At JAB Holding Company Coffee Subscriptions Work

 

Panera Bread tested a subscription coffee service as regular readers of this blog know then they launched an $8.99 per month coffee and tea subscription program for its MyPanera loyalty program members. Steven Jonson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® stated, it’s clear that Coffee subscriptions work giving the first-hand knowledge JAB Holding Company and JAB Consumer Partners have.  The own coffee companies the ilk of Krispy Kreme, Caribou Coffee, Pret A Manger, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Bagel Brands, Panera Bread, JAB Holdings and JAB Consumers Partners have the depth of insightful global data the few other companies could have.”

So, now Pret A Manger USA has launched a new Pret Coffee Subscription in New York City and Washington, D.C., the Pret Coffee Subscription allows subscribers to pay one monthly fee for access to coffees and teas up to five times a day.

In a company PR stated, “After seeing success in the U.K. market, Pret A Manger is eager to offer its U.S. customers a program with similar benefits, starting with a free first month for all new subscribers,” Regular readers also know that Panera’s program works.

At Pret A Manager, customers can choose between the Premium Plan at $29.99 a month or the Classic Plan at $19.99 a month for any size, hot or iced, with no additional charge for plant-based milks. Each new subscriber will automatically receive a free first month at sign up.

So, the Premium Plan includes all espresso-based, barista-made drinks, including lattes and cappuccinos, as well as organic coffees and teas with an additional espresso shot or flavor syrup add-on. The Classic Plan includes all coffees and teas with a flavor syrup add-on. Both plans include hot or iced drinks of any size with any dairy milk or non-dairy milk-alternatives.

The companies PR continued, “We used ‘Coffee Passes’ as a test in the U.S. market to see if there was interest in a program like this,” a spokesperson said. “They were only able to be purchased in our shops and customers had to purchase a new one each month. Our Coffee Pass program ended on July 23 to make room for our shiny new Pret Coffee Subscription.”

Just how fast can you drink a cup of coffee? So, the Pret A Manger spokesperson said customers can order up to five drinks a day, with only a 30-minute wait between orders. Previously, it was a wait of one hour between orders. The Classic and Premium Plans will now auto-renew and include other benefits, such as online account set-up and management and upcoming capabilities to send gifts.

Jorrie Bruffett, president of Pret A Manger USA, stated, “We are thrilled to be launching the Pret Coffee Subscription here in the U.S.,” said “We recognize our customers’ need for ease, flexibility and value, and this subscription model will be able to provide that.”

Bruffett said “the company had also invested in new technology that helps the rollout of the subscription program.” … “This innovation in technology comes with a new app redesign and more exclusive perks to be launched later this year,”.. “As offices in New York City and Washington, D.C., continue to open, we look forward to welcoming back residents, commuters and visitors into our shops.” The new mobile app will allow customers to make purchases, manage subscriptions and order ahead for pickup”

Pret currently has 32 locations in New York City and six in Washington, D.C.  With more than $50 Billion in global sales JAB Holding Company is evolving its business model. Don’t let your business model leave you behind.  Does your brand look more like 1990, 2000, than today?

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

Muscle Maker Grill Now Offering Direct-to-Consumer Prepared Meal Plans

Direct to consumers sales is nothing new.  Look what Amazon did with that.  Now Muscle Maker Grill is extending its brand reach via direct to consumer with a focus on fresh prepared meals and meal plans. Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® stated “it’s about time a chain restaurant fill that space in order to drive new electricity in the brand.”

At the intersection of meal item subscriptions and menu development there is now a solution for the non-cook that wants to eat better food that can be tailored to their specific desires. Yes, once again our Grocerant Guru® is talking convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization as a branded meal invitation.

Muscle Maker announced the launch of www.MuscleMakerPrep.com. Now, customers can order ready-made “healthier for you” prepared meals shipped directly to their doorstep. So, the first location to launch this program is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of NYC allowing customers within 250 miles to order their ready-made meals. Additional sites are planned to come on-line throughout Q1 and Q2 increasing the company’s reach to consumers.

Direct t Consumers will allow Muscle Maker’s strategy to focus on non-traditional locations and ways to reach new consumers that can’t travel to a local store or don’t have one near them. The company believes the restaurant industry has changed and the team at Foodservice Solutions® has been saying that for years.

Being able to reach consumers through multiple touch points is critical to Muscle Maker’s strategy. Expanding grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared meal plans shipped directly to consumers doorsteps is a new way to get the company’s healthier products into the hands of consumers through contactless delivery and convenience.

This is a new evolving business line that expands the company’s reach to consumers and includes brick-and-mortar locations, non-traditional locations such as military bases and universities, home delivery through ghost kitchens and now meal plans shipped via UPS direct to consumers. This model can work out of all existing locations, including ghost kitchens and will be offered to sell through franchise locations.

Late last year the company announced a partnership with Happy Meal Prep and has been working relentlessly to perfect their temperature-controlled boxes to ensure safe delivery of MMG’s “healthier for you” food options. Partnerships matter when you are evolving your business model according to Johnson.

Muscle Maker customers can now order ready-made, prepared meals with options including Wraps, Bowls, Pastas and Salads. There are specific dietary categories as well including Keto and Gluten Free. After a minimum order of five meals, customers can order any quantity they desire to meet their meal prep needs. Customers can leverage customer relevant technology by opting in for texts or emails to keep up to date on the brand’s latest offerings.

Mike Roper, CEO of Muscle Maker Grill, stated, “MuscleMakerPrep.com not only creates an additional revenue stream for the company but allows for us to reach broader audiences and new market segments. This is an expansion of our strategy to get healthier food options to consumers via non-traditional locations and methods. As an expression of gratitude to our loyal customer base, for a limited time, the company will offer 15 percent off all first time delivered meal plan orders. As of today, we will be able to serve the NY, NJ, and PA markets and are seeking to open more markets as we dive into 2021.”

This partnership with Happy Meal Prep will drive new electricity, top-of-mind brand awareness, top-line-sales, bottom-line-profits, all while edifying brand relevance according to Johnson.

Johnson stated “that in my minds-eye the new electricity must be very efficient for the supply chain and includes such things as; corporate partnerships, fresh foods, online ordering, delivery, self-driving cars, plant-based foods, music, streaming, food sampling, toy’s, podcast, movies, cereal, developing brands, 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 and Subway fits that bill according to Johnson.

Don’t over reach. Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing ideations look more like yesterday than tomorrow? Interested in learning how Foodservice Solutions® 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 the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter 

Dairy Queen’s Summer of Fun

Like the heartbeat of America Dairy Queen (DQ) is nestled into the heartland of the US and the minds-eye of consumers when summer hits.  Well, this year, DQ is once again edifying its relationship with consumers with the launch of Box of Happy—a first of its kind, experience-centric subscription box filled with hands-on fun. Customers can sign up at DQBoxofHappy.com to receive three months of summer-themed kits, each bringing to life a quintessential seasonal activity with a delicious twist.

Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® believes that success does leave clues and DQ has picked up the ‘best’ from subscription services and is edifying it’s top of mind position with families for generations with this Limited Time Offer. 

Maria Hokanson, executive vice president of Marketing at American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ) stated “Although subscription boxes are hugely popular, today’s families are seeking unique experiences instead of more stuff,”  “DQ is taking a fresh approach with Box of Happy, inspiring parents and kids alike to make the most out of every moment of summer.”

DQ fans can get all three boxes—from June through August—for $45, while supplies last. A three-month subscription includes a total of $30 in DQ gift cards, so families can explore the NEW Blizzard Treat flavors with their monthly deliveries.

Hokanson continued “Families create and savor sweet memories whenever they visit a DQ store,”. “Box of Happy extends this delightful experience outside of our restaurants, bringing families together over campfires, road trips and more—experiences that shape the season just as much as enjoying soft-serve in the sunshine.”

Created in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, each month’s Box of Happy will provide families with an experience focused on a classic summer activity. How are you leveraging your partnerships for customer relevance?

June: Camp-In Box

The Camp-In Box is designed for families to explore the great outdoors in the comfort of their own living room with a box full of the happiest indoor camping gear on earth, including:

·         A built-in, faux, non-flammable campfire designed to work with a smartphone to create a warm glow and crackling sounds of a real summer bonfire.

·         A DQ Camp-In Shadow Puppet Storybook and two flashlights, to create handmade critters and imagine stories with kids, parents and friends alike.

·         A $10 DQ gift card to try the June Blizzard of the Month 

July: Water Park Box

July’s box will allow fans to turn their front yards in to a water park with a collection of fun, joy-filled water games and challenges for the entire family, including:

·         A waterproof box that opens to reveal a built-in, twisting sprinkler

·         A Splashdown activity booklet full of water-fueled outdoor games

·         A $10 DQ gift card to try the July Blizzard of the Month 

August: Road Trip Box

Near or far, the Road Trip Box aims to make fans’ journeys as happy as the destination with supplies for their next family adventure, including:

·         A built-in smartphone camcorder case to capture smiles on the go

·         An original “Memory Maker” card set with prompts of what to capture along your journey

·          A $10 DQ gift card to try the August Blizzard of the Month 

Although Box of Happy shipments are limited to the first lucky fans who can snag one of the three-month subscriptions, special elements from each kit will be available to the public during the first week of each month. For example, once the June Camp-In boxes are mailed to subscribers, the DQ Camp-In Shadow Puppet Storybook will be available for digital download at DQBoxofHappy.com.

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 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. 

For international corporate presentations, educational forums, or keynotes contact: Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions.  His extensive experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert and public speaking will leave success clues for all. For more information visit www.GrocerantGuru.com , www.FoodserviceSolutions.us or call 1-253-759-7869

Just Salads Consumer Interactive & Participatory

Was May the month you were going to slim down for summer? Well if it was and you were one of the luck consumers Just Salads may have been where you have been eating.  Just Salad launched an endless salad bowl promotion in May, joining a number of other chains that have debuted recent pay-upfront deals.

The Just Salad’s $99 Unlimited Salad Bowl, which sold out in about six hours entitled the purchaser to one salad each of the 31 days in May. That includes any chef-designed salad or a custom creation with four toppings and one protein. The deal breaks down to $3.19 per salad if purchased each day. The chain will limit sales to 100 Unlimited Salad Bowls.

Just Salads received lots of ‘buzz’ around the pay-upfront endless salad bowl promo according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  However Johnson wondered aloud during his presentation in Chicago during the NRA Show if this could become a new subscription model for many fast casual restaurants?

Just Salad’s Chief Branding Officer Rosalin Siv “This is the first time we’re doing it, so we’re testing the waters,” Johnson ask why not evolve this model? A number of other chains have found success with similar pay-upfront promotions, most notably Olive Garden’s Never Ending Pasta Pass, which typically sells out in less than one second. That’s just a flash in the pan but how could you move this business model forward?

The Unlimited Salad Bowl promotion meshes with Just Salad’s sustainable, earth-friendly mission. The fast-casual chain already sells a $1 reusable bowl, with which customers can get free toppings during each visit. Some 785,000 consumers have used the reusable bowls in the last year, the brand says.

Amazon has it subscription service Amazon Prime which over 100 million customer pay for. Gym membership are growing in popularity among all ages so Johnson asks could a subscription base drive your restaurants top line sales and bottom line profits?

Restaurant punch cards were big back in the day but could a subscription service become the base of a loyalty program; could it become you new electricity? In the minds-eye of Johnson, there is one dominate element that will power success within retail foodservice over the coming years.  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, sous vide meal components, portable meals, meal kits, subscription services, urban farming (produce, seafood, etc.), autonomous delivery, cashier-less retail, cash-less payments, digital hand held marketing.

Retailers the ilk of Supermarkets, Restaurants, Conveniences Stores, Dollar Stores, and Department Stores that selling food and want to survive the next generation of retail must embrace the artificial intelligence revolution while simultaneously embracing portable prepared fresh food.  That will require brands to embrace new fresh food partnerships more now than ever before according to Johnson.

Are you trapped doing what you have always done and doing it the same way?  Where is your new electricity coming from?  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.

Fitlife Foods Convenience with Relevance

Regular readers of this blog know that the consumers is ‘dynamic not static’.  Steven Johnson the Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® stated ‘customer relevance is increasingly mobile based, actionable, and targeted.” Fitlife Food delivery is incrementally relevant to consumers.

David Osterweil, founder and CEO and Fitlife Foods stated  “As one of the original and leading meal providers in Florida, we are always looking to go above and beyond for our customers and that’s why we continue to introduce new options such as our subscription delivery service,…Our customers can customize their meal plans by choosing 8, 10 or 12 pack meals in small and medium sizes and they can choose what meal they want and the number of meals needed for breakfast, lunches, dinners or snacks."

Today Fitlife  has more than 60 menu items to choose from, customers can order nutritious and healthy meals to help power them through the week. Fitlife Foods features options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks that are made from organic ingredients when necessary, and locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible.

Limited time offers and seasonally new dishes include, snacks, summer menu items and Featured Fitmeals that can be ordered for the new subscription delivery service. Customers can visit the Fitlife Foods’ website to view the menu, plan their meals and place subscription orders that will be delivered right to their doorstep on the day, week or month of their choosing.

For those who did not know about Fitlife Foods, it is a lifestyle brand committed to creating fresh, all-natural meals that are nutritious, delicious and perfectly crafted from scratch, announced Monday the launch of its subscription delivery service to new Florida markets. Customers now have more flexibility when it comes to purchasing and ordering meals through Fitlife.

Fitlife Foods subscription delivery will not stop customers that want the option of picking up meals in-store if they want to. Fitlife Foods has nine locations throughout the Tampa area, with additional locations in Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton. Menu items range in price from $4 to $12 and feature gluten-free, vegetarian and low-carb options, with nutritional information printed directly on the label.

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