The past few months have been a whirlwind of ups and downs for CPG brands as the COVID-19 crisis presents new challenges and opportunities. From manufacturing and processing plant contagion to panic buying and empty shelves, CPG brands are under pressure and as part of the food supply chain, that pressure isn’t going to let […]
Short-Term Strategies for CPG Brands Amidst COVID-19 Read More »
The foodservice industry has not lived through a global crisis of such magnitude since World War II. Arguably even the greatest wars have not matched the impact of COVID-19 on the foodservice industry. Built on strong social values of sharing time together, during other kinds of crises the foodservice industry has offered a meaningful way
Strategies for Foodservice Brands Amidst COVID-19 Read More »
COVID-19 has accelerated what was starting off to be a shaky start to the new year with trade conflicts leading to fuel wars, as one example. Our “new normal” means social distancing, washing our hands more in one week than we did through all of 2019, working remotely, worried about whether it’s safe to buy
2020: The Lost Year Read More »
In spite of new agreements such as CUSMA (the new NAFTA) and the China – US managed trade pact, trade wars can be expected to continue as long as protectionism remains a global trend. For foodservice operators, this presents a destabilizing pressure as food costs and availability fluctuates, in some cases wildly. Consider the proposed tariff on
What Rising Food Costs Mean for Foodservice Brands Read More »
To answer the headline: yes – but not as much as you may think. Arguably, food and experience are weighted equally in many cases. This is attributed to a number of factors such as a growing demand for unique experiences, increased popularity of story-driven eatertainment, and higher standards in quality of service. Experiential 75 percent of
Does the Food Really Matter? Read More »
You’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t. That’s the overwhelming response when you ask foodservice operators about third-party food delivery apps like UberEats, Skip the Dishes and Foodora. Such services say they are opening the door to new customers – but this isn’t what restauranteurs are seeing on the ground. The increase in ordering through
Should Foodservice Embrace Third-Party Delivery? Read More »
With Amazon Go’s “just walk out” grocery store finally up and running as of January 2018, everyone in the supermarket industry from cashiers to CEOs are watching with bated breath. Is Amazon intending to implement throughout the Whole Foods network? Will other grocers adopt the same strategy? Will governments start taxing and regulating automation with rollouts
Will Your Customers Love or Hate Automation in 2025? Read More »
A trend that is bubbling up in neighborhoods across the continent is the resurgence of the corner store, that’s more than just a place to buy milk. There are community hubs that double as meeting spots. There are delis and bodegas that boast daily line-ups for their legendary sandwiches. And there are urban reinventions of
Hot Trend: The Corner Store as a Destination Read More »
A trend in package design that has managed to persist and become more of a direction than a fad is the use of vintage or retro cues to denote a more artisanal and higher-quality product. Even your average grocery store stocks crackers, chips, and ice cream packaged with a clear look back in time through
Is a Retro Package Design Right for Your Product? Read More »
Big brand grocery stores dominate the Canadian and US marketplace. From Trader Joe’s to Loblaws to Costco, whether you want cheap groceries or specialty items, the grocery wars are being waged with all guns blazing: private label programs, new interior design that mimics marketplaces, and deals, deals, deals. It seems as though there might not be room left for a
6 Ways Local Grocers can Beat Big Brands and Thrive Read More »
The convenience of Amazon Go – a completely automated shopping experience, free of cashiers, queues, and check-out counters – hasn’t quite materialized as quickly as promised. When the retail giant first announced its ambitious concept, it promised to bring the idea to the public by early 2017, but so far the project seems to be floundering. While
How Retailers Will Compete with Amazon Go Read More »
Traditionally, food from convenience stores often focuses on packaged snacks, and hot food offerings may be perceived to be of dubious quality. Yet according to research from Nation’s Restaurant News, convenience store food quality is improving, shifting consumer perceptions and becoming a threat to fast food restaurants. However, if a fast food restaurant has moved in
Are Convenience Stores Becoming the New Quick-Service Restaurants? Read More »
The goal of any restaurant operator is to drive repeat visits. Loyal customers tend to drive better margins and greater sales (while also providing some predictability to same-store sales) and cost less to market to than new customers. When considering brand loyalty for food service operators, fostering a sense of belonging is crucial to creating
Brand Loyalty in Foodservice: How to Create a Sense of Place Read More »
If you are in the food service industry and rely on your locations to drive your business, curb appeal and visibility are key. Operators such as Dairy Queen, Boston Pizza, Second Cup and Tim Hortons all understand that exterior signing is their most effective marketing vehicle, working 24/7 to grab the attention of customers and
Creating the right first impression through signing Read More »
Categories in today’s market are becoming less defined, as foodservice blends with grocery and retail and cafes offer added value within banks, bookstores, and gyms. Customers are looking for choice, custom experiences, convenience, multi-functionality, and less cultural rigidity. All-day breakfast is becoming a popular restaurant offering, the demand for gender-neutral clothing is increasing, and hybrid
Keep Your Restaurant Relevant With These Hybrid Design Tips Read More »
The food service category is in transition and many new restaurant concepts are emerging. Many established restaurants are struggling in this evolving market. Refreshing your restaurant’s brand ensures future relevance. Now is the ideal time to start the process. Business may be decreasing because of more competition or not meeting customers’ changing needs as effectively
Five Steps to Refresh Your Restaurant Experience Read More »
It seems nowadays everyone is a foodie – with the hashtag “foodie” being used over 244 million times on Instagram. It’s not a surprise that restaurants are feeling the pressure to attract more of a foodie generation to their facilities. How do you begin to legitimize your restaurant as a “foodie” establishment in the eyes
How to Better Appeal to “Foodie” Millennials Read More »
When you are embarking on any kind of change for your foodservice brand, regardless of the degree, it is critical to get a good understanding of where your brand fits into the industry landscape. One of the most recognized tools to create this view is the SWOT analysis. However, we often get asked questions about
[Worksheet] Foodservice SWOT Analysis 101 Read More »
Vancouver is well-known for its West Coast beaches, surrounding mountains, tall trees, and hiking trails, but it also has an interesting restaurant scene influenced by its international population and active culture. Fusion-style dishes provide unique options, farm-to-table, local, and better-for-you movements have spread throughout the city, and themed pubs add personality to dining experiences. Below
Unique Restaurants in Vancouver: Inspiration for Foodservice Brands Read More »
Rebranding is often a messy process, but when it comes to rebranding an entire franchise, it can get downright adversarial. The relationship between franchisees and franchisors can often become strained as franchisors want to update their brands quickly and broadly, while franchisees can feel frustrated and resentful when they don’t understand the reasoning behind high-level
How to Rebrand Without Alienating Your Franchisees Read More »
