Popeyes Cajun-Style Turkey Returns to Boost Thanksgiving Traditions and Brand Loyalty

 

This holiday season, Popeyes is delivering more than just flavor; they're delivering long-term brand loyalty, increased check averages, and family traditions that will keep customers coming back year after year. Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® says as grocerants continue to reshape the way families enjoy their meals, Popeyes' Cajun-Style Turkey promotion stands out as a prime example of how a well-executed holiday offer can extend the brand beyond the store and into the home, building an emotional connection with customers.

Driving Check Averages with the Perfect Pairing

Popeyes' signature Cajun-Style Turkey is not just about convenience; it's about adding value to every sale. By offering this premium product, stores can boost their check averages significantly during the holiday season. Families looking for a stress-free but flavorful centerpiece for Thanksgiving are willing to pay a premium for the quality and unique flavors Popeyes provides.

Example 1: A family of four might purchase the Cajun-Style Turkey but also add on popular sides like mashed potatoes and gravy, Cajun fries, and desserts, raising the overall ticket from just the turkey to a full meal deal.

Example 2: Stores offering delivery increase the convenience factor, driving up the average spend per customer. Families seeking a full holiday spread may add beverages or appetizers, knowing everything can arrive at their door in one seamless order.

Extending the Brand from Store to Home

The beauty of Popeyes’ Cajun-Style Turkey lies in its ability to extend the Popeyes brand experience right into the heart of the home—at the Thanksgiving dinner table. The at-home experience strengthens the customer relationship by associating Popeyes with not only convenience but also holiday warmth and tradition.

Example 1: A family ordering the Cajun-Style Turkey experiences the bold flavors of Louisiana, but they’re also connecting emotionally with Popeyes by sharing the meal in the comfort of their own home. This helps establish a deeper brand affinity.

Example 2: With every bite of that succulent, spice-infused turkey, Popeyes becomes a part of the family’s Thanksgiving traditions, turning a restaurant product into a home-based memory and positioning the brand as a holiday staple.

Garnering Family Buy-In with Seasonal Favorites

Holiday offerings like the Cajun-Style Turkey also help garner buy-in from the entire family. Popeyes isn’t just for quick meals anymore; it's for cherished family moments. By offering something special for the holidays, they attract multi-generational customers who see value in making Popeyes part of their family traditions.

Example 1: Grandma loves the idea of not having to prepare a turkey from scratch, the kids get excited about the bold, zesty flavor, and the parents appreciate the convenience—all members of the family are on board, ensuring repeat purchases year after year.

Example 2: Pairing the Cajun-Style Turkey with Popeyes’ seasonal Big Box meal is another way to satisfy the whole family. While one enjoys the turkey, others can savor the beloved fried chicken or tenders, making Popeyes a family favorite for all tastes.

Establishing an Annual Holiday Tradition with Long-Term Brand Benefits

By bringing back the Cajun-Style Turkey for the third consecutive year, Popeyes is cultivating a new holiday tradition for its customers. This kind of consistency builds loyalty and positions the brand as an annual holiday go-to. Customers who rely on Popeyes for Thanksgiving are more likely to return throughout the year for other meals, fostering year-round engagement.

Example 1: A family that orders Popeyes’ Cajun-Style Turkey for Thanksgiving may also choose Popeyes for future holidays like Christmas or even birthdays, elevating their perception of the brand beyond fast food to special occasions.

Example 2: A tradition of ordering Popeyes for Thanksgiving establishes a long-term relationship with the brand. The convenience, coupled with the familiarity of their favorite holiday meal, keeps customers coming back not just for the holiday turkey but for other meal offerings, increasing loyalty and frequency of visits.

Popeyes has found a recipe for success by not only providing an incredible holiday meal but also leveraging the power of tradition, family, and convenience to rise above the competition. This year, it’s not just about the Cajun-Style Turkey—it’s about creating lasting memories and strong customer bonds that drive sales and brand loyalty well into the future.

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

Popeyes Grocerant Niche Cajun-Style Turkey is Back

 

Having company over the holidays, family, fun, free-time on your mind?  Well once again this year you and order a Cajun-Style Turkey online from Popeyes and have the free time for golf, bowling, board games simply by ordering your next family meal with family and friends from Popeyes. 

According to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® recent Grocerant ScoreCards found:

1.       82.3% of consumers don’t know what’s for dinner at Noon, and 61.8 % don’t know what’ s for dinner at 4PM.

2.       68.2 % of consumers would order alcohol with a meal or meal components from a restaurant if available when ordering.

3.       Roughly 63.7% of consumers purchase prepared food items from a retail location at least three times a month.

4.       79.6% all dinners have at least 1 grocerant niche Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat meal component and 66.6% have two meal components per day.

5.       When asked if they wanted to cook dinner from scratch or assemble dinner from fresh meal components 91.3 % of Gen Z chose assemble from Fresh Prepared Meal Components and Millennials 83.4% chose meal components.

6.       Seventy-three percent of retail prepared food purchases are taken to go

7.       88.2 % of consumers prefer hand held food over sit down meals with a knife and fork

Here is the point, don’t worry about what’s for dinner when you can order an entire meal from Popeyes including a full-flavored Turkey.

Yes, the Popeyes fan-favorite Thanksgiving dinner staple, the Cajun-Style Turkey, Hand-rubbed and infused with Popeyes signature blend of zesty Louisiana-style seasonings, The Cajun Turkey is the perfect addition to any Thanksgiving dinner.

For the second year in a row, Popeyes has made it even easier to get your hands on a Cajun-Style Turkey by offering a delivery option. Starting Monday, now, you can preorder the Cajun-Style Turkey online at thecajunfix.popeyes.com for delivery direct to your doorstep, so all you have to do is thaw, heat, serve and enjoy. Delivery will begin on October 9 with most turkey orders arriving one to three business days after the order is shipped.

Guests can also purchase the Cajun-Style Turkey from their local Popeyes restaurant for pickup beginning on 10/17 by calling or visiting in person to reserve/order their turkey while supplies last.

Take the stress out of Thanksgiving – Popeyes is the one-stop-shop for your Thanksgiving feast with family meals and traditional southern sides such as mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, biscuits, and more.

While you enjoy Thanksgiving with your friends and family, know that Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc., is doing its part to make the holidays happier for others by donating a percentage of profits to the Popeyes Foundation to aid its mission to strengthen communities with food and support in times of need. 

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

Grocerant Niche Meal Components Can Make your Holiday Meal Memorable

 

Do you want you children to have memories that last a lifetime?  One of the best ways to do that is to elevate a holiday meal according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® who stated, “If you want your Gen Z or Millennial children to have memories to last a life time and that they can share with their children customize your holiday meal with personalized grocerant niche mix and match meal components just for your family.”   

Now according to BRACH'S recent nationwide survey of U.S. adults who celebrate year-end holidays, two-thirds (68 percent) believe passing down holiday traditions is extremely or very important. Younger generations are leading the charge as those beliefs were found to be strongest among Generation Z, millennials and Generation X.

A desire to pass down traditions has evolved for one in three consumers (36 percent), most often because families are growing out of previous traditions (21 percent) or there is desire to try something new (17 percent).

When compared to other generations, millennials are more likely than Gen X or boomers to try something new, and relative to other generations they're more often learning new rituals from a spouse or partner, while grandparents are more often a source of holiday traditions for Gen Z when compared to older adults.

"Families of all generations are eager to keep holiday traditions alive, and many want to learn and try new things as families grow and evolve," said Lauren Holtz, director of BRACH'S Seasonal Marketing at Ferrara Candy Co. "BRACH'S candies, specifically our candy canes, are synonymous with holiday memories and beloved by every generation. Our Sweetness Swap aims to bring people of all ages together this season to make moments sweeter with meaningful connections and stress-free celebrations."

Other findings of the generational study include:

·         About six in 10 adults surveyed enjoy holiday traditions with children (63 percent) and a spouse/partner (59 percent). Gen Z is more likely than any other generation to share them with a parent/guardian or grandparent.

·         Across all generations, hot chocolate was chosen as the best pairing for candy canes over options such as eggnog, ice cream or cookies.

·         About seven in 10 participants are very or somewhat likely to enjoy candy canes by just eating them (75 percent) or decorating a home or tree (69 percent). Gen Z and millennials surveyed were significantly more likely than Gen X or boomers to participate in several holiday candy activities.

·         Holiday cooking/baking is common among adults with more than eight in 10 (84 percent) very or somewhat likely to participate.

·         Nearly one-third of adults (31 percent) are likely to host or attend a holiday-themed dinner party instead of other types of holiday events such as a White Elephant party, Ugly Sweater party, or holiday-themed brunch.

Grocerant niche meal components can come from any restaurant item including entrée, side dish, or desert.  Many holiday tables include a mix match bundled set of grocerant components from different restaurants all bundled into a customize personalized family holiday meal.  Cook less, clean up less and create memories.

For international corporate presentations, regional chain 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 GrocerantGuru.com, FoodserviceSolutions.US or call 1-253-759-7869

Grocerant niche Mix and Match Meal Components Thriving on the Family Holiday Table

 

Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared meals and meal components will be center stage this holiday season and restaurants has found that the Grocerant niche bundled mix and match meal components make the meal prep time shorter, food better, and clean-up a breeze according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Consider these new insights from, the National Restaurant Association (NRA)that found 77% of consumers will cope with holiday demands by letting restaurants do some of their cooking during the coming weeks. Now you have to admit that the grocerant niche has come a long way since 1996 when our own Steven Johnson identified, quantified, qualified and then named what is now called the grocerant niche. 

Back to the new study, according to the NRA survey, 57% of consumers plan to go out to eat at a restaurant, while 50% plan to order takeout or delivery for a gathering at home during the holidays. One in four consumers plan to do both. When asked about why they plan to include restaurant meals in their holiday plans:

·         88% said dining out or ordering a meal from a restaurant is a good way to support businesses in their community during the holidays.

·         82% said letting restaurants do the cooking is easy and reduces their stress.

·         78% said a restaurant gives them an opportunity to socialize with family and/or friends and is a better use of their time than cooking and cleaning up. 

Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association, stated, “During the holidays—maybe more than any other time of the year—we work to make meaningful connections with people in our lives. The restaurants in our communities provide the space and the comfort to do that while sharing a meal,”. “The holiday season is important to restaurant operators and employees who work hard to make it special. When you choose restaurants, you get the flavors you crave without grocery shopping and preparation. You get familiar holiday dishes, without the dishes to wash. You get beloved traditions, without all the preparations. When you let restaurants do the cooking, restaurants let you take a holiday from the holidays.”

So, when choosing the restaurant, convenience and loyalty were top of mind for most consumers. 

·         A restaurant close to home was the top pick for 94% of consumers going out to eat and 91% planning to order out. 

·         81% of diners plan to dine in a restaurant they’ve often visited during the holidays, while 79% of diners will order out from one. 

Regular readers of the blog know that inflation is impacting consumer decision-making during the holidays, making them more interested in restaurants where they can find a deal or specials.

·         89% of consumers who plan to dine in a restaurant and the same number who plan to order out will consider deals or specials to pick the restaurant. 

·         60% of customers eating out and 66% of those planning takeout are making their choices based on marketing emails from restaurants. Even fewer are being swayed by social media—just 58% of people planning to eat out and 65% of those planning delivery or takeout say social media marketing will be a determining factor in their choice of restaurant. 

The National Restaurant Association conducted the online survey of 1,002 adults Nov. 18-20, 2022, asking questions about their plans to use restaurants during the holiday season. If you want a deep dive into the grocerant niche you might want to obtain a Grocerant ScoreCard or a copy of the Grocerant Index.

Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a Grocerant ScoreCard, or for product positioning or placement assistance, or call our Grocerant Guru®.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or 253-759-7869

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Larger Share of Stomach? 

TikTok, TikTok, it’s Time To Talk Turkey

 

Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® has been talking turkey for the holidays and without a doubt he brings up a story on Butterball.  Well, this year is no different with the exception like restaurants Butterball is talking turkey on TikTok.

That’s right Butterball is talking turkey again, but across more channels and in more detail. Butterball has operated a perennially popular help line for preparing holiday turkey dinners for 40 years, is adding to its seasonal services with a new Turkey Talk-Line Taste Kitchen, with streaming videos shared on its website and posted on social media platforms like TikTok.  

Rebecca Welch, senior brand manager, seasonal business at Butterball, stated, “Tthe idea was borne from the number of novice cooks who delved into holiday cooking during the largely stay-at-home year of 2020. “While home cooks are excited for the holiday, more than a third of novice Thanksgiving hosts reported lacking the confidence in their hosting abilities,”  

Welch continued, “Through the Butterball Taste Kitchen, our Talk-Line experts are able to engage with this new generation of hosts on social media and inspire them to try something fresh and exciting, while giving them the confidence they need to be successful. That way, they can spend less time worrying about cooking and more time enjoying the special moments of the holiday.”

You should check-out all the new additions to going over turkey basics, the new digital offering includes pro tips from Butterball’s experts on the latest cooking trends and ideas. Each recipe tested in the new Turkey Talk-Line Test Kitchen has the Butterball seal of approval and was inspired by food trends that have gone viral or at least caught a lot of attention on social media platforms. Examples include a stuffing waffle sandwich, Thanksgiving roll-ups and pickle-brined turkey, among others.

Regular readers of this blog know that the timing is right to mix up the longstanding talk line tradition, according to the brand leaders. A survey conducted for Butterball found that 83% of consumers think social media is a great place to get menu inspiration or recipes for Thanksgiving. Nearly 3 in 4 people (73%) have cooked or prepared food or a meal based on a viral food trend from a social media platform.

“It’s been incredible to see the Turkey Talk-Line continue to reimagine ways to help hosts create a delicious Thanksgiving meal, with a turkey at the center, just like we always have,” added Nicole Johnson, director of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line.

Foodservice Solutions® team is here to help you drive top line sales and bottom-line profits. Are you looking a customer ahead? Visit GrocerantGuru.com for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may the clue you need to propel your continued success.

White Castle's Slider – Stuffing Recipe

 

Are you thinking that just about anyone else’s stuffing was better than yours this year?  Well then, I bet you did miss getting White Castle’s Slider-based Stuffing Recipe. Steven Johnson, our Grocerant Guru® has a treat for you! The recipe direct from White Castle.  Now next time your guess will have a story to tell and it will be how great your White Castle stuffing was.

White Castle’s stuffing is a great example of grocerant niche interactive participatory food marketing tool that edifies customers and the brand simultaneously. Introduced 29 years ago, White Castle’s savory Slider-based stuffing recipe has become a Thanksgiving tradition for many Craver families. Now its your turn.

White Castle Impossible Slider Stuffing

Prep time: 5 to 10 minutes

Cook time: 35 minutes

Servings: about 9 cups of stuffing

Ingredients:

1.   10 White Castle Impossible Sliders, no pickles

2.   1½ cups diced celery

3.   1¼ teaspoons ground thyme

4.   1½ teaspoons ground sage

5.   ¾ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

6.   1 cup vegetable broth

Instructions:

1.   Tear the Impossible Sliders into bite-sized pieces and put into a large mixing bowl

2.   Add diced celery and seasonings

3.   Add 1 cup of vegetable broth and toss well; let ingredients sit for 10 minutes to absorb

4.   Spray or oil a 2-quart casserole dish

5.   Transfer stuffing to casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes

White Castle Original Slider Stuffing Recipe

Prep time: 5 to 10 minutes

Cook time: 35 minutes

Servings: about 9 cups of stuffing (enough for a 10-12 pound turkey)

Ingredients:

1.   10 to 12 White Castle Original Sliders, no pickles (from a Castle restaurant or a local retailer)

2.   1½ cups diced celery

3.   1¼ teaspoons ground thyme

4.   1½ teaspoons ground sage

5.   ¾ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

6.   ¼ cup chicken broth (or 1 cup for casserole version)

Instructions:

1.   Tear the Sliders into bite-sized pieces and put into a large mixing bowl

2.   Add diced celery and seasonings

3.   Add ¼ cup of chicken broth and toss well

4.   Put stuffing into cavity of the turkey and cook as you normally would

5.   If cooking stuffing as a casserole, add an additional ¾ cup of chicken broth and toss well

6.   Spray or oil a 2-quart casserole dish

7.   Transfer stuffing to casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes

White Castle’s stuffing is an great example of grocerant niche interactive participatory food marketing.

Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a Grocerant Program Assessment, Grocerant ScoreCard, or for product positioning or placement assistance, or call our Grocerant Guru®.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche. Contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us or 253-759-7869