Jennifer Somers

Loyalty programs are so important. Think about Starbucks program or this new CAVA program. I’ve had loyalty programs before where I bank rewards and then they disappear or can’t use them. Who could an emerging brand use to help create the best loyalty programs?

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Dine Brands Global, the force behind beloved chains like Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar’s and IHOP, is embracing the current trend of offering enticing promotions to cater to diners seeking great deals. Their initiatives not only aim to bring in more customers but also prioritize the profitability of their franchisees. With successful promotions like Applebee’s $1 margarita deal leading to increased customer spending, the company's proactive approach to attract budget-conscious consumers is generating optimism among analysts. As they continue to refine their promotional strategies and capitalize on market opportunities, Dine Brands is poised for sustained growth and success in the competitive food industry. Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/e-wUUtS7 Branded Hospitality Ventures #socialnetworking #marketing #technology #hospitality #innovation Scott Gladstone John Peyton Matt Ryan David Trujillo Susan Nelson Lili Tomovich Jessica Jackson

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When the pandemic caused chicken wing prices to spike by 125%, Wingstop Restaurants Inc. had to act fast to avoid a major hit to its margins. The Strategic Shift: Direct Sourcing: Wingstop secured direct poultry partnerships, helping stabilize costs and ultimately cut wing 🍗 prices by 40% from their peak. Menu Diversification: By introducing thighs through “Thighstop,” they reduced their dependence on wings and offered customers a value-driven option. 💰 Digital Strength: With a strong online presence, Wingstop leveraged its digital channels📱 (which now make up 65% of all orders) to seamlessly introduce and promote new products, driving continued growth. The Result? Despite industry challenges, Wingstop maintained profitability and grew same-store sales by over 27% in 2023. 📈 Keep pushing Michael Skipworth and team! #SupplyChain #Wingstop #DigitalTransformation #BusinessResilience #CrisisManagement #RestaurantGrowth

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Today, I made our first step toward getting Currently carried by 23 locations of Whole Foods Market in Florida. The process is a bit convoluted (as I'm learning many things are in wine...), but here's generally what's going to happen: -We're already an approved vendor and need to update our new Currently Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc into the Amazon vendor portal, which I did today -This process is now vendor-led, instead of distributor led, which ensures the accuracy of the information (since I won't mess it up but distributors might) -Next steps will be to schedule meetings in October with each store manager, who my Florida distributor has relationships with and update them on our new packaging, design and brand. -Because our story has continuity around environmental cause and goes farther now with being 2x lower carbon footprint and Certified Sustainable grapes, I'm hoping that will be a differentiator -There are in-store display opportunities, and I'm going to work on having our wine setup next to the oysters and seafood. Any WFM general manager selling suggestions are welcome-- I'm new to this! #wine #founderjourney #wholefoodsmarket

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A double earnings/sales beat, raised guidance in many meaningful categories, and new product new news for CAVA makes for a great quarter. In fact, very few other brands--only a handful-- are doing as well. A new brand regarded as cool by guests and employees and the right kind of executive management and food has been evident for years now. The IPO seems to have supercharged attention and momentum. The discussion about the calendar adjusted SSS and traffic and the two year stacked SSS number warrants a note. While the 10Q P&L necessarily focuses on change from prior year, we are almost certainly wrong focusing on that number. We as an industry can and must spend more time on 2 year and even five year stacked numbers for better MD&A. CAVA did today. Their disclosure changed the tone. Thank you Brett Schulman.

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10 headlines from the #grocery, #restaurant, #cstore, #retail, and #hospitality sectors you may have missed this past week. #ShermsWeeklyInsider(26) 1. 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐘: Walmart tests new neighborhood markets that build on growing e-commerce business 🛒🍎 🖱 2. 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐓: Minnesota Governor signs new bill requiring restaurants and delivery services to disclose service fees to consumers 🗣💰 3. 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐘:  Foxtrot announces its plans to reopen several of its locations 🦊👀 4. 𝐂-𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐄: 7-11 rolls out summer gear 😎☀️ 5. 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐓: CosMc's slow drive-thru service may be undercutting its customization perks 🚗🧋🥤 6. 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋: Target set to lower prices on 5K of its items🎯⬇️💸 7. 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐘: Albertson's partners with Uber for a delivery program that donates surplus food to food banks and local nonprofits in major U.S. cities🤝🍕🚘 8. 𝐂-𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐄: Love’s rolls out free education perks for workers 📚🤓 9. 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐓: Cracker Barrel announces major changes to the restaurant chain  👀 10. 𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐋: Hilton plans to double its hotel footprint in the next 4 years 🏨\

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4 key takeaways of how Navarro Culinary Connections aka Ian Navarro has skyrocketed his recognizability and gained *even more* credibility over the last 8 months -- And why you won't be able to escape me now either ;) We do things different. We do things the NEW or RIGHT way for our brand and our clients! Old way: - Bloated org website - Over-invest in visual branding - Build slow team consensus on what stories to tell and how - Spend months working with web agency to design and launch campaigns NEW way aka the RIGHT way: - Publish stories, articles, posts, and show process publicly...constantly. - Your brand is seen & felt through stories of impact - Built-in team expectations around looser agile storytelling, looser editorial control - Develop a storytelling TOOLKIT instead of looking to an agency for fancy assets that never get used. Authenticity > Polish

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Empowering a restaurant team is the only sure way to guarantee quality service across customer touchpoints. The reason I am so passionate about servant leadership, impact, and the associated processes, is because of improved customer outcomes. Leading with your heart is what leads to smiles on customers' faces. #Restaurant #Leadership #ServantLeadership

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My OG hometown paper just published the most thorough feature of Globowl as a brand, not just as a contestant on #FoodStars. I hope ALL the South Florida moms, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents and preschool educators read it. I am really excited by how much info is in here, and I hope it helps people make the right decision re: their child's nutrition. https://lnkd.in/e3jVkKKx

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How many Starbucks locations can one city handle? ☕️✨ This past weekend, I was catching up with some friends, and we noticed something interesting... We passed three Starbucks locations, each just a block or two apart! 🤔 It made us wonder… how many Starbucks locations are actually in New York City? I didn’t have the answer on the spot, so I did a quick search (thanks, Google). Here’s what I found: - NYC has a whopping 241 Starbucks locations. - The city spans 302 square miles. - That means there’s about 1 Starbucks for every 1.25 square miles! With one Starbucks for every 35,000 people in NYC, it seems like there’s no limit to how much coffee this city can handle. And with so many locations, Starbucks is all about staying in touch with customers by responding to guest surveys to keep the experience top-notch. What do you think? Can there ever be too many Starbucks locations? ☕️  (Spoiler: Definitely not when they keep listening to their customers!) #starbucks #coffeelovers #caffineoverload #restaurants #restauranttech

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Attitudes towards dining out and restaurant value continue to evolve. Financial anxiety and pessimism are high: of the consumers we surveyed, 75% of those with debt have had growing financial concerns and less than 40% expect their situation to improve. And that will affect restaurants, as over half of consumers say they need to lower their spending. But rather than saving money by trading down, many are opting to trade up in their dining experiences. Why? - The widening gap between grocery prices and restaurant prices means more savings from eating at home – and 3 out of 4 consumers said they plan to dine out less frequently - Consumers see worse value in the fast casual and fast food segments; despite the summer value deals many chains have rolled out, diners still think prices have risen beyond what’s being offered - A focus on “experiential” spending means that diners would rather reserve their fewer restaurant visits for more premium meals If you’re curious about these findings and how restaurant operators can respond, click below for the full AlixPartners annual restaurant report. #restaurants #consumerbehavior #customerexperience #inflation

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Today I was honored to serve as a guest on @The Daniella & Derick Show to discuss key concepts from my book, "The Purposeful Growth Revolution: 4 Ways to Grow from Leader to Legacy Builder." Please take a listen as I review highlights from my career journey and the pivotal moment that led to the creation of my LEAF Growth Model that serves as the foundation for leading The Purposeful Growth Revolution. https://lnkd.in/dcr-BtNb The new world of work is changing... on Purpose. Today, people don't want to be managed and required, they want to be led and inspired. It's time to put the "Human" back in Human Resources... all we need is LOVE! For Leaders to grow into transformational "living" Legacy Builders, we need to demonstrate LOVE to our team members: Listen Observe Value Empower The tired, old "Command & Control" management style is OUT... The Purposeful Growth Revolution is ON! Are You IN? #purpose #growth #development #leadership #humanresources #love

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The impact of leadership changes in the QSR industry, particularly for a brand like Starbucks, extends far beyond the strategic vision of the new CEO. While the appointment of Brian Niccol has sparked a wave of optimism in the market, the true test lies in his ability to address the deep-rooted challenges that have been weighing down the brand. In a market where staying relevant is key, Starbucks faces the challenge of reinventing its brand experience to capture the attention of an increasingly demanding and diverse consumer base. It’s not just about serving coffee; it’s about delivering a value proposition that remains fresh and appealing to new generations while staying true to the company’s core identity. High employee turnover and the associated operational challenges not only impact customer experience but also erode one of the brand’s fundamental pillars. Niccol’s ability to tackle these critical areas will determine whether his leadership can truly transform Starbucks and restore its market value. The idea that the stock value could more than double speaks not only to confidence in the new leadership but also to a clear vision for the future. Are we on the brink of a new golden era for Starbucks? What do you think? #Leadership #Innovation #Strategy https://lnkd.in/dSmvrDTn

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A great read about the McDonald's journey that so many have travelled and are traveling via The Washington Post by Garrett M. Graff. “That transition from worker to leader is one McDonald’s has carefully mapped and analyzed — not surprising given that it’s 2.2 million employees make it one of the world’s largest employers. It begins with a two-part test: Does a worker aspire to do something more? Then comes the hard part: Can the employee make the mental shift needed to go from peer to coach?” “The McDonald’s human resources experts say they never expect someone to be fully ready to become a boss, because the only foolproof preparation for leadership is doing it. “No one is 100 percent perfect,” says Shannon Mullaney, the dean of Hamburger University, the chain’s corporate training camp. “‘Are you 80 percent ready?’ is normally what we say when we’re looking at the shift leader.” (H/t Morgan O'Marra)

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He should get #subway into Mealdeals.app

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What leaders do you look up to the most? I'm preparing the next season of Future Food with Analisa Winther and looking to feature companies who have "how I built this" stories that you are dying to hear. Over 150 pioneering visionary Founders and executives from the food industry have appeared on Future Food so far sharing their entrepreneurial journey and how their work has led to transformation. Some of the most popular episodes have included the Founder of Oatly, Pasturebird, World's 50 Best Restaurant Leo, WWF, Tony's Chocolonely, Climate Farmers, and more. The show has a dedicated listener base of entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and enthusiasts who view food as a powerful vehicle for change. Listeners come from over 80 countries and the show is in the top 5% of most downloaded podcasts globally. 👇 Tag a leader you want to know about with 1-2 sentences about what makes their story amazing and how they're transforming the world through food. Your rec could get them featured on the show!

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Cava's revamped loyalty program is generating buzz (and garlic ranch-flavored pita chips!). 🍟 But what can restaurants learn from their data-driven approach? Key Insights: Loyalty programs need to go beyond simple points accumulation. Personalization and engagement are key to driving repeat visits. I've seen firsthand how data-driven loyalty programs can increase frequency and revenue for restaurants. Cava's multi-phase rollout is a smart move, allowing them to adapt and optimize based on customer behavior. How are you using data to enhance your restaurant's loyalty program? Share your thoughts! #restauranttechnology #loyaltyprograms #customerengagement #restaurantmarketing #datadriven https://lnkd.in/es_gMWZd

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What's one panel you will not miss at the QSR Summit next week? CEO & President’s Framework: Evaluating, Adopting & Deploying Tech From the Top Down - Strategic Evaluation: Begin by strategically evaluating the technological landscape, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives at the executive level. - Adoption Readiness: Assess the organization’s readiness for tech adoption, considering factors such as infrastructure, workforce skill sets, and potential impacts on existing processes. - Deployment Planning: Develop a comprehensive plan for the seamless deployment of technology at the top level, considering phased implementations and effective change management strategies. - Monitoring and Optimization: Continuously monitor the performance of adopted technologies at the executive level, optimizing their usage for maximum efficiency and aligning with evolving business needs. ➡️ Andy Hooper, Hart House ➡️ Jason Morgan, Original ChopShop ➡️ Jim Bitticks, Dave's Hot Chicken ➡️ Troy Hooper, Pepper Lunch Restaurants TUESDAY | JUNE 11, 2024 4:20 p.m. Discover more: https://bit.ly/QSRSummit Use code REVITUP for a discounted ticket! #qsrsummit #fastcasual #conference #restaurantbusiness #restauranttech #restaurantowners #restaurantmarketing #restaurantindustry #restaurantowner

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This is a really wonderful dive into how CAVA continues to build a loyal customer following and dedicated employee base. In a world where many feel increasingly isolated, l love the focus on putting the human touch at the center of all they do, while also being at the cutting of technology to drive sustainable success. I see a parallel with Starbucks as they build a 360 degree customer experience through the move into retail with dips and spreads. #longtermgrowth #humanity #connections #data #brandloyalty Brett Schulman

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