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Refreshed corporate café boosts sales, participation

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

June 28, 2018

10 Slides
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Restaurant Associates had been operating the café inside the AIG building in downtown New York City for six years when it noticed participation had begun declining in the face of the eatery’s aging and the growth of alternative dining spots on nearby streets. A thorough review produced a refresh proposal presented to the client last fall.

The result was the debut of the renovated Café Sixteen this January with innovative and creative food programs that incorporate traditional favorites, health and wellness initiatives and vegetarian/vegan friendly dishes at each station. They produced a 26 percent increase in participation, a sales uptick of 34 percent and a check average boost of $1.09. Two pre-existing stations that received new menu concepts and station designs have increased 37 percent in daily participation and 42 percent in daily check average.

Café Sixteen caters to a building population of around 2,200 for client AIG, a multinational insurance corporation that operates in 80 countries and jurisdictions around the world.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights.

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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