Grocerant Guru™ Highlighted Speaker at SJU 2015 Food Industry Summit

Updated 10-26-2015

Here is a link to the presentation:

http://www.slideshare.net/grocerant

Foodservice Solutions®, Grocerant Guru™ Steven Johnson to speak at Saint Joseph's University Food Marketing 10th annual Food Industry Summit. The topic for 2015 is “FRESH" Thinking in Food Marketing”.   

Retailing expert Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, Washington based Foodservice Solutions® will provide the information you need to win in this quickly changing world. Johnson will answer the question; So, What’s A Grocerant, while exploring expanding points of fresh food competition and opportunities.

Steven Johnson has been a restaurant franchisee and concept developer, is globally recognized for his industry leadership and business development within the Grocerant niche.  An industry expert in alternative channels of food distribution, he specializes in the “grocerant” niche in both fresh and prepared foods. The “grocerant” niche includes grocery stores offering Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat foods too convenience stores, restaurants, liquor stores, the drug store sector, and new non-traditional points of distribution.

The foundation of Johnson’s B2B work in the grocerant channel has been integrating the 5 P’s of food marketing: Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability and Price. He is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Business School Honor Society. Johnson has received numerous awards including 3 EMMEY, awarded by 3M for “Outside the box” thinking and team leadership.

Since 1991 retail food consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit www.FoodserviceSolutions.us http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant 

Wawa Brings Lessons from Florida Back To Philly

When Wawa President and CEO Chris Gheysens cut the ribbon on its new flagship store in Center City, Philadelphia welcoming customers two months ahead of schedule you knew it was a special event. 

The new Wawa is located at the corner of Broad and Walnut streets, and was originally slated to open in late November. However, the construction schedule was accelerated to accommodate customers and visitors to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) and the historic visit of Pope Francis next week.

All that said what is of particular interest to regular readers of this blog is what success clues from its Florida expansion that Wawa brought back and incorporated into this new flagship store.  That success clue is seating.  While seating is all outside at Wawa’s Florida locations just try to get a seat during peak breakfast, lunch or late afternoon at one of the tables.  The customer have flocked to them.

This new Wawa will  be the first store featuring interior bar stools and a counter for dining.  Yes, inside seating.  The new store has 10 stools and a counter along the perimeter windows. This will be a test for Wawa but one we think will prove positive.

Consumers are dynamic not static and Wawa is proving that it understands that there are some universal commonalities that will help drive continued success.  

Are you trapped doing what you have always done and doing it the same way?  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.

Amazon Private Label Beer Coming to Lawson C-Stores

Once again Amazon is testing its marketing strength.  This time they are testing selling Amazon Private Label beer in convenience stores specifically Lawson Convenience stores. Cara Clegg reported earlier this week that Amazon will be testing selling Amazon private label at retail.  

The beer is called Getsumengaho is a beer “born from a collaboration between Yoho Brewing and Amazon Japan. While it has previously only been available online via Amazon.co.jp, it will be going on sale at Lawson convenience stores in limited quantities. 7,000 cases will be sent out to Lawson stores which equals 168,000 cans.

They will retail at 298 yen (US$2.50) per can, including tax. It’s described as having a fruity aroma reminiscent of bananas and uses Belgian yeast and American hops, so if that sounds like something you’d enjoy, keep an eye out for the distinctive white cans decorated with colorful crescent moons. Of course, if you miss out on getting them straight from the store, they’ll still be available to order online as usual” according to Clegg.

Retailers today must test the waters in our Omni-Channel retail world a brand that is successful one channel is very likely to find success in others according to Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru™. Amazon may be the largest US On-line retailer but if they eventually want to become the largest they must expand point’s distribution.  

Today, you can get practically anything via online retail giant Amazon.com in many cases there are even some products that you can only get via the website. Amazon dippers and beer are of those items.

 As Cregg noted “Ordinarily one such product is a special beer from popular Japanese craft brewery Yoho Brewing, but beer drinkers will soon be able to pick up a can at their local Lawson convenience store. You’ll have to hurry, though, because the number available is limited, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Source: Images: NLab, Amazon.co.jp

Are you trapped doing what you have always done and doing the same way.  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.

Starbucks Drive-thru Worked So Well QuikTrip is Set to Test Drive-Thru’s

Starbucks is a very successful food and beverage merchant.  So why wouldn’t others not follow Starbucks lead? The drive thru-has help Starbucks increase check average, speed of service and customer satisfaction.  

QuikTrip spokesman Mike Thornbrugh stated, "We decided to start this sit-down restaurant to see if it's something customers would be interested in and a business we could be proficient at."… "Food is a big part of our long-term strategy.

Currently there is currently no timetable for the length of the test. The west Tulsa store is the only QuikTrip out of the chain's 700-plus locations to have a restaurant. QuikTrip's in-house staff designed the restaurant, which features two checkout counters, five touchscreen stations and several self-pay credit card readers, with bold graphics decorating the walls. Customers can order from the touchscreen computers or from store staff.

With room to spare QuikTrip Corp.” is testing a new in-store, sit-down restaurant concept at a west Tulsa location. The truck stop-size store at 6008 S. 49th West Ave. features a QT Kitchens counter, with a drive-thru window to be added this fall, reported Tulsa World. Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food has helped fuel the growth of both Sheetz and Wawa why not Quit Trip. 

It was time for a change "We used to have a Wendy's at this store, so the space was there," Thornbrugh added. "When their lease ran out, we thought it would be a good spot to try our QT Kitchens here."

This new concept stores focus on Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food which includes “hot dogs and pizza slices at the front of the store, while the restaurant area has the same items with the addition of extra-large whole pizzas. QT Kitchens also features sandwiches and wraps, pizza, desserts and beverages made to order. QuikTrip will likely expand its restaurant menu over time and testing new items as it deems fit, according to Thornbrugh.

Outside eyes can drive top line sales and bottom line profits.  Visit: www.FoodserviceSolutions.us  or reach out to our own Grocerant Guru™ Steve Johnson today for success clues at: 253-759-7869 Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us