Consumers Plan to Dine Out Less in 2014 for Health Reasons

New-York based consulting firm AlixPartners found that consumers will eat out less frequently in 2014 due to an increased concern in maintaining good health, not because of budget constraints, as had been the case since the recession. The North American Restaurant Consumer Sentiment Review by AlixPartners, a bi-annual survey, based their findings off of more than eighty restaurants and foodservice companies. The survey discovered that 60% of consumers claimed they want to eat more healthfully in the next year, a 10% increase from the first quarter. More than half of consumers ranked the availability of of healthy menu options as important when choosing where to eat.

A rise in health-conscious attitudes may be the top reason consumers plan to dine out less; however, their primary concern is food quality, then price and value. Restaurant owners will want to consider adding healthful options to their menus if they have not already done so.

Global Organic Food Market Boom

The organic food industry is expected to expand exponentially. Transparency Market Research (TMR), a market intelligence company, mentioned that a few key leaders in the industry include Hain Celestial Group Inc., Whole Foods Market Inc., The Kroger Co., Amy’s Kitchen and Organic Valley.

Now more than ever  Americans, especially, are concerned with health issues across the board including environmental safety, animal welfare and food quality. Increases in awareness about organic food benefits, worldwide organic farming, the number of retailers providing organic products and implementation of government regulations are attributed to the global organic food market expansion.

Pinkberry’s App Success

The launch of Pinkberry’s mobile loyalty app last month, the prime feature of Pinkberry’s Pinkcard loyalty program, has been a huge success. A third of all in-store transactions are completed via the iPhone app, and soon-to-be Android app. Scan-to-pay technology increases efficiency and speed while conforming to forward-thinking technology. The app also serves as an interactive device for users with a point system incentive. Customers receive a free yogurt upon earning ten points. Special occasions like birthdays and earning double points for select purchases are other incentives the Pinkcard system features.

Fast casual restaurants in particular should think about implementing mobile app incentive programs for their customers; it’s one of the easiest ways to increase sales.

RFP: Jamaica Workspace Opportunity

The NYCEDC is seeking proposals for a co-working space, business incubator or combination of the two in downtown Jamaica, Queens, preferably on or near Jamaica Avenue and/or Jamaica Station. The submission deadline is December 19, 2013 at 4pm.

NYCEDC will consider:

  • Co-working space for freelancers, entrepreneurs, small businesses and startups
  • Incubator programs for startups and small businesses in the fashion, technology, new media services, arts/cultural, culinary and other business sectors
  • A combination of the two

If interested, you may submit questions no later than 5pm on November 15, 2013 to JamaicaWorkspaceRFP@nycedc.com or call the Contracts Hotline at (212) 312-3969.

You can download the RFP after registering for free here or pick it up in-person between 9:30am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday from NYCEDC at:

110 William St, 4th floor Mailroom Bid Desk (btwn Fulton and John sts.)

Starbucks’ Record-High EPS

Starbucks’ Q4 report showed a 37% percent increase in earnings per share, and revenue rose 13% to $3.8 billion, according to a company press release.

“The fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 capped off by far the best year in Starbucks’ 42-year history,” claimed Howard Schultz, chairman, president and CEO of Starbucks Coffee Company. “Our results were driven by disciplined, ongoing efforts to elevate the value and relevance of the Starbucks brand, continued innovation and the success of our efforts to deepen our connection to customers and communities around the world.”

The already omnipresent coffee conglomerate plans to open an additional 1,500 stores and get EPS in the $2.55 to $2.65 range in 2014. Things are only looking up for the lucrative company; Teavana, recently acquired by Starbucks, will open one-thousand tea bars over the next decade. Starbucks’ subsidiary Evolution Fresh entered a partnership with Whole Foods Market which will allow the supermarket chain to sell Evolution Fresh juice and Evolution Harvest snack bars.

Starbucks’ expansion to the tea, juice and snack markets will almost guarantee a long future of continued revenue growth.

Modernist Food Photography: Wed 11/20

Adam Gopnik and Nathan Myhrvold of The New Yorker will share the techniques, science and stories behind the culinary-centric photos that compose Myhrvold’s latest project, “The Photography of Modernist Cuisine“. Discover how the lens transformed revolutionary cuisine into visual masterpieces.

When: Wed 11/20
Time: 2pm
Location: 92nd st Y (Lexington Ave at 92nd St)
Venue: Weill Art Gallery
Tickets: from $21

1 Knickerbocker Coming to Bushwick

1 Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick will welcome an eponymous bar and restaurant in mid-November. In the past, the building housed a dance hall, brothel and speakeasy. Owner Jesse Levitt and manager Aimee Arciuolo are working towards restoring 1 Knickerbocker’s interior to its “original decor.” Levitt and Arciuolo plan to serve American food and classic cocktails at the newest rendition of this Bushwick venue. According to PropertyShark, the building sold from one LLC to another in 2012 for $1,625,000. Brownstoner dubbed 1 Knickerbocker the “House of the Day” at one point.

Eater announced the restaurant is currently hiring all Front of House positions as of last week.

Panera Plans to Improve Speed

The St. Louis-based fast casual chain Panera Bread Co. is making changes to improve efficiencies since analysts reported that company comps remain weaker than expectated and below Panera’s historic track record. While same-store sales rose, most of the increase was attributed to higher prices and mix, not increased traffic.

Steps Panera plans to take include extending restaurant workers’ hours, streamlining its menu and upgrading equipment to prevent slow throughput. Panera added thirty-five hours of labor to each at $15 million per year.

Additionally, Panera plans to condense its bakery-café menu “to reduce the complexity and degree of difficulty of operating a high-volume Panera café,” detailed Shaich.

Speed is a primary factor in fast-casual restaurants’ success, especially in such a competitive environment. Co-founder and CEO Ron Shaich recognizes that “when potential customers walk in, see the line and decide to leave, sales growth potential is lost.”

McDonald’s Nixes Dollar Menu

In recent times, McDonald’s once very successful Dollar Menu has been hurting business. McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson explained the benefits of the new “Dollar Menu & More,” explaining that the menu “gives customers a value ladder of sorts, so that based upon their discretionary spending, they have multiple offers at McDonald’s.”

In conclusion, $1 items will remain, but the focus has shifted to $2 and $5 items. Many wonder why the “Dollar Menu & More” isn’t just called “the menu”.

Broadway Bites: Midtown Food Fair

On Monday, Urbanspace NYC opened Broadway Bites, a new street fair in Herald Square. Passersby can select from an array of goods from twenty-five vendors including Roberta’s pizza and Red Hook Lobster Pound’s lobster rolls. Even those with gluten-free and vegetarian needs can find something to quench their cravings.

People who work in the area now have the chance to lunch somewhere out of the ordinary, and Urbanspace press rep Rachel Van Dolsen claims it will be a great opportunity to “activate the space a little more.” Urbanspace also embraced the concept as a means of showcasing New York’s artisan food scene, especially considering the number of chains in Midtown.

When: 11am-9pm daily through 11/24/13

Where: 6th ave & 34th st