Food Innovation still requires that the food tastes good.

Food innovation blends experimentation with contemporary relevance.  The outcome is a unique point of differentiation that relates directly to the targeted consumer.  I believe that differentiation does not mean different it means familiar with a twist. The grocerant niche is busting at the seams with innovative new products.

With all the talk today about posting calories, excessive salt there is one thing that we all must keep top of mind; customers eat FOOD that taste good.  For all of the pontification and legislative maneuvers to change the food you are selling to your customers beware!  If you want your customers to come back, the food had better taste good.  Food success is in the mind’s eye of the consumer and their palate. 

Better for you food means many different things to each segmented group of consumers.  Each new menu or product may have one or more new “required constraint” targeted at a specific niche few will be all things for all groups. The one universal attribute or success clue in food innovation is: it better taste good!  Looking for innovative new products or innovation in positioning?  Call us when you are ready to move past the competition.

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a brand leveraging 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.

Food retailers are crafting success with ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat fresh prepared food.

The grocerant niche is a result of the blurring of the line between restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, and drug stores all selling fresh prepared, portable convenient meal solutions.  Targeted at the time-starved consumer with ready-2-eat or heat-N-eat fresh prepared food components that are deemed “better for you”, portable and portioned for one or two.


These meal components can be bundled into a meal of the consumer’s choice. Grocerant food refers to any retail food item that is ready-2-eat or heat-N-eat / reheat sold in a Grocery store, Convenience store Restaurant or Drug Stores that is in a To-go or Take Away format.  Most retail companies goal is to create a collection of branded private label entrée and side dishes that have niche leading identity.


Around the world we are now seeing Grocerant sections in department’s stores and kiosk in malls in Europe / Asia and airports around the world.   The items can range from entrees to side items and deserts.  Some examples of items range from crab puff pastries fried chicken, mash potatoes, cream spinach, to liver and onions, pizza, hot dogs, steak, prime rib, various casseroles (hot-dish) to salads, side salads pie, cake and any single proportioned deserts.

Consumer believe that grocerant prepared ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat foods contribute to making life just a little easier.

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

Wonder why we see restaurant customer migration?

“My mom made two dishes: Take it or Leave it.”  Is a line made famous by comedian Stephen Wright?

Take it or leave it has come and gone. Today all food consumers are empowered with choice driven by preferences in flavor profiles, portion size, packaging and portability. Below are 5 clues on who and where the migration is occurring. Do you understand who is winning garnering customers?

1. U.S. consumers under the age of 25 spend an average of 40.9% of their food expenditures on food away from the home The Food Institute reported May 11, 2012.
2. Americans ages 23-34 spent 45.2% of food expenditures away from home the same report found.
3. Here is the kicker, those ages 75 and up spent the least at 31.8% all this and more can be found in The Food Institute’s 2012 edition of its Demographics of Consumer Spending report.
4. Restaurants in France are increasingly offering “café gourmand,” a desert dish featuring an espresso and multiple small desserts on a single plate.  Mix and Match bundling anyone!
5. Emeril Lagasse opened e2 Go a new carryout-only extension of the e2 Emeril brand.

The grocerant niche is filled with ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat fresh and prepared meal components.  Around the world consumers are refocusing how, where and when they chose to buy food. Are you positioned within your niche to build sales? 

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a brand leveraging 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.

Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru Steven Johnson most requested.

Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru at Tacoma, Washington based Foodservice Solutions® shares some of the most requested articles. When success leaves clues Steven Johnson has been picking them up and sharing within the industry since 1991. 

Consumer Trends in the Food & Beverage Sector

http://foodbeverage.about.com/od/Whats_Hot/a/Its-4-Pm-Do-You-Know-What-Your-Customers-Want-To-Make-For-Dinner_2.htm

Consumers Don't Cook From Scratch... they go to Grocerants.

http://foodbeverage.about.com/od/Grocerant/g/Consumers-Don-T-Cook-From-Scratch-They-Go-To-Grocerantss.htm

Restaurant Consumer Discontinuity

http://www.foodservice.com/articles/show.cfm?contentid=4112

Foodservice visceral attractiveness equals contemporary consumer relevance.

http://www.foodservice.com/blogs/show.cfm?contentid=5248

Pop-up restaurants can create quite a buzz!

http://www.foodservice.com/blogs/show.cfm?contentid=4736

Private Label Brand Managers Making Brands of Private Label Products.

http://www.foodservice.com/blogs/show.cfm?contentid=4620

Steven Johnson is Grocerant Guru at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions, with extensive experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert and public speaking. Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant

Amazon Fresh is driving change in the European food marketplace.

When you are ready-2-eat do you think Amazon Fresh?  Well maybe I should take you one-step back then bring you two steps forward.  Amazon launched online grocery shopping in Great Britain (London) then rolled it out in Germany a couple of years ago.  Last year they began selling food in the US (Seattle) via Amazon Fresh. Amazon may have found that last mile solution with Amazon Fresh. Ok that’s one step back and one forward so let’s continue moving forward.

Amazon fresh has built a trust with consumers. While Amazon Fresh was scoffed at by analyst and critic’s, Amazon understands retail, the consumer and the last mile solution goal.  In research just released by IGD ShopperVista, “The Connected Shopper” revealed “Eight out of ten (78% of) European shoppers believe internet and mobile technology could improve their food shopping experience in the future.”

Another 69% of smartphone or tablet owners say they would like promotions sent to their devices based on items that they would like to buy. Amazon’s retail success is increasingly shaping how Europeans do their food shopping and soon that same may be true for here as well.

The successful growth of the grocerant niche is about convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization; when you combine all three you’re talking personalization.  Amazon is a retail king when it comes to personalization, promotions and deal bundling.   Food retailers its time to take notice.

Retailing food will never be the same, Amazon Fresh, Peapod, Walgreens fresh ready-2-eat food.  Who is going to be your largest competitive threat in 5 years?  Take-Away food, Drive-Thru food now E-mobile food.  When the consumer is ready-2-eat or ready for heat-N-eat will they be thinking of your brand?

Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a grocerant program assessment, brand, product placement or positioning assistance.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant.

Wendy’s conundrum, continue copy-cat marketing and menu ideation or focus on the customer.

Does Wendy’s understand that cultivating a brand is more important that managing a brand? Brands are dynamic not static, they develop and grow with the consumer. Identifying distinctive differentiated programs, positioning and consumable’s by day part that reflect the brand, industry trends, consumer preferences  is an area that Wendy’s simply has not excelled.   Creating copy-cat menu items and positioning statements is an area that they of late have done much better.  Note: if you’re going to copy, pick programs, products and positioning that garners more than trial.

Recycling c-level marketing team members is another area Wendy’s excels.  However those that are successful generally in-addition bring in Outside Eye’s. Outside eyes can add new light and assist a company in redevelopment and deployment of new products and brand positioning. Clearly Wendy’s needs some outside help identifying distinctive differentiated food consumables, trends, and day-parts to create a point of or any differentiation. 

Understanding the unique balance between palate, price, pleasure and the consumer’s drive for qualitative distinctive differentiated new messaging places Foodservice Solutions® in a select industry grouping The food value proposition equilibrium for the consumer today balances; better for you, flavor, and traditional products all blended into something with a twist.

Success leaves clues transformational times require focus and experience with a qualitative edge. One success clue is Foodservice Solutions® 5P’s of food marketing: Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability and Price.  Consumer choice is driven today by the 5P’s of food marketing.  My tip for Wendy’s is utilize the 5 P’s when trying to identify distinctive differentiated food consumables, trends and day-parts.

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant ortwitter.com/grocerant Email:grocerant@q.com

Ready-2-Eat and Heat-N-Eat Customers are your Friends.

Proactive food retailers are finding success with fresh prepared ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat food.  These grocerant niche foods can be found at Convenience stores, Grocery stores, Drug Stores, Restaurants, and Mobile trucks.  With 50% of US consumer over the age of 18 being single the opportunity in this niche is simply put HUGE.

Today consumers have been exposed to a plethora of international flavors and have not the time to master the skill of cooking each.  This growing trend is empowering the consumer to establish new customs traditions in eating better, more flavorful food.  A big part of that is buying fresh ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat meal components  from all of above mentions retail sectors, then mix and matching meal components.  The Grocerant niche is about convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization.

The National Restaurant Association found in a new study that customization is vital to “Effective Marketing and Business Growth.”   Here are some of the key findings:

1.      87 percent of consumers would go to or order from a restaurant if provided with a savings offer.

2.      95 percent of operators perceive savings offers to be an effective marketing tool.

3.  Consumers would go to or order from a restaurant if they received customized marketing messages that referenced past restaurant patronage (68 percent), allowed them to make reservations (66 percent), and identified them by name (64 percent).
4. Consumers perceive the least effective efforts to entice them to go to a restaurant include online advertisements (58 percent), social media (56 percent), and radio ads (56 percent).
5. 69 percent of consumers said an email from a daily deal provider would motivate them to go to the restaurant featured in the daily deal

Success does leave clues and in food retailing if you can personalize your message electronically with a focus on convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization you will grow your brand and top line while making a friend.

Steven Johnson is Grocerant Guru at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions, with extensive experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert and public speaking. Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant

Domino’s continues getting better for the consumer this time Gluten Free.

Opening the world of Pizza to consumers with gluten allergies Domino’s continues getting better for the consumer.  Domino’s has tested a Gluten-free pizza crust in New Zealand and Australia since 2009 however the product was not fully gluten-free. With a newer product and taste and texture refined Domino’s is now rolling out its gluten-free pizza.

The pizza industry leadership has shifted many times over the past 30 years and without doubt Dominos is the clear leader once again.  When it comes to ready-2-eat pizza Domino’s remake of its original pizza products prove it could and would do what other within the industry would not dare.  If fact that move was industry leading for all sectors of the restaurant industry.

The Artesian pizza line has provided quality credibility with authenticity for the consumer.  With each new menu addition or menu make over Domino’s reinforced to the consumer that there are getting better and better for you (consumer).  Success leaves clues and Domino’s is leading with bold consumer focused products.  

Gluten free pizza is an example how Domino’s is focused on the customer, pushing the limits and the pizza sector to keep up.  Head held food for immediate consumption continues to drive top line sales in retail food service. Watch for shifting market share within the pizza sector this year.  Don’t be surprised it Domino’s garners larger piece of the pie.

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a brand leveraging 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.

Shifting food consumers are resetting the price + value + service equilibrium.

The price, value, service equilibrium is resetting in Grocery stores, Restaurants and Convenience stores.  The wildly successful Subway $5.00 foot-long stated it.  The QSR value focused $1.00 menu propelled it and now the $10.00 Pizza may have signaled the bottom.  While it took the $10.00 pizza to drive customers back into the pizza sector it is the $10.00 bundled meal price point that is garnering customers for restaurants.

Enter the grocerant niche with ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat fresh and prepared food. Consumers are looking for new products, packaging and time saving options, retail drug stores, grocery stores and convenience stores have provided a new set of choices.  Consumers are attracted to the grocerant niche by the fresh prepared focus, price points and bundled meal components.  Which provide a strong margin for increased profitability while building consumer frequency and loyalty for the retailer?

All retail food sectors have noticed a discontinuity in consumer food shopping behavior and all are fighting for share of stomach.   Contributing to this displacement is the focus by on short term market metrics particularly price and away from the consumer.  This in turn has caused a loss is consumer traffic at some chain restaurants.  There are attributes that are much more important to the consumers that all food retailers should be paying attention too.  Success does leave clues; we have picked them up and can assist you edifying your brand.  Are you ready to move with the consumer too success?

Join me here on my blog for insights, information and inspiration.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more visit: twitter.com/grocerant, http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerantor on Facebook at Steven Johnson

Meal components prepared fresh bundled and portable make a family meal, a happy meal.

Alice May Brock said: “Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian, wine and tarragon make it French, sour cream makes it Russian, lemon and cinnamon make it Greek, soy sauce makes it Chinese, garlic makes it good.”

Convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization; are each hallmarks of the ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat fresh prepared grocerant niche.

Meal components allow customers to select from Italian, American, French, Russian or Greek and utilize the components at home any way they like.  The new American meal can be a composite of any prepared food components that the individual may want and they can mix and pair them any way as well.  The United States is a melting pot of people from all over the world, with different cultures, traditions and flavor preferences.  The new American meal is a melting pot of flavor and choice.  Meal components that can be mix and matched.

Fresh prepared and portable ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat foods are now available for all comers and can be found at Convenience stores, Drug stores, Grocery stores, Restaurants, Mobile trucks all just waiting for the taking.

Consumers have been exposed to a plethora of flavors and have not the time to master the skill of cooking each.  This growing trend is empowering the consumer to establish new customs and traditions in eating better, more flavorful food.  The Grocerant niche is about convenient meal participation, differentiation and individualization.

Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in consulting within the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions on AOL search Grocerant, at ASK.COM search grocerant or visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant or on Facebook at Steven Johnson or BING / GOOGLE: Steven Johnson Grocerants

McDonald’s is utilizing its global marketing tool kit repository for US success.

Building top line sales and bottom line profits around the globe is something McDonalds is very good at.  Leveraging McDonalds brand messaging while integrating country by country menu customization continues to be a success clue for McDonalds as they expand into new countries and build out those they are currently operating in.

Finding continued success in the ready-2-eat fresh prepared food niche McDonalds has recently announced that they will utilize what they have learned around the world with fresh prepared better for you food products and incorporate those lessons into new limited time menu offerings (LTO’s) in the United States. 

There is not a food company in the market place that vertically integrates Foodservice Solutions 5P’s of food marketing: Product, Packaging, Placement, Portability and Price better than McDonalds.  The price, value, service equilibrium is resetting and McDonalds will utilize LTO’s to drive a better for you freshness messaging to consumers edifying the brand while reinforcing consumer relevance.

Variety is one thing that is overflowing in McDonalds marketing tool kit repository.  Two of the first LTO’s in the United States this spring and summer will be a blueberry banana nut oatmeal and an iced drink called Cherry Berry Chiller. Don’t think that’s all that’s up there sleeve.

Here is a sample of what is currently offered somewhere in the world from McDonalds. In Germany you can find cold beer in most McDonalds. Canada, has a lobster dinner with the McLobster lobster roll. In Norway, they have the McLaks, a sandwich made of grilled salmon and dill sauce. In Hong Kong,  Rice Burgers, where the burgers are in between, not burger buns, but two patties of glutinous rice.

Long ago McDonalds abandoned brand protectionism for global success.  When it comes to creating menu magic don’t think McDonalds can’t get fresh with its menu.  The United States is a melting pot and McDonalds has a pot brewing with menu magic written all over it.

Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a grocerant program assessment, brand, product placement or positioning assistance.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant.

Fresh prepared ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat food is booming.

Are you interested in entering the fastest growing retail food niche?  McDonalds, Burger King excel at ready-2-eat bundled meals.  Whole Foods reported great numbers driven by both fresh ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat prepared food.  P.F. Chang’s sold 100M in heat-N-eat meal kits within the retail sector during its very first year at retail.  The retail landscape is dynamic not static.  Are your food products  positioned for ongoing success?  If so you must be in the grocerant niche.

Fresh prepared meals and meal components simply make consumers life simpler.  With 50% of Americans over the age of 18 single the opportunity in this sector is great and growing.  A new report from Canadean (canadean.com) provides a clear view of market segmentation and key drivers to garner influence with each segment.  Here is a sample of the highlights:

1. Private labels record the highest penetration in the Meal Kit’s product category, which is also the least valuable in the Prepared Meals market currently.
2. Approximately 40% of the value of the US Prepared Meals market is accounted for by consumers in the Time Rich busy lives group. 
3. Older Consumers have a 23% share of the total Prepared Meals market in US. This is a direct result of their sheer numbers, with the age group accounting for 25% of the total population. Slightly below average consumption by this age group indicates that it still had potential to grow.  

Time starved consumer that are single (50% of the population over the age of 18)continue looking for options within the ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat fresh and prepared food niche. Are you moving your brand from frozen to fresh?  Are you prepared to move your fresh product into non-traditional channels?

Outside eyes can deliver top line sales and bottom line profits.  Invite Foodservice Solutions® to complete a grocerant program assessment, brand, product placement or positioning assistance.  Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant

5 Reasons Darden should buy P.F. Chang’s.

Darden has spent much of the past five years building and edifying a portfolio of brands that can help it remain the largest full-service restaurant brand in the United Sates.  While the economy and the consumer struggle and are moving on respectively. Darden finds itself with two brand niche leaders and five regional brands each with synergies yet no chopsticks.   Here are my 5 reasons Darden should buy P.F. Chang’s:

  

1. Authenticity, Darden brands strive to have authentic identity and a true consistent brand message.  They are and so is P.F. Chang’s.
2. Complementary Leadership styles, both teams proven, both with outstanding education and hands on proven ability.
3. Small Store format, P.F. Chang’s has a growing small quick service format that could be a template for other Darden legacy brands.
4. $300 Million supply chain, Darden farm to fork seafood supply chain would have an additional avenue of product distribution with and edifying home office in Malaysia, authenticity built in.
5. $100 Million retail product line, P.F. Chang’s product launch last year into retail grossed $100M the first year.  That knowledge skill set could well be worth its weight in gold too Darden.

 Darden's existing portfolio of brands include: Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52 and Eddie V’s.  P.F.Chang’s is a brand niche leader and would fit well into the Darden portfolio.  The opportunity to mix and match branded concepts while selling global regional development agreements can only be enhanced with the inclusion of P.F. Chang’s.  Most important P.F. Chang’s has CHOPSTICKS!

Steven Johnson is Grocerant Guru at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions, with extensive experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert and public speaking. Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant

The frozen “Food Court” extending restaurants brand.

If success leaves clues and listening is a key to success then we all need to listen when grocery store category managers refer to the freezer aisle turning into the new restaurant "frozen food court".

Channel blurring only exists in the blind eye of Neanderthal restaurant chain brand managers. Today restaurant brand managers must understand their brand and their customers. If they do they can integrate marketing plans that complement their consumer’s food consumptions footprint while positioning the brand in multiple channels of distribution.

Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Safeway each has incorporated a "frozen food court" in the frozen food aisle. Utilizing both national and regional restaurant branded food. Boston Market, TGI Friday's, PF Chang's, California Pizza Kitchen,  Burger King are the most-thorough players with complete or nearly-complete programs at retail. But many restaurants are either looking at leveraging their brands or are jumping in feet first, including Romano's Macaroni Grill, El Pollo Loco, Captain D's, O'Charley's, while others are like Darden trying it by just dipping their toes in. The grocery store and the restaurant brand all garner additional top line revenue and bottom line profits leveraging branded products.

Repeated evidence shows that the distinction in differentiation is a value of the brand. Leveraging that value within additional retail segments is simply contemporary consumer relevance. Is your brand relevant? Restaurant consumers are dynamic not static, leveraging new channels of distribution works wonders.

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a brand leveraging 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.