OMNIVORE
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Tag: Foodservice

POWER OF LOYALTY PROGRAMS

As consumers’ confidence levels rose and they started returning to restaurants just a few months ago, the Delta variant has raised questions of safety in their minds and fear in the hearts of foodservice operators that any forward progress has been short lived. Operators are challenged with the risk of losing customers again if mask mandates are universally imposed or customers are required to present vaccination cards before being seated. How have foodservice operators shifted their strategies since the onset of COVID-19 and how can they keep business sustainable through yet another potential turbulent situation?

Optimize Holiday Meal Kits

Time-constrained households often feel preparing meals from scratch is challenging to fit into their daily schedules. Add in the rush of the holiday season, and busy families find themselves turning to away-from-home solutions to bring nutritious meals to their tables, saving both time and trips to the supermarket.

OVERCOMING LABOR SHORTAGES

As COVID-related restrictions are being eased and Americans slowly return to work in a more normal capacity, the hospitality industry is still battling labor shortages with the unemployment rate remaining several percentage points higher than pre-pandemic levels, according to the Q2 2021 U.S. Job Market Report. As a manufacturer in the foodservice industry, how can you help your customers navigate through their labor shortages?

Corporate Dining Shifts Offsite

As a supplier, understanding the needs of your self-op B&I customers can help you tailor selling strategies to set them up for success. While many corporate buildings have removed or streamlined in-house dining services to incorporate more targeted venues – grab and go, self-service and order-ahead options – many tenants in these office buildings are also concerned with keeping their in-office and remote workers happy while adapting to their needs.

THE VALUE OF OPTIMISTIC EMPATHY

Abraham Lincoln famously stated “the dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.” No more apt words could describe the current state of both our country and our industry.

The New Relevance of Video

As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept over the globe, individuals and industries alike have been challenged with rapidly adopting new technology to enable effective distance communication. For foodservice sales reps, video can play an important role in building meaningful interactions with their operator customers when face-to-face communication is not possible.

BRAND & REPUTATION MANAGEMENT: FOODSERVICE PR

Many foodservice manufacturers utilize public relations efforts primarily to support new product launches — and often these efforts do not extend beyond writing and distributing press releases. However, without a sustained public relations strategy, today’s leading foodservice brands forfeit opportunities to promote their brand story meaningfully outside of paid or owned spaces.

DATA DRIVES LTO SUCCESS

While trending flavors or exceptional value will drive sales, the profitability of those sales is determined by commodity pricing, forecasting and supply chain data. When manufacturers pair this data with consumer trends to guide LTO ideation, they offer their operator customers a clear path forward.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMS DSR EXPECTATIONS

It’s no secret that broadline distributors hold an influential place in the foodservice industry. However, due to wealth of product knowledge and ability to place orders provided by distributor online portals, the role of the DSR has dramatically changed.

GS1 ESSENTIAL TO ECOMMERCE

As digital capabilities continue to permeate our industry, today’s foodservice manufacturer has more tools through which to reach, inform and attract customers. An often-overlooked manufacturer resource that informs the operator path to purchase is comprehensive and compelling GS1 data.