Food for Thought

Food for Thought: February Edition

Amuse-Bouche

“I also had two churros today and they were pretty bomb so if you ever get nervous, go eat a churro.”

–  U.S. snowboarder Chloe Kim’s follow up tweet about being nervous while at the 2018 Winter Olympics

Hors d’Oeuvres

Image from Angry Orchard.
Image from Angry Orchard.

We’re not the only ones that say “rosé all day”. Inspired by the bright, crisp flavors of the popular Provençal wine, Angry Orchard debuted a rosy hue version of their popular cider. The color derives from a rare red flesh apple and creates a cider with floral aromas. Ryan Burk, the company’s cidermaker proclaims that it’s “unlike any cider you’ve ever tasted.” 

Tyson is investing in more than just chicken. Last month the poultry experts announced a venture into a new company: Tovala. This company is all about the future of cooking with its all-in-one smart oven. Think of it as a more advanced Instapot; it can broil, steam, bake, microwave, and toast food. So, where does Tyson come in? In addition to inventing this technology, Tovala is in the branded meals business. Their prepackaged foods include barcodes that can be scanned to cook each meal properly. 

Image from Matthew Schwartz on Unsplash.
Image from Matthew Schwartz on Unsplash.

Get your big hats and mint juleps ready, Top Chef is coming to Kentucky. The horse-centric state will be the new backdrop for the sixteenth season for the Bravo show. Considered a hidden southern gem, the state’s signature dishes are comfort food to the max; whether its the gooey Mornay sauce on the Kentucky Hot Browns or the chocolate, walnut goodness in a Derby Pie, we’re not complaining.

Avocados are getting their time to shine in 2018. Starting the year as the cool way to propose, it’s no surprise that the fruit is catching the attention of a couple shark-sized investors. Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran have invested in Avocaderia, an all-avocado restaurant based in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park food hall. With the shark’s help, the company plans to open 20 more restaurants along with a cookbook in the next five years. 

The Main Course

If you’ve relived your college days by sharing a house at a wedding or tried to live like a local on a European vacation, chances are you’re familiar with Airbnb. What started out as just an air mattress on the floor of an apartment has transformed into more than just a home-sharing website; the company now has more than 43 million properties globally. Last month, CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky announced a few new ventures that may change the way we travel.

Image by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.
Image by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.
  • The Amazon of travel? With a new loyalty program and additional accommodations, Airbnb is trying to be the one-stop-shop for travel. Chesky wants to take the Amazon approach to retail for the company by diversifying the business into new tourism areas. 
  • Struggle to commit: Although Airbnb receives a lot of traffic, more than 300 million visitors to be exact, the company is not seeing the bookings. A dual-problem has been seen with these potential customers: 1. the style of offerings are not right for all travelers, 2. it’s hard to navigate and find the right accommodation. To combat this problem, Airbnb has incorporated new categories into its search including vacation homes, unique spaces, bed-and-breakfasts, and boutique hotels. 
  • Quality assurance: A big issue for Airbnb’s customers is a lack of consistency. These aren’t just the small items like thread count and coffee makers, many of the complaints are around safety, like smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. In an effort to ease tensions and regulate facilities, Airbnb launched a program called Airbnb Plus. For a higher price point, these locations must adhere to a 100-item checklist; the average stay costs $250 per night. 
  • Not everyone’s on board: The hotel industry wants Airbnb to ante up if they want to move into their space. Known to not get along, Troy Flannagan, a Vice President for the American Hotel and Lodging Association, believes their latest efforts are a way to get around “industry regulations” and wants the company to follow the same requirements of hotels, like taxes, regulations, and compliance requirements. 
  • The sky’s the limit: In an effort to become the next Amazon, the company has been hinting at a new travel arena: aviation. Chesky may have big dreams, but we’re not sure he is going to be able to follow in the footsteps of Sir Richard Branson.

On the Side

Whether you love them or not, millennials are changing the game as the largest generation, especially when it comes to the hotel biz. According to US News & World Report, this year’s hottest hotel trends focus on pleasing these Baby Boomlets through technology, design, and local partnerships. These influences can already be found in some of the latest hotels debuted by Marriott, Starwood, and, as of last month, IHG. The Brits may be last to the table but their newest hotel, Even, takes a different approach than Marriott’s Moxy and Starwood’s Aloft. Instead, fitness is at the helm with the hotel’s “keep active, eat well, rest easy” vibe. Look for in-room exercise equipment, healthy meal options, and plenty of places to get in your downward dog. 

Good news, beer fanatics, your dreams of having a cold brewsky in the shower is about to come true. Brewdog, a Scottish brewing company, is building a beer-centric hotel near its manufacturing facility. Appropriately named DogHouse, this 26-room hotel will feature beer on tap in every room, cold beer in the showers, and behind-the-scenes looks at the brewery headquarters. The company first made the news last year when it created an Indiegogo campaign to build the first crowdfunded craft beer hotel attached to its new brewery in Columbus, Ohio. DogHouse is projected to be open early 2019.   

Sweet Escape

As marketers, we understand that not all of our ideas are winners. Unfortunately, these wild hair thoughts sometimes make it past the boardroom and into the mainstream media. Independent shared some of the hilarious slogans that some countries have been using to attract tourists. We especially like Djibouti and Uganda’s campaigns, but we’ll let you decide.

Food for Thought: January Edition

Amuse-Bouche

“We’re bringing together two beloved brands known for their ability to instigate fun…”

– a Yoplait spokesperson on the new collaboration between Go-Gurt and Sour Patch Kids

Hors d’Oeuvres

Image from Business Insider.
Image from Business Insider.

From having some of the world’s best ingredients to cultivating a culinary community unlike any other, it’s no secret that the French love their food. But, did you know they’re nuts about Nutella? After lowering prices of the coveted chocolate hazelnut spread, riots erupted around the country with Frenchmen saying “oui, oui”. 

The first cashier-less grocery store – AmazonGo – opened its doors last month in Seattle. After scanning your app, the cutting-edge technology tracks the items you grab and charges you automatically upon exiting the store. All of this is possible through surveillance cameras and sensors formulated with “Just Walk Out” technology. Word to the wise: juice up your phone before you go.

If you could have any job you desired, would it involve eating chicken nuggets? If so, we have great news! British retailer B&M is in need of a chicken nugget connoisseur. The ideal candidate “[is] the first in the office kitchen whenever someone says there’s cake” and “[gets] the 20 share box of nuggets from McDonald’s and [keeps] them all for him or herself”. The one downside, this job won’t make you rich. Compensation includes £20 in vouchers to be used at a local store. 

Image from Refinery 29.
Image from Refinery 29.

More than 2 million ballots have been cast across the United States in the first of many important elections this year. With 36% of the vote, Krispie Kreme has declared lemon the winner of its new flavor contest. In her official announcement, CMO Jackie Woodward noted that “we can’t glaze over the fact that the other three flavors, [blueberry, caramel, and maple] all received a lot of support.”

The Main Course

After years as the second most popular tourist destination,  the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has predicted that the United States will lose its current ranking to Spain. Despite an overall 7% surge in travel, international tourists aren’t as keen on traveling to the land of the free, home of the brave; travel to America declined 4% in 2017 after a 2% decline in 2016.  But, what exactly does this mean?

Image courtesy of Unsplash (Stefan Kunze).
Image courtesy of Unsplash (Stefan Kunze).
  • Trump Slump: Since the decline occurred during the first five months of Donald Trump’s presidency (5% in the first quarter and 3% in the second quarter), experts explain that this is due to the strong US dollar and the administration’s controversial policies on immigration and travel. 
  • Not just Meghan Markle: A significant amount of the missing tourism dollars are coming from the UK; typically, British tourism accounts for $5 billion of the overall US economy but 29% of Britons are putting their US holiday plans on hold. 
  • By the numbers: According to the Commerce Department, the decline in tourism since November translates to $4.6 billion in losses and 40,000 jobs. The U.S. Travel Association believes that this downward trend “equates to 7.4 million visitors and $32.2 billion in spend.”
  • Leaving on a jet plan: Meanwhile, European tourism grew with a 13% increase in tourism to Southern European and Mediterranean countries. Overall, France holds the top spot for tourism with 89 million visitors last year. The official report for 2017 will be released this spring. 

On the Side

Image from Travel & Leisure. 
Image from Travel & Leisure. 

Winter is coming! If your ideal vacation includes freezing temperatures, wearing fur coats, and fighting white walkers, the time is now to book your flight to Finland. The Nordic country is now home to the “Game of Thrones” ice hotel. Made of more than 44 million pounds of snow and 771,000 pounds of ice, the hotel is the perfect place to live out your Winterfell fantasies, including sitting on an ice replica of the Iron Throne. Book soon though, it’s only open until April 8.

Want to see what the hotel room of the future will look like? Make your way to the suburbs of DC. Hilton Hotels is debuting new products and hotel features at its Innovation Gallery near Tyson’s Corner, Va. From a transformable art displays to a personal mixologist beverage dispenser, the guest experience will be enhanced through customization. Other features include real-time translation, noise-machines, and stress-relieving devices.  

Sweet Escape

If you can’t get enough of Fixer Upper, you’re not the only one. Thanks to the popularity of the beloved HGTV show, Waco, Texas was named one of the cities on the up and up by Trip Advisor. Other rising stars include Omaha, Neb., Bend, Ore., and Boulder, Colo., and, our favorite, Paso Robles, Calif.

Food for Thought: August Edition

Amuse-Bouche

“As a long-time Cheetos fan, I’m thrilled to join forces with a snack brand that is truly an iconic American staple.”

– Anne Burrell in response to her Cheetos pop-up restaurant in NYC

Hors d’Oeuvres

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Fast-food innovation wars continue; this time, it’s all about breakfast. From Taco Bell’s Naked Egg Taco to Jack In The Box’s Hangry Chicken Hash, outrageous food is in. We’re living in an age of trying to go above and beyond. Unfortunately, sometimes it just a big flop.

Move over New York City, the Windy City is the new culinary capital. The Midwest hub was named Restaurant City of the Year based on its innovation and concentration of up-and-coming talent. What can we say, Chicago really blew away the magazine’s editor?

Foodies, it’s time to book your flights to Italy: Eataly is opening a 20-acre food theme park in Bologna. Get ready to nosh on authentic meats, cheese and pasta at one of the 40 restaurants and refreshment stands . Want a hands-on experience? Fico EatalyWorld will also feature classes and events in its 10 classrooms and two-miles of educational paths.

Photo from Electric Rose Wine Co.

Juice boxes just got an adult spin. Meet Electric Rose, a pouch of wine that is perfect for a picnic on the beach, backyard barbecues or a stroll around the neighborhood.  Available in a six-pack (1.5 bottles of wine), it’s all about the age of convenience.

Stressed when you see rows and rows of wine at the store? Don’t worry – the Vivino app. is here to help. Basically, a pocket sommelier; the seven-year-old app features closely 425 million labels with 72 million ratings and a newly launched marketplace.

The Main Course

Hopefully, by now, everyone knows that Amazon bought Whole Foods Market. The $13.7 Billion deal became official on Monday, August 28, with some items dropping in price by 43 percent. This is good news for anyone that has lovingly used the nickname “Whole Paycheck” to refer to the upscale grocery chain. Whether you’re an Amazon Prime member that has never stepped foot in a Whole Foods store or a religious Whole Foods shopper that lives off of the hot bar, here are a few things you’ll see in the coming months:

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  • Special Discounts for Prime Members: Amazon is not forgetting about its loyal Prime Members (and is rolling out a customer rewards program just for you. These discounts could include special savings and in-store benefits as well as access to Whole Food’s private label products through Prime Pantry and Prime Now with extra incentives for delivery. Amazon Lockers will also be available for customers that order online and want to pick-up or return products.
  • Hello Alexa: Probably not a big of a surprise, products like Amazon Echos and Amazon Echo Dots will be available for purchase and displayed throughout the store.
  • Upping Their Game: Competitors like Walmart are not too keen on this merger and gearing up for a fight. In Dallas and Orlando markets, the discount giant expanded its online grocery delivery service by partnering with Uber. The company has rolled out the service in four additional markets: Denver, San Jose, Calif., Tampa and Phoenix.
  • Even Google is Getting In On the Action: On August 23, Google and Walmart announced a partnership with Google Express. The goal is for Walmart customers to utilize online services like Google Assistant for easy shopping and predictive ordering. This is the first time that Walmart is having its product available for purchase on a third party website.

On the Side

Ever look at a West Elm catalog and think, “I’d love to sleep in that bed?” Well, now you can! The retailer announced plans for its sixth boutique hotel location– this time, in Portland, Maine. The hotel’s goal, projected to open in 2020, is not to sell West Elm products, but share the “local design elements, culture, and cuisine” of each city.

If you’re a barre believer and yoga fanatic, don’t worry – Hyatt Hotel Corporation has your back. The hotel group acquired Exhale, a fitness and spa concept, late last month shortly after buying Tucson’s Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa. The company plans to expand the fitness and spa brand with more freestanding locations with some integration in Hyatt Hotel locations.

From Home Alone 2: Lost In New York to Sleepless in Seattle, The Plaza Hotel has been the backdrop to some pretty iconic movies. Now, the Big Apple gem is up for sale; but it will cost you a pretty penny. The sale has been deemed the to be “one of the most expensive hotel sales on a per-room basis”.

Sweet Escape

Beloved travel guide, Lonely Planet, is planning to debut its newest project – an iPhone app called Trips. It’s basically Instagram from those that love to travel. It has its glitches but it’s a great place to look for pictures to decide where to go on your next adventure.