?? Restaurant Roundup - 29th February 2024
Dawn Gribble
?? Hospitality Marketing Expert | MIH | MCIM | Founder HospitalityMarketingHub.com ?????
Welcome to this week's Restaurant Round-up, where I curate the best marketing news, served with a generous helping of insights and advice.
?? Pokeworks Introduces Plant-Based Tuna
Pokework’s latest innovation is 100% plant-based sushi-grade tuna. As the brand behind the Poke craze, Pokeworks constantly strives to offer new and delicious menu options. And now, they're introducing a sustainable and ethical alternative to conventional tuna, created in collaboration with Impact Food.
This plant-based tuna is made from pea protein and seaweed, offering an umami taste and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect for those seeking vegan or keto-friendly options or trying something new.?
In recent years, plant-based options have significantly expanded the menu offerings of well-established fast-food chains and restaurants. McDonald's, for instance, introduced the McPlant burger in the UK, featuring a Beyond Meat patty, vegan sandwich sauce, and dairy-free cheese. Burger King has added the Vegan Royale and Vegan Nuggets to its menu in the UK while also trialling meat-free items in the US. Subway has expanded its menu in the UK to include substantial plant-based sandwiches, wraps, and desserts. In the US, Taco Bell has made strides in catering to plant-based eaters with customisable menu items.??
?? In 2024, we can expect to see broader acceptance of plant-based foods and beverages from governments, private capital, and industry leaders. Consumers demand more transparency around the climate implications of making plant-based choices, and brands can respond through storytelling focused on regenerative agriculture.
The rise in popularity of the keto diet will see more people adopt a plant-based, low-carb approach, using plant-based protein sources and incorporating more fruits and vegetables.
Learn more: Hospitality Trends 2024
Source: QSR Magazine Plant Based News
?? McDonald’s Debuts First Beauty Collaboration
McDonald's continues to make headlines with its latest collaboration, venturing into the beauty industry with a partnership with UK-based nail brand Nails.Inc .?
This new partnership offers a range of products, including burgers, fries, themed nail polishes, and press-on nails.?
?? McDonald's collaboration with Nails.Inc . is a brilliant example of how restaurants can use innovative approaches to connect with new audiences and generate revenue.?
Here are a few ways this move can inspire other restaurants:
Learn more: How to Plan Social Media Campaigns
Source: ABC News
??? Shake Shack and Wingstop Embrace Fine Dining Trend
This Valentine's Day, limited-service restaurants made a surprising move by transforming some of their locations into fine dining experiences. Shake Shack, Panda Express, and Wingstop all jumped on this trend, offering unique and elevated menus for their customers.?
Customers responded positively, enjoying the opportunity to experience fine dining at a more affordable price point. The elevated menus offered a wider variety of dishes to choose from, and the service was typically more attentive than at a typical fast-food restaurant.
?? Restaurants can replicate the success of Shake Shack, Panda Express, and Wingstop by using pop-up events and experiments. Pop-up events can be used to test new menu items without committing to a full-scale launch. This can help restaurants to gauge customer demand and get feedback on new dishes.
Here are some ideas for starters:?
Learn more: How to Attract More Customers To Your Restaurant
领英推荐
Source: NRN
?? McDonald’s Generates Immersive Global Campaign by Embracing Anime Fandom
Another story from McDonald's this week who are crushing it with their segmented audience campaigns. The franchise giant is no stranger to using pop culture and nostalgia to engage consumers; their latest campaign is no exception.?
Inspired by their fictional depiction in anime and manga, the brand is launching a global "WcDonald's" campaign, complete with a new sauce, packaging, and even an immersive dining experience in Los Angeles. Partnering with Japanese artist Acky Bright and animation house Studio Pierrot, McDonald's is bringing their iconic WcDonald's characters to life in a four-episode anime series.?
McDonald's wants to show that the brand listens to its customers and gives them what they want. The immersive dining experience in Los Angeles allows customers to enjoy a set menu of McDonald's items while watching the anime series. McDonald's encourages customers to share their photos and videos of the WcDonald's experience on social media.?
?? Overall, McDonald's is doing a great job involving customers in its "WcDonald's" campaign. Restaurants can identify and tap into subcultures by identifying subcultures that align with their brand values and target audience.?
Once you have identified potential subcultures, take the time to understand their unique values, motivations, and behaviours. This will help you develop targeted marketing campaigns that speak to their specific interests and needs using their phrases and terminology. Many subcultures are associated with social or environmental causes, which can help amplify campaigns.?
Brands should actively participate in subculture communities by attending events, sponsoring gatherings, and collaborating with respected influencers. Be a part of the conversation and demonstrate your genuine interest in their culture. Develop products and services that cater to the unique needs and preferences of the subculture, like limited-edition menus, events, collectables and exclusive experience packages.?
Learn more: Gen Z Consumer Fact Sheet
Source: Marketing Dive Marketech
?? Uber Eats Expands Autonomous Food Delivery Service to Japan
Uber Eats continues to lead the way in innovative restaurant marketing strategies with its latest announcement of expanding its autonomous food delivery service to Japan in collaboration with Cartken and Mitsubishi Electric.?
The six-wheeled Model C sidewalk delivery robots, equipped with advanced AI and obstacle detection technology, can make deliveries at a maximum speed of 3.36 mph, complying with local regulations. With the help of Mitsubishi, the robots have been modified to suit the needs of the Japanese market.
In addition to Uber Eats, several other prominent brands have used delivery robots to enhance their services.
Chick-fil-A initiated drone delivery testing at a restaurant in Florida last year. It is experimenting with autonomous delivery robots in a few dining rooms to provide supplemental support to its employees. Meanwhile, Salad Collective, Freddy’s, and Sweetgreen are among the other restaurant companies exploring autonomous delivery.
These developments are typical of the broader movement within the restaurant industry towards embracing innovative delivery solutions to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.?
?? Autonomous delivery offers convenience to customers and reduces the labour costs associated with traditional delivery methods, which can be passed on to customers in the form of lower delivery fees or retained to improve margins. As customers stay informed about the status of their orders through real-time tracking and notifications, this helps build trust.
To effectively communicate the benefits of autonomous delivery to customers, restaurants should highlight the convenience and speed of autonomous delivery and address any safety concerns customers may have. Offer incentives, such as discounts or free delivery, to encourage customers to try autonomous delivery.?
Learn more: Customer Experience Trends
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That’s a wrap for the week! I'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions for future topics.?
Here's to Your Success ???
Do you need a Social Media or Digital Marketing Strategy for your Restaurant? Visit DG Consulting to Delight Guests and Drive Growth.