Digital Multitasking Generation Z Speeds Foodservice Up

Food marketing is about to undergo another transformation as Gen Z enters the workforce as the generation that says ‘I want it now’ according to Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

The oldest members of Generation Z are turning 22 years old in 2019 creating a tsunami of digital natives demanding fresh food faster than any other generating according to Johnson. When posed with the question, (What’s for Dinner?) they will simply look for the solution in the palm of their hand, there smartphone.   

There is a reason that fast food sales continue inching-up, growing share of restaurant dollars. Just like millennials, Gen Z’s frequently visit fast food / quick service restaurants.  That frequency is another reason that fast casual restaurants check average and speed of service is comparable to that of fast food; it’s keep-up or lose out according to Johnson.

In a new report from The NPD Group, Delivering Digital Convenience report noted:

1.       For the year ending December 2018, the number of foodservice delivery orders by Gen Zers reached 552 million, just 1 million less than millennials' delivery orders despite a small portion of Gen Z’s being old enough to order their own delivery. They are also heavy users of restaurant tablets and order kiosks.

2.       Gen Z’s can FaceTime their friends, text their moms, and order a pizza all at the same time

How are you preparing to engage new consumers?  If your food platform getting faster?

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.

Foodservice Operators Face It, In 2018 Facial-Recognition will be Top of Mind

When Apple released a special phone (iPhone X) for the 10 year anniversary of the fist iPhone facial-recognition technology became a social media talking point.  Sure there were a couple of glitches but they were resolved quickly and iPhone X customers like the phone and facial-recognition technology has become a new industry standard according to the team at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Now that facial recognition is more accurate and in use every day several restaurant operators have begun implementing it in stores via a new POS systems that recognize customers and drive increased throughput. 

Jon Alexis, partner in the fast-casual Malibu Poke in Dallas spoke with Ron Ruggless of NRN and stated “Every generation is having fun with it”, which opened Nov. 28 with three kiosks that allow guests to save their order history and access them again through facial recognition. “It has exceeded my expectations.”

Alexis, who also owns two full-service T.J.’s Seafood Market & Grill units in Dallas, said in another interview “I would say a minority of guests use it, but it’s a growing minority,” said “Our concern in the beginning was that it was going to be a parlor trick and no one would use it,” he said. “But the biggest thing that happened was iPhone coming out with its X [model] and facial recognition capabilities. That was the seal of approval that this is real.”

Facial-recognition capabilities are expanding around the world in companies the ilk of North Palm Beach, Fla.-based BurgerFi International Inc., Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based Bryn + Dane’s, and Burlington, Mass.-based UFood Grill. A KFC affiliate in China tested facial-recognition earlier this year.

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