How are foodservice consumers contending with persistent inflation? Are they eating more at home, for example, or continuing to treat themselves at their favorite restaurants? The latest episode of The Food Institute Podcast examines that topic with Krystle Mobayeni of BentoBox, who dissected rapidly evolving consumer dining dynamics.

More About Krystle Mobayeni:
Krystle Mobayeni is the Co-Founder of BentoBox and Head of Restaurants at Fiserv, a global provider of payments and technology solutions that enables 200,000 restaurants to deliver differentiating experiences. Krystle founded BentoBox in 2013 after working with restaurants as a web designer, where she observed that existing technology drove a wedge between restaurants and their guests. BentoBox aims to empower modern restaurants to build their online presence, diversify revenue, engage with diners, and increase operational efficiency. Under her leadership, BentoBox was acquired by Fiserv in November 2021.

Prior to BentoBox, Krystle co-founded Neon & Sons, a full-service digital creative agency in New York City, working with clients like Rent the Runway, NASDAQ, Robin Hood Foundation and more. Earlier, she led design teams as Art Director and Senior Designer at Big Spaceship, and Agency.com (acquired by TBWA). Krystle is on the Board of Directors for the Food Education Fund and recognized as Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Female Founders of 2021, New York Business Journal's 2021 Women of Influence, Entrepreneur’s 100 Powerful Women of 2021 and Business Insider’s Top Innovators in Restaurant Tech. Most recently, Krystle was featured on Nation's Restaurant News 2022 Power List.

More About BentoBox:
BentoBox, a Fiserv Company and the Official Restaurant Technology Partner of the James Beard Foundation, empowers thousands of restaurants to deliver on their mission of hospitality. With the BentoBox Marketing & Commerce Platform, restaurants can unify their technology into an all-in-one commerce engine that delivers a seamless guest experience, a better operator experience and sustainable growth. The platform enables restaurants to build their online presence, diversify revenue, engage with diners and increase operational efficiency through websites, ordering, reservations, marketing tools and more. BentoBox is part of Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE: FI).

Learn more about BentoBox
https://www.getbento.com/

Exploring Consumer Dining Dynamics

This Episode is Sponsored By: Robroy Industries
In the fast-paced and highly regulated world of manufacturing, especially within the food and beverage industry, maintaining stringent hygiene standards is not just a best practice—it's a necessity. Steve Voelzke, president of Robroy Industries’ electrical products division, explored why it's essential to adopt a holistic approach and how this approach can significantly lower the risks of product recalls.
More About Steve Voelzke:
Steve Voelzke is a seasoned executive with over 34 years of experience in engineering and manufacturing leadership roles. His expertise lies in automation and electrical engineering projects, having successfully managed global-scale initiatives throughout his career. As Steve transitioned into the manufacturing sector, he brought his knowledge and vision to Robroy Industries, a prominent manufacturer. He assumed key leadership positions there and became a driving force behind innovation efforts. Steve's commitment to driving growth and innovation is evident through his numerous patents related to evolutionary products. His dedication to community service and philanthropy further highlights his passion for making a positive impact in his community and the industry.

More About Robroy:
Robroy Industries is a manufacturing company with a rich history dating back to its founding in 1905. The company is known for its innovative products and solutions in the electrical industry, focusing on providing high-quality, durable, and reliable products to meet the evolving needs of its customers.  Most notably, they are the manufacturers of the first hygienically designed conduit and fittings line (Robroy Stainless) and sanitary support systems for electrical and mechanical installations (Rocket Rack.) Learn more here: https://robroy.com/.

Hygienic Design for Food Manufacturers

In this week's food industry news in 2 minutes, we examine Mars Inc.'s major, $36 billion acquisition.

FI Fast Break News - Aug. 14, 2024

U.S. grocery retailers are facing regulatory scrutiny on pricing, ever-increasing shrink and a financially-stretched consumer, but how can they adapt to these new market pressures? Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert joined The Food Institute Podcast to discuss the Kroger-Albertsons merger, the rise of private label and more.

More about Phil Lempert:
For more than 25 years, Phil Lempert, an expert analyst on consumer behavior, marketing trends, new products and the changing retail landscape, has identified and explained impending trends to consumers and some of the most prestigious companies and trade associations worldwide. Known as The Supermarket Guru, Lempert is a distinguished author and speaker who alerts customers and business leaders to impending corporate and consumer trends and empowers them to make educated purchasing and marketing decisions.

Phil Lempert was one of the pioneers of the new information media, founding SupermarketGuru.com in 1994. The website is now one of the leading food and health resources on the Internet, visited by more than 9 million people each year. 

SupermarketGuru.com offers original video and editorial content on food and retail trends, food and beverage product ratings, analysis of trends in food marketing and retail, and features health advice, nutrition news and many other resources to empower both the food industry and consumers.

Phil is the founder and editor of The Lempert Report and SupermarketGuru.com and the founder of the Retail Dietitians Business Alliance which was acquired by the Association for Retail and Consumer Professionals in 2022. He has been profiled and interviewed by scores of publications including USA Today, The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Newsweek and Ad Age, and is interviewed by hundreds of publications each year. He is also a columnist for Forbes.com, Category Management Association, The Robin Report & ARC Health & Wellness Community and host of Retail Radar.

Learn more: https://www.supermarketguru.com/ 

Sign up for The Food Institute’s Retail 360 Newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/cIOL5ME/FIRetail360

How Are Grocers Reacting to a Budget-Conscious Consumer?

Restaurant results for the second quarter weren’t stellar, but people still need to eat. Are they turning to their refrigerators, or are restaurants still on the menu for consumers? Circana Senior Vice President David Portalatin joined The Food Institute Podcast to discuss the makeup of the current restaurant customer amid a rising trend of home-centricity.

More about David Portalatin:
David Portalatin is a trusted industry advisor who works closely with leading food manufacturers and retailers as well as foodservice distributors, manufacturers, and operators. He shares data and deep expertise on how U.S. consumers eat and drink, their attitudes and motivations, their personal characteristics, and their use of restaurants and other foodservice outlets. Portalatin is also the author of Circana’s Annual Report on Eating Patterns in America, a compilation of food and foodservice research.

Previously, Portalatin was Circana’s analyst in the convenience retailing, automotive aftermarket, and motor fuels industries. Before joining the company in 1999, he held various positions in foodservice wholesale distribution and convenience retailing.

Portalatin is a frequent speaker at food and foodservice industry events, corporate conferences, and executive meetings. A recognized industry thought leader, his comments have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and many other national media outlets.

More about Circana:
Circana is a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior. Through superior technology, advanced analytics, cross-industry data, and deep expertise, we provide clarity that helps almost 7,000 of the world’s leading brands and retailers take action and unlock business growth. We understand more about the complete consumer, the complete store, and the complete wallet so our clients can go beyond the data to apply insights, ignite innovation, meet consumer demand, and outpace the competition. Learn more at www.circana.com.

Sign up for The Food Institute’s free newsletters: www.foodinstitute.com/newsletters.

How Foodservice is Contending with Home-Centricity

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The Food Institute Podcast leverages the Food Institute's 90-plus-year history to provide actionable information and insight to food industry professionals.

Exploring Consumer Dining Dynamics

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