-fil-A is now the official quick-service restaurant of Little League Baseball and Softball. That Johnson calls ‘quite a coup’ for Chick-fil-A.  Baseball tugs at the heart strings of Americans and the undercurrent of generational fondness for the game and all that come with it could help propel Chick-fil-A already good band image even higher.

This strategic partnership between Chick-fil-A, and Little League International will be able to provide additional support, resources, and financial opportunities through grant programs to its local leagues while remaining committed to providing fun, healthy opportunities for all children and adult volunteers in communities around the world. Thus, edifying the Chick-fil-A brand for years too come according to Johnson.

While, Chick-fil-A has risen to the top of the ranks within the foodservice industry in terms of customer satisfaction and has been especially popular among younger generations this relationship will extend the brand while introducing it to new customers simultaneously.

In addition to its dedicated support to local leagues throughout the year, Chick-fil-A will join Little League International’s Official Sponsors inside the Family Fun Zone at the Little League Baseball World Series on August 16-26, 2018, with fun and exciting on-site activations. 

Their on-site location in Williamsport will serve as the home to the only Chick-fil-A food service in all of Lycoming County exclusively during the World Series and the only place to enjoy Chick-fil-A products within 35 miles of the Little League International Complex.  Success does leave clues and this one was a coup for Chick-fil-A.

Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? 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.