The convenience of Amazon Go – a completely automated shopping experience, free of cashiers, queues, and check-out counters – hasn’t quite materialized as quickly as promised. When the retail giant first announced its ambitious concept, it promised to bring the idea to the public by early 2017, but so far the project seems to be floundering. While […]
How Retailers Will Compete with Amazon Go Read More »
TORONTO – Branding and design agency Shikatani Lacroix is expanding its team and US presence with the addition of Ian Magrisso and Carlos Garza to its roster. “We are thrilled to welcome Ian and Carlos to our team,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, president of Shikatani Lacroix. “Their combined skills and experience will amplify our impact across
Shikatani Lacroix Expands North American Team Read More »
Traditionally, food from convenience stores often focuses on packaged snacks, and hot food offerings may be perceived to be of dubious quality. Yet according to research from Nation’s Restaurant News, convenience store food quality is improving, shifting consumer perceptions and becoming a threat to fast food restaurants. However, if a fast food restaurant has moved in
Are Convenience Stores Becoming the New Quick-Service Restaurants? Read More »
Grocery chains, food specialty stores, even convenience stores and gas stations are serving up hot meals to millions of hungry, hurried customers – 2.4 billion meals in 2015 as a matter of fact. From Loblaws’ bakery-cafes serving coffee and cupcakes, to food halls with servers and salad bars at Whole Foods, grocers are tapping into
Should Supermarkets Launch their own Foodservice Brand? Read More »
In the increasingly competitive world of foodservice, brands are looking for every possible advantage they might be able to leverage, including design. Numerous brands are undergoing make-overs: Taco Bell, KFC, Subway and Arby’s are only a handful of the big names that are currently rolling out more contemporary, less generic designs. The trend is quite
Most Effective Restaurant Design Elements Today Read More »
The goal of any restaurant operator is to drive repeat visits. Loyal customers tend to drive better margins and greater sales (while also providing some predictability to same-store sales) and cost less to market to than new customers. When considering brand loyalty for food service operators, fostering a sense of belonging is crucial to creating
Brand Loyalty in Foodservice: How to Create a Sense of Place Read More »
In spite of nationalist movements, that are currently having a moment in western countries, the reality is that population growth is going to be driven by immigration. Generation Z will be the most racially diverse cohort the planet has ever known, many of them the children of immigrants or interracial marriages. With this demographic shift there
Marrying digital and foodservice is an ever-growing trend and is necessary to capture Millennials’ attention. That is why we sat down with Boston Pizza‘s Paulo Ferreira, Senior Director of Design, to discuss the restaurant’s new design and digital integration at their flagship Toronto location. Boston Pizza was trying to get Millennials off their phones and engaged
Behind the Scenes of Boston Pizza’s New Design Read More »
The most successful brands in today’s foodservice industry have one thing in common: a focused, unique brand value, communicated simply, clearly and consistently. Think of Starbucks, Chipotle or Panera Bread. It sounds like an obvious idea, but anyone who has attempted to develop a unique restaurant concept and keep it relevant over the years knows
Designing a Right-to-Win Brand Position For Your Restaurant Read More »
If you are in the food service industry and rely on your locations to drive your business, curb appeal and visibility are key. Operators such as Dairy Queen, Boston Pizza, Second Cup and Tim Hortons all understand that exterior signing is their most effective marketing vehicle, working 24/7 to grab the attention of customers and
Creating the right first impression through signing Read More »
Categories in today’s market are becoming less defined, as foodservice blends with grocery and retail and cafes offer added value within banks, bookstores, and gyms. Customers are looking for choice, custom experiences, convenience, multi-functionality, and less cultural rigidity. All-day breakfast is becoming a popular restaurant offering, the demand for gender-neutral clothing is increasing, and hybrid
Keep Your Restaurant Relevant With These Hybrid Design Tips Read More »
Is less really more? Or is bigger better? This is an age-old debate with strong arguments on both sides. For foodservice operators, the question is menu expansion – should we add more, and what should we add, and how far should we go outside of our core offering? Throughout the industry there are examples of
How to Avoid Menu Expansion Misfires Read More »
The food service category is in transition and many new restaurant concepts are emerging. Many established restaurants are struggling in this evolving market. Refreshing your restaurant’s brand ensures future relevance. Now is the ideal time to start the process. Business may be decreasing because of more competition or not meeting customers’ changing needs as effectively
Five Steps to Refresh Your Restaurant Experience Read More »
It seems nowadays everyone is a foodie – with the hashtag “foodie” being used over 244 million times on Instagram. It’s not a surprise that restaurants are feeling the pressure to attract more of a foodie generation to their facilities. How do you begin to legitimize your restaurant as a “foodie” establishment in the eyes
How to Better Appeal to “Foodie” Millennials Read More »
Rolling out a transformation project – even a moderate refresh – across a multi-unit network is a daunting task. Developing the new design is pure bliss in comparison, even with all the nail-biting over decisions. Given that it takes years to fully deploy a new program, it’s no wonder the thought sends CFO’s stomachs churning.
Six Cost Saving Tips For Your Next Foodservice Project Roll-out Read More »
When you are embarking on any kind of change for your foodservice brand, regardless of the degree, it is critical to get a good understanding of where your brand fits into the industry landscape. One of the most recognized tools to create this view is the SWOT analysis. However, we often get asked questions about
[Worksheet] Foodservice SWOT Analysis 101 Read More »
As food operators explore growth strategies an option being considered by many is a partnership with another complementary brand. We have seen in many other industries, such as banking, the benefits and liabilities of partnering with a coffee chain to provide a differentiated customer experience. The opportunity to leverage the power of two offerings to
Creating Brand Cohesion When Exploring Restaurant Partnerships Read More »
Vancouver is well-known for its West Coast beaches, surrounding mountains, tall trees, and hiking trails, but it also has an interesting restaurant scene influenced by its international population and active culture. Fusion-style dishes provide unique options, farm-to-table, local, and better-for-you movements have spread throughout the city, and themed pubs add personality to dining experiences. Below
Unique Restaurants in Vancouver: Inspiration for Foodservice Brands Read More »
Rebranding is often a messy process, but when it comes to rebranding an entire franchise, it can get downright adversarial. The relationship between franchisees and franchisors can often become strained as franchisors want to update their brands quickly and broadly, while franchisees can feel frustrated and resentful when they don’t understand the reasoning behind high-level
How to Rebrand Without Alienating Your Franchisees Read More »
Shikatani Lacroix’s design and implementation of Calgary Co-op is being inducted into Retail Design Institute’s “Class of 2016” at the 46th Annual Awards Gala and Fundraiser today in New York City. Calgary Co-op, a strong performer in Calgary’s supermarket sector, embarked on a redesign of its stores to address increased competition from new and existing
Retail Design Institute Celebrates Calgary Co-op’s Design Excellence Read More »
