Marketing Spoonful

Last week, we showcased Janet Rine of Caffe Moderne and what it takes to win restaurant business. In Part II of our interview with Janet, we take a look at how suppliers can go the extra mile to attract and retain customers.
The Spoon: Let’s talk about what it takes for you to be successful and [...]

Tags: Business, Caffe Moderne, foodservice, Sales, selling to restaurants

One thing that really irritates the Spoon (aside from chiggers or sand in the swim suit) is patents.

Why? They’re great when used correctly, but extremely anti-innovative when relied on for competitive advantage.
As a former boss used to say, “If the product is extraordinary, then get it to market first, and you will win. You can [...]

Tags: competitiveness, first mover advantage, first to market, food and beverage innovation, Innovation, Mintel, patent, Product Development

Foodservice suppliers who treat independent operators, regardless of size, as second-class customers do so at their peril. In fact, independently-owned restaurants account for nearly half the industry’s revenues.
Janet Rine is one of those owner-operators. Her handle on Google is flygirl because she flies airplanes. But her success with her Old Town Wichita eatery is nothing [...]

Tags: buyer power, Caffe Moderne, democratization of purchasing, Food, foodservice customer, foodservice distributor, Marketing, relationship building, Restaurant, sales technique, selling to independent business owners, successful selling, supplier power

This is the international symbol for customer service: Smiling, good-looking person with telephone headset.

Now, slap yourself or slam your hand in the car door or whatever it takes, and come back to reality.
When customers say, “I just really like talking to a real person,” they’re not saying, “Wow, I really like those nice people at [...]

Tags: anticipate problems, brand experience, BusinessWeek, cooperation, customer experience, Customer Service, customer service champ, Food, Marketing, proactive solutions, reality check, voice of the customer

One more thing:
Did you know that “food marketing” is a dirty phrase? Same goes if you search for “food marketing blog.”
Yep. It’s true. Just Google it, and you’ll see.
Easily more than half of the first several pages of search results are about the horrors of junk food marketing and food marketing that is harmful to [...]

Tags: Food, food industry, food marketing, food marketing blog, Marketing, Marketing Spoonful, marketing to children

Starting Monday, we will feature excerpts from our interview with Janet Rine, owner of Caffe Moderne.
Our discussion centers on what it takes to earn the trust of an independent owner/operator.
Whether you sell meat, beverages, spices or mixes, you won’t want to miss it.
For now, we leave you for the weekend with a quote from Danny [...]

Tags: beverage, Caffe Moderne, Danny Meyer, Food, food distributors, food manufacturers, Marketing, Meat, mix, product focus, restaurateurs, selling to restaurants, Setting the Table, spice, successful selling strategy, trust

And no, “weeding” in this case doesn’t have anything to do with gardening or the Black Crowes.
In this case, according to Yankelovich MONITOR, it means being “blackballed” for superficiality in favor of substance and accountability.
In today’s world of myriad choices, it’s easier than ever for consumers to walk away from brands, restaurants and retailers that [...]

Tags: accountability, anticipate needs, choices, consumer relations, customer is always right, Customer Service, customization, hire great people, honesty, segment, superficiality, weeding, Yankelovich MONITOR

Miller High Life has always made a living at the nexus of quality and the down-to-earth mindset.
The brand went to the next level with ads that feature a determined delivery guy who refuses to allow the beer to be sold in establishments who have lost their sense and no longer live the High Life brand [...]

Tags: Advertising, beer, beverage, beverage marketing, brand essence, brand integrity, brand values, delivery guy, food marketing, marketing to men, Miller High Life, Windell

Information is not the same thing as knowledge. Information is just a step up from data, which has no value until you are able to formulate, test and learn from a hypothesis about said data.
Then it becomes knowledge.
Knowledge is not actionable until it becomes insight. This is a transformation brought about by experience and an [...]

Tags: analysis, decision-making, Insight, product extension, research, small business failure, smart marketing

As the author of Fresh & Easy Buzz says in a recent article about Tesco Neighborhood Market, “value is in across all grocery formats and it’s not just a fad.”

Many experts are calling the current economic climate a “perfect storm” of inflation, government debt, reduced consumer spending, weak dollar and intense foreign competition. It’s enough [...]

Tags: aspirational, consumer spending, EDLP, Food, grocery, inflation, Marketing, niche, recession, Safeway, Target, Tesco, Wal-Mart, weak economy, Whole Foods