10 Food Terms that Have Lost Meaning

December 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Huffington Post compiled a list of food terms that have become void of meaning. This is in large part from commercial companies throwing around terms for marketing purposes without considering their actual meanings— like the word “natural” which has no formally recognized definition. It’s also because these adjectives have become omnipresent in general, so consumers have stopped questioning their significance. The list includes:

  1. Artisan/Artisanal
  2. Local
  3. Natural
  4. Farm-To-Table
  5. Authentic
  6. Gourmet
  7. New American
  8. Modern
  9. Fusion
  10. Sustainable
Filed Under: Global Market Buzz Tagged With: , ,

Chef John Besh’s Latest Venture: The BeshBox

November 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Acclaimed New Orleans born-and-bred Chef John Besh recently added one more concept to his ever-growing brand: The BeshBox. Subscribers can find everything from edible delicacies to kitchen tools to signature washcloths. In response to what triggered him to develop his newest project, Chef Besh claimed, “It’s all part of the same thing, trying to make people happy through food and making the world a better place. That’s my line, and I’m sticking to it.”

One BeshBox is priced at $55; three are $160 and six months are $330.

As for the benefits of The BeshBox, Besh reveals, “I always thought if it’s handled properly, it would be such an asset. It’s not just a small gift every month. It starts to stock pantries and spice racks, and you can have the recipe cards all together. This thing can, and will, continue to grow and evolve.”

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CHOBANI SOHO: RETAIL YOGURT ENTERPRISE

November 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

150 Prince Street between Thompson Street and West Broadway (SoHo) • 646.998.3800

Chobani

Chobani SoHo

Their Success…Chobani SoHo, currently the only Chobani outpost in the world, transforms a notoriously healthy yet mundane food (yogurt) into something delicious and accessible. Chobani SoHo’s philosophy, “yogurt was meant to be simple— just milk and cultures,” speaks volumes. This “simplicity” is present in the store’s design, menu format and food selection. Genuinely friendly and knowledgable staff operates Chobani, guiding customers through the menu and helping them select their ideal “creation.” Chobani employees take customer service one step further by having foresight and using customers’ questions as an opportunity to make optimal yogurt recommendations. Half portions cost $4 and full portions $5.50. Although yogurt and water are the only food and beverage items sold, Chobani is far from prosaic. The nine sweet and savory creations cater to customers of all preferences, whether they’re coming from the gym, work or school. Each “creation” features three-five additions which will satisfy almost anyone’s cravings. Limiting the number of choices a customer has to make creates a more welcoming environment.

Simplicity not only embodies Chobani’s food and philosophy, but also the ordering process. The staff to customer ratio is ideal, a clear assembly line leads to seamless and efficient order-placement, and the iPad POS Ambur results in quick and efficient payment transactions.

Take Aways…Any food, no matter how it’s currently perceived by the public, can be turned into something exciting. A few additions go a long way, in Chobani’s case.

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Four Ways to Optimize Online Presence

November 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment

FastCasual compiled a list of four ways to maximize your business’ online presence. These concepts are straightforward and include goals that every business, no matter how small, should aspire to. Gone are the days when the only visible online platform for a business was a company website. Aggregating information has never been faster or easier with the aid of online review guides and search engines. For this reason, it’s especially important to ensure your business’ information is accurate, prevalent and caters to your target market. These are the four ways to achieve an ideal online presence:

1) Be everywhere. Don’t just market yourself through your company website and social media platforms. Having a strong presence on third-party sites like Yelp will give your concept a sense of legitimacy and draw more businesses.

2) Centralize business listing updates. Services like Locu, recently acquired by GoDaddy, provide a simple solution to consolidating your business’ information, promoting consistency and accuracy, and sending this information to third-sites.

3) Improve your presence on third-party sites. Don’t just advertise the basics like hours of operation and location; it’s crucial to also feature menus, photos and promotions, to name a few. Branch out to social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

4) Search for your business online. A first priority is to make sure information is up-to-date and accurate. Accuracy and consistency leads to earning your customers’ trust.

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Gourmet Menus Leads to Increased Sales

November 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment

In the fast casual world, the pressure to keep up with the competition is increasing with the introduction of high-end options. A basic ham-and-cheese sandwich is no longer enough to satisfy the masses; customers now prefer gourmet options.

Fortunately, the gourmet trend in fast-casual restaurants doesn’t have to break the bank. A little goes a long way in this case, and product branding has more of an impact than the quantity of the product actually used.

Flatburger, for example, recently introduced the Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard Mushroom Swiss Flatburger. The key ingredients: mayonnaise, Grey Poupon and sautéed mushrooms, are not expensive. In fact, Kraft produces the Grey Poupon mustard that Flatburger uses. However, branding the sandwich with “Grey Poupon” in the title leaves the customer with the impression that they are investing in a “gourmet” product, which is ultimately what they prefer.

Small steps like rebranding products to include “gourmet” names may lead to increased sales.

Filed Under: Global Market Buzz, Trending Now Tagged With: , , ,

Global Brand Simplicity

November 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Less is more.

New York-based global branding firm, Siegel + Gale, concluded the seemingly obvious, according to their 2013 Global Brand Simplicity Index. The firm found that when consumers perceive a business as simple, they’re more likely to return or spend money there.

Noteworthy findings:

  • 30% of people are willing to pay more for simplified experiences.
  • Restaurant customers in the U.S. would pay up to 4% more if the dining-out experience was simpler
  • 75% of consumers are more likely to recommend a brand that provides simpler experiences and communications.

Currently, McDonald’s, KFC and Pizza Hut are among the frontrunners for most-simplified restaurant experiences as perceived by consumers.

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Fancy Food Show Contest with the EDC: Win a Booth! Deadline March 11th

February 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment

A must-enter contest for food manufacturers in NYC: The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has partnered with the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) to offer four New York City companies the opportunity to showcase their products in city-sponsored booths at the NASFT 2013 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City. Winning businesses then receive an all-expense paid booth at the Summer Fancy Food Show.

Last summer’s winner’s were:

Good luck — the deadline for the contest application is March 11th.

Filed Under: Opportunities Tagged With: ,
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