Ready-2-Eat Non-Traditional Food Retailers customers are Happy.

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Looking for a fresh prepared frozen yogurt, try Costco.  You can get yogurt in chocolate, vanilla or a swirled combo with both chocolate and vanilla at Costco.  Fresh prepared Pizza whole or by the slice and Costco’s ready-2-eat Chicken Bake garner loyal customers with prices that drive local QSR’s to wonder how they do it?
Volume speaks success and Costco's director of operations for the food court and bakery, Bob Collins recently stated “the company expects to sell more than 300 million hot dogs, pizzas, and other items at its food courts this year. Despite the low prices, it sees a "modest profit" from food court sales.” Costco’s food courts sell a billion dollars in fresh prepared food.  Do you?
Ikea's  a Swedish home furniture retailer is selling Swedish ready-2-eat meatballs and smoked salmon at its cafeteria, as well as hot dogs and frozen yogurt at its to-go food counter European flavors add a level of mystique and foodie adventurism. Ikea sells lots of ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat food.
Non-traditional retailers are finding success selling ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat fresh and prepared food all contributing to the success of the booming grocerant niche. Is your product or brand ready for a non-traditional outlet? 
Outside eyes can deliver top line sales and bottom line profits.  Invite Foodservice Solutions® to provide brand and product positioning assistance or a grocerant program assessment. Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant 

Fast Food Two Tier Pricing Evolving Elevating Food Brands Globally.

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Fast Food restaurants are stillaspirational for many consumers around the globe.  Economic upheaval continues to linger withemployment instability in most developed countries.  All the while in developing countries showingsigns of growth or stability like Brazil, China, Africa a stable or growingeconomy has powered lower-level economic groups to the “new middle.”
Fast food branded restaurantsare leveraging Two Tier Pricing to first garner trial and secondly build brandloyalty.  They offer entry level brandedproducts like McDonalds dollar menu that allow existing customers trial andexisting customers trade up either with LTO’s or specials on branded menuitems.
The Euromonitorput it this way.  “Fast food is changing,and not just in the category's dominant US market. Amidst fierce competition,fast food brands have been forced to differentiate themselves with broadermenus, better food and higher-end outlet designs. In developed markets this hasled to the popularity of the fast casual segment, but in emerging markets (mostof which show a strong preference for full-service dining) it has helped fastfood gain traction as a modern, lower-cost alternative to more traditionalfoodservice formats …
The brandingopportunities inherent in the fast food business model have also allowed thesechains to appeal to developing market consumers' taste for exciting new diningexperiences. South Africa-based chicken fast food brand Nando's, for example,has relied on strong branding, exciting flavours and a unique dining experienceto set it apart from other chicken fast food chains, a fact that helped itachieve 19% value growth in 2011. Similarly, UK bakery products fast foodbrands EAT and Pret a Manger have both found success with a positioning ofconvenient, high-quality food, a modern atmosphere and quick service.
A focus on fresh,high-end ingredients, especially, has helped the brands compete with moretraditional fast food concepts, and this kind of above-and-beyond competitivepositioning will continue to integral to the success of any new fast foodconcept….
The universalcommonalities in reay-2-eat and heat-N-eat fresh prepared food are fuelingretail success around the globe.  Is yourcompany building two restaurants a day in 2012 like 7 Eleven is?  Why not?

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

Ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat Pizza Innovation will drive day-part sales.

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Papa Murphy’s, Noble Romans, or No Name Take N Bake success leavesclues and consumer love Take-N-Bake pizza. The Take-N-Bake pizza niche continues to growth in top line sales,bottom line profits and new units, garnering market share from traditionalpizza chains and frozen food retailers.
In an August 2012 Packaged Facts survey found that “97% of U.S. adultseat pizza, and 93% have gotten food from a pizza restaurant in the past 12months. On a monthly basis, 27% get pizza through restaurant delivery/pickup(which translates to about 410 million pizzas a year), 26% through restaurantdine-in, and 24% from the frozen food cases.” Pizza is hand held food for every one and growing in every day-part.

Pizza at U.S. restaurants will have sales up 3.8% in 2012 over 2011levels.  That is twice as high as thesame store sales increased expected year over year by Technomic for the entirerestaurant sector.  Total pizza salesshould hit $40 Billion in the U.S. this year with 36.1 billion in restaurantand fresh ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat prepared pizza.
The study foundpizza menu trends revealed new cuisine-driven innovative growth underway. Thegrowth is focused on better for you pizza including “fusion cuisine, leanerproteins, and a larger variety of vegetables, exotic natural cheeses andflavorful new sauces experimentation.” 
Pizza success isbased on its hand held attributes, customization and familypersonalization.  The growth inTake-N-Bake pizza sector leverages consumers changing dinning preferences withthe 5 P’s of food marketing. For more on how to integrate the 5 P’s of foodmarking into your products or food brand contact Steven Johnson, Grocerant Guruat Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions® at:grocerant@q.com
For internationalcorporate presentations, educational forums, or keynotes contact: StevenJohnson Grocerant Guru at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions.  His extensive experience as a multi-unitrestaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert and publicspeaking will leave success clues for all. Facebook.com/StevenJohnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant

Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner Fresh Food Drives Pueblo Grocery Stores Success

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Pueblo’s grocerantprepared food is perfectly positioned. Clean well stocked stores that arebeaming with patrons always are solid platforms for success.  Pueblo is no exception. If your eyes on thegrocerant prepared food niche, Pueblo is one company that should be on your mustvisit list. Professionallypresented with clean, restaurant quality food presentation skill set, Puebloclearly understands the positive halo affect a solid grocerant preparedready-to-eat and ready-to-heat food program can have on the entire brand.
Time starved withdiverse appetites after years of exposure to multi-cultural flavors profilestoday’s consumer want prepared meal components that can be individualized notjust family sized.  Pueblo’s preparedfood program does just that.  Withdetailed attention to service, cleanliness and food quality its clear Pueblo isfocused on growing this booming niche within foodservice retail.
For internationalcorporate presentations, educational forums, or keynotes contact: StevenJohnson Grocerant Guru at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions.  His extensive experience as a multi-unitrestaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert and publicspeaking will leave success clues for all. Facebook.com/StevenJohnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant

Cooking at Home NOT. The New Normal is Meal Assembly.

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What’s for dinner?  If your cooking for an at home family mealfor two, three, or four, family members, chances are very good your buyingseveral ready-2-eat or heat-N-eat fresh prepared meal components.    Grocery stores, convenience stores andrestaurants are all bundling fresh prepared meal components for the homecook.  The home cook is responding buyingindividualized components.
Foodservice branded and private labelfood manufactures are all vying for your attention. Ready-2-eat and heat-N-eatfoods from Swiss steak, Meatloaf, Baked Salmon, Rotisserie Chicken, Pizza andLasagna fresh prepared, portioned and portable in portions for 1, 2, or 5 areall available at most foodservice retail location.
Most exciting is the opportunity fornew start-up’s and regional manufactures to produce sustainable business builton local, fresh and unique flavor profiles. Legacy national brand manufactures are experiencing an increase inrepositioning, consolidation and acquisition activities.  Regional start-ups are thriving supplyinglocal restaurants, C-stores and grocery store delis.
Consumer are responding buying mealcomponents in new food channels, experiencing new flavor profiles all the whileindividualizing the family meal.  Thefoodservice industry is evolving with the consumer.  Those companies looking for opportunity forgrowth times have never been better. The consumer is dynamic not static are youkeeping pace?
Foodservice Solutions®specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify,quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a brandleveraging integration strategy.  Foodservice Solutions of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit Facebook.com/StevenJohnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant. 

Dora the Explorer: Where is Boots? Interactive Storybook App

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The first hide-and-seek interactive storybook app for kids 3-7 years old, Dora the Explorer: Where is Boots? brings the classic lift-the-flap book into the digital age with slidable buttons that uncover clues, animations that respond to touch, and gestures to reveal hidden objects.



Children are encouraged to read along with Dora as she narrates the highlighted text on each page, strengthening children’s word identification and sounds.


With the two added mini games (decorate scenes with animated stickers and Boots’ banana catching game), the app can be enjoyed by kids 3-8 years old.

Dora: Where is Boots? is currently available starting at $1.99 via the iTunes App Store. For more information visit website: http://www.budgestudios.ca

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Posted in: Apps

Pizza Mummies FRANKENWEENIE Inspired Recipe for Halloween

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Having a kids party for Halloween and need a healthy but scary snack? Try these dressed-up, spooky-looking Pizza Mummies which are inspired by the upcoming FRANKENWEENIE movie.


Not only are these tasty scary treats but kids can join the fun by helping spooning the pizza sauce on the English muffin and making the mummy face with the cheese and vegetables.

What you'll need

English muffins
Pizza sauce
Black olives
Scallions
Red or green pepper
Cheese sticks or slices

How to make it

• Heat the oven to 350º F. For each mummy, spread a tablespoon of pizza sauce onto half of an English muffin (toast it first, if you like).

• Set olive slices in place for eyes and add round slices of green onion or bits of red or green pepper for pupils.

• Lay strips of cheese (we used a pulled-apart cheese stick) across the muffin for the mummy?s wrappings.

• Bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the muffin is toasty.

About Movie

FRANKENWEENIE arrives in theatres everywhere on October 5

From creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes “Frankenweenie,” a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.

A stop-motion animated film, “Frankenweenie” was filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D, which elevates the classic style to a whole new experience.

Voice Cast includes: Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell and Winona Ryder

To learn more about the movie visit: www.disney.com/frankenweenie

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FrankenweenieMovie

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DisneyPictures

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Posted in: Disney, Food, Recipe

Dunkin' Donuts $50 mGift Card Giveaway for National Coffee Day #DunkinNCD

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If you follow my tweets on twitter, then you know I'm always tweeting about starting the day with coffee. There's nothing like a cup of coffee in the morning. It wakes you up and soothes so you can start the day. In recognition of the power and love of coffee tomorrow is National Coffee Day and Dunkin’ Donuts is celebrating in a few different ways

• New Pumpkin Mocha and Pumpkin White Chocolate coffee and lattes. Available hot or iced, these two new, innovative flavors are available for a limited time at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide.

• Dunkin’ Donuts’ 16-ounce packaged coffee is available for only $5.99. For two days only, September 29 and 30, bring home America’s Favorite Coffee at a discounted price.

• Dunkin’ Donuts biggest Twitter sweeps ever. Beginning Friday and continuing through Sunday, fans can share with @DunkinDonuts on Twitter “How do you take your Dunkin’ coffee?,” using the special hashtag #DunkinNCD. Five hundred and ninety-nine (599) winners will receive a 16 oz. bag of Dunkin’ Donuts’ packaged coffee.

But wait coffee lovers! Before you run out and stockup make sure you download the new Dunkin’ Donuts App (iPhone, iPod touch and iPad )! That's right there's a Dunkin’ Donuts App!

Personally, as techie person I think that's a great idea. Now paying for food and beverages at Dunkin’ Donuts (throughout the U.S.) is now simple and speedy. Just scan your smartphone using a mobile Dunkin' Donuts Card in-store or at the drive-thru and done!

How cool is it that with the App’s mGift feature, Dunkin’ Donuts becomes the first national coffee retailer to enable people to send virtual gift cards three ways – text, email, and Facebook Connect.

To help you celebrate National Coffee Day tomorrow September 29, here's a short and sweet giveaway for a $50 Dunkin’ Donuts mGift Card!

WIN The Mommy Factor giveaway!

WAYS TO ENTER:

For this giveaway I'm using the Rafflecopter form which is super easy! Go on and enter to win! Entries must be made on or before 11:59 p.m. October 1, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Please Note: I will also received a Dunkin' Donuts mGift Card. No other compensation was received. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

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Posted in: Apps, Food, Giveaway

Gain "Laundry Basket" Craft Project for National Keep Kids Creative Week #KeepKidsCreative

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Recently I received a package from Gain Laundry with a fun "laundry" project for me and my son.


The project is part of Gain's aim to bring awareness that this week is "National Keep Kids Creative Week". The Gain brand feels it's important to inspire and support creative in kids (and I suspect adults), so they invited a few moms to do a project with their kids that shows how doing laundry can be fun.

Do a fun project with my kid while teaching him how to do laundry? Of course I said yes! My son is four years old but I'm a believer that it's never too early to start training them to do housework. If done right there's a lot of fun putting dirty laundry into the hamper. Especially if it's a hamper your child has decorated and personalized themselves.

So what's in my package? Our project hamper came filled with all sorts of cool things like constructions paper, stickers, colored plastic tape, markers and of course Gain laundry products so we can get clean clothes when our project is finished.

Right now we're still in the middle of working on our hamper but it will be done this weekend so stay tuned for the "reveal" and laundry fun times! Until then check out Gain Facebook page for ideas to create a unique laundry basket so you're family can join in.

Please Note: I'm being compensated by Gain for sharing about Nat Keep Kids Creative Week and participating in "Laundry Basket" Craft Project. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

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Posted in: Home, Spon

How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular VIP Experience & Tech Talk Review #DragonsLive

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As I recently posted the How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular is now playing at the Izod Center. Guess who received tickets to see the show?!


Not only did I get show tickets but i was also invite to check out the one of the VIP Experience before the show. Since I loved the movie, I was beyond excited to see how it would be adapted to live on stage. So I took my son, my niece and one of my sisters with me to see the show.



We easily took the bus from Port Authority to the Izod center and was there very quickly. Then we checked into the VIP Entrance and received our VIP badge. It's it pretty? Then we settled in and waited to start our VIP Experience: A Hero's Welcome. We didn't have to wait long.



We were able to dressed in Viking costumes for the VIP photo experience. The kids were dressed in viking books and outfits.



Then it was the adults turn to dress up. Don't we make pretty female vikings? Yes I know we're suppose to be scary but it's hard to do when your having fun. As the adults got dressed, the kids put the finishing touches on their outfits. Viking Hats!

After getting dress we went to the weapons table and armed ourselves from a collection of swords, shield and other viking weapons. Then photo fun began. I'll spare you the details but as you can see from the top photo we made a great group of viking warriors.

After out photo we were suppose to meet Hiccup and Astrid but it was nearly time for the show to start. So they had to leave and we had to hurry back into the arena.


We quickly found our seats and waited for the show to start with all the dragon action. It didn't take long




The Dragons came out quickly and they were amazing to see. They're so real looking with amazing detailing. Then they started to move around the stage, show their personalities and one dragon even blew smoke rings. As if that wasn't amazing enough then the flying started.


I was blown away during one scene where both the dragon and actor did a drop down stunt against an amazing visual display screen. It will have you gasping in your seat!



But that's not the only gasping moment during the show. The final big battle scene was brilliant done. I have to warn you that this dragon is HUGE and very life like but so worth seeing. I don't want to spoil it for you by telling you everything but I can honestly say it's unbelievably spectacular due to the combination of live action and visuals from the background screen. Really it's THAT good.



After being amazed by the live show, we ended our VIP Experience at Dragons 101, a post-show "tech-talk" with a Dragon expert who explained the technical magic behind the show. We learned how they put together the show, the different type of Dragons they use in the performs including shadow dragons (he demonstrated) and how the Izod Center was setup so different things can happen. For example there's a special rig above the stage used to help the Dragons and actors fly.



Then we learned how the trick about how one of the Dragons made smoke. First it was explained what types of props are inside the dragon costumes. One of the Dragons have a drum like device that is used to perform the smoke trick. Then he demoed how the trick works. This part was super fun and I'm glad I caught it on the below video!


There was LOTS of fun and amazing things to learn about how they set up and perform the show so if you're in the New York Metro Area, I encourage you to see the show this weekend at the Izod Center. I know you'll enjoy it and right now you can get tickets starting at $19.50!

A limited number of premium seats and special VIP ticket experiences and family packages are also available. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets, for showtimes and much more.

Visit the website for more information and video previews at http://dreamworksdragonslive.com

Please Note: I was invited as media and received tickets for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. Views expressed are always 100% my own.
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Posted in: Event, Review

Who Cooks from Scratch?

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Ready-2-eat and heat-N-eat fresh prepared food is blurring the line between restaurants and grocery stores. I call these fresh prepared products Grocerant niche food.  It is targeted at the time-starved consumers, not with ingredients to make from scratch rather with ready-2-eat or heat-N-eat meal components that can be bundled into a meal.Just think about how you shop for most meal preparation needs. You might buy a rotisserie chicken, pick out something from a salad bar and maybe an appetizer at the deli service case. Those are components vs. buying uncooked chicken, a head of lettuce and then having to clean, cut, season and then season and spend time cooking.Foodservice Solution® and defines the niche this way "Grocerant means any retail food item that is ready-2-eat or heat-N-eat prepared fresh. Currently these items can be found in grocery stores in the deli / lifestyle section, Convenience stores in the prepared food area and prepackaged, ready-2-eat items and in restaurants under the To-go, takeout or take away or delivery section of the menu or on the website and now at Chain Drug Stores Walgreens and Duane Reade."What is Driving the Grocerant TrendIts 4 PM: your customers are just beginning to think about what's for dinner. 81% of American consumers are unsure about what's for dinner. Time Starved Consumers are looking for high quality ready to eat foods and ready to heat meals. Today's time starved consumers want to purchase meal components, that they can bundle into a customized family meal that will please everyone without spending time cooking. Outside eyes can deliver top line sales and bottom line profits.  Invite Foodservice Solutions® to provide brand and product positioning assistance or a grocerant program assessment. Since 1991 Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant 

Wawa Fresh Food Fast and getting closer to Fast Casual To-Go

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Always focusing on thecustomer Wawa continues its vision of “fast casual to go”.  Steve Gamble manager of marketing servicesfor Wawa when speaking about the market test of ADFLOW digital signage programstated “The feedback from customers and store associates was extremely positiveafter our initial rollout”. 
The ADFLOW digitalsignage program edifies Wawa’s ability to position all foodservice offeringswith a fresh and appetizing new look. With over 600 units the addition of digital signage strengthens Wawa’sfresh food offerings adding additional contemporize relevance.
Wawa’s CEO Howard Stoeckelfocus on food and freshly prepared to drive sales and help reposition thecompany for additional growth believes  the ADFLOW system willhelp  stating "Our new digitalsignage showcases our offer in a much more upscale, appealing way and moves uscloser to our vision of fast casual to go," ...
One the Wawa’s customersfavorite LTO’s is currently being offered. It’s the Hot Turkey Bowl with Mashed Potatoes and Stuffing with only 680calories there is no wonder that consumers like Wawa’s Fresh Food Fast. Ibelieve that Wawa is one step closer to fitting into the Fast CasualNiche.  Success does leave clues and Wawahas picked up many and is moving forward. Wawa is my success clue of the week!
For internationalcorporate presentations, educational forums, or keynotes contact: StevenJohnson Grocerant Guru at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions.  His extensive experience as a multi-unitrestaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert and publicspeaking will leave success clues for all. Facebook.com/StevenJohnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant

Retail Food Sales Success Examples of Grocerants

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Restaurant examples are McDonalds, PretA Manger Burger King, Pizza Hut, Papa Murphy's and Starbucks, each having a freshready-2-eat or heat-N-eat food menu. You may not think of Walgreens as a fooddestination yet Walgreens sells fresh soft-serve yogurt, coffee and sushi atselected stores, so they are technically grocerants. In the Casual Diningsector Maggiano's Little Italy offers a buy one take a 2^nd home forfree in their Classic Pastas menu section.Convenience Store examples are 7 Eleven, Wawa,Sheetz and QuickChek, all of which sell fresh and prepared sandwiches, salads,beverages.Supermarket examples are Whole Foods, Central Market,Safeway and Kroger… all sell fresh prepared chicken, salads, sandwiches andmost offer sushi and beverages.Drug Storeexamples are Walgreen and Duane Reade both offer in both New York and ChicagoSushi, Smoothie, Wine, Coffee, and Fro-yo Bars then there are the 455+CafeW’s severing baked goods and beverages. The retail supermarket and convenience store sector haveunique grocerant challenges. Presentation of the ready-2-eat or heat-N-eatfresh food is important. When you get a meal at a restaurant, the plate and thefood look great… let's call this "food for now". Retailers are primarilyselling "food for later" or take-out and unless an item is asandwich, the looks of ready-2-eat meals and snacks begin to change.Why is it so hard to package food to go? In the Hot foodsection of the grocery store the food in most cases does not look appealing soour expectations drop when we get it for Take-Away. In convenience stores likeWawa, the ready to eat food looks great in the to-go containers. Why? BecauseWawa puts the entire package together. They exert more control on the look andfeel of "food for later".Around the world we are now seeing sections indepartment's stores and kiosk in malls in Europe and Asia and airports aroundthe world. The items can range from entrees to side items and deserts. Someexamples of items range from fried chicken, mash potatoes, cream spinach, toliver and onions, pizza, hot dogs, steak, prime rib, various casseroles(hot-dish) to salads, side salads pie, cake and any single proportioneddeserts. They can be picked up at the specific unit, or delivered.In summary, a Grocerant is a result of the blurring ofthe line between restaurants and grocery stores aimed at the time-starvedconsumer with ready-2-eat or heat-N-eat food components that can be bundledinto a meal. With new non-traditional points of distribution and retail foodcompetition opening daily food retail is evolving fast. Outside eyes can deliver top line sales and bottomline profits.  InviteFoodservice Solutions® to provide brand and product positioning assistance or agrocerant program assessment. Since 1991 FoodserviceSolutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the global leader in the Grocerant niche formore on Steven A. Johnson and Foodservice Solutions® visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant 

Restaurant Innovation Be Dammed Lets Copy!

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Today differentiation does notreally mean different it means familiar.

Corporate marketerswith legacy restaurant chains strive to keep up with their competitors. Whenthey fall behind (lose market share) in days gone by they would lose their job!Not in today’s world, they simply copy what the industry niche sector leader isdoing, quieting disgruntled franchises or shareholders.
When this occurssuccess is based on points of distribution and product price, rather thancreating incremental brand value. Everyone loses; stakeholders, shareholders,franchisees most importantly consumers.
Managementcomplacency and mediocrity seem to be today’s status quo rather than consumersfocused driven brand teams.   Life issimple for chain C-level executives, don’t risk innovation, follow the leader,and maintain niche equilibrium and the stock options and paychecks keep rollingin.  The loser may not just be theconsumer from lack of true innovation, brand values drop, consumer brand apathyincreases, and market share capitulation is a direct result.
In realitydifferentiation becomes product price and points of distribution ratherinnovative new products, or service.  Then price and location become more important value than the brand.   When looking from the consumers perspectivethere is very little overall difference between TGI Fridays, Houlihan's,Bennigan’s or between McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King.  Within the Pizza sector,  a similar set of problems from the consumerperspective exist between Pizza Hut, Dominos; Papa John’s Godfathers they allhaving the same number one selling pizza pepperoni.            Legacy brandscapitulate market share as an unintended consequence controlling the brandwithin the four walls and executive compliancy. More and more consistent niche equilibrium can be the seductress ofcompliancy and mediocrity for CEO’s & COO’s of major restaurant chainstoday.  When C-level officers and brandmarketers are more focused on the controlling brand; staying within their nicheand within their four walls rather than paying attention to the consumer, aloss of market share is sure to follow.  Innovationmust continue in-order to maintain consumer relevance.
For international corporatepresentations, educational forums, or keynotes contact: Steven JohnsonGrocerant Guru at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions.  His extensive experience as a multi-unitrestaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert and publicspeaking will leave success clues for all. Facebook.com/StevenJohnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant

Is Walgreens What’s for Dinner at 4PM?

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Walgreens continues to expand the depth anddirection of the Grocerant niche.  The grocerant niche is a resultof the blurring of the line between restaurants, grocery stores, conveniencestores, and drug stores all selling fresh prepared, portable convenient mealsolutions.  Targeted at the time-starvedconsumer with Ready-2-Eat or Heat-N-Eat fresh prepared food components that are“better for you”, portable and portioned for one or two. Walgreens gets it andis positioning for a much larger share of the food retailing dollar.  At 4PM you may soon be picking up dinner onyour way home from work at Walgreens.

In a pilot programrolled out in the San Francisco bay area you can now find freshfruits and vegetables, salads, sushi ,sandwiches and Heat-N-Eat meat loaf. In addition Walgreens spokesman RobertElifinger stated “ Our San Francisco area customers are already buying a lot offood in our stores, and there are requests for more product offerings," hesaid.
In addition to the items listed above - andWalgreens' more traditional offerings, including candy, potato chips and soda -there'll be meats, wraps, soups "and other on-the-go meal options, as wellas convenient alternatives for tonight's meal," With this new market test underway, Walgreens isnow testing fresh food in New York via Duane-Reade, Chicago and the SanFrancisco bay area. For all of my regular readers you have heard it hear beforebut this trend is sweeping the country from coast to coast.  These expanded points of distribution may wellchallenge many a legacy fresh food retailer including chain restaurants,grocery stores and convenience stores for market share. Since 1991 retailfood consultancy Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma, WA has been the globalleader in the Grocerant niche for more on Steven A. Johnson and FoodserviceSolutions® Bing or Google Grocerants or visithttp://www.linkedin.com/in/grocerant, twitter.com/grocerant or Facebook Steven