We are very pleased to learn that our former client, LYFE Kitchen, is planning to open 10 more locations by the end of this year. Cofounder Mike Donahue, former McDonald’s executive, set forth to create an elevated fast-casual restaurant experience that focuses on good-for-you food that’s also delicious and perfect for meat-eaters, flexitarians, locavores, vegetarians and even vegan diners.

LYFE stands for “love your food every day,” and that’s exactly what it aims to do with its menu and company values. LYFE’s menu consists of an array of choices that emphasize locally sourced, sustainable and organic wherever raw materials where possible. All menu items contains less than 600 calories and less than 1000 mg of sodium.

From only a single location in Palo Alto, LYFE Kitchen now can be found now be found in 17 locations across the nation in California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Tennessee, and Texas. We congratulate LYFE Kitchen on all their success!

After several years of reduced traffic, restaurant owners are searching for ways to drive Millennials back into their establishments. Millennials, those aged 18-34, represent a large market segment but have reduced their restaurant visits and spent more time eating at home in the past few years. Many restaurants recognize this problem and are adapting their strategies in order to regain the lost traffic. According to a new study from the NPD Group, the following dining elements are most important to Millennials:

 

• Unique dining experiences
• Friendly service
• Fresh ingredients

 

Sizzler and LYFE Kitchen are two brands that have done an exceptional job in adapting to the preferences of Millennials. Sizzler, known for its appeal to families and seniors, recognized the influential power of Millennials and revamped the menu accordingly. Not only did they conduct research studies to discover Millennial taste preferences, they also hired Millennials for top positions in their marketing and R&D departments. This resulted in the opening of a new concept, Sizzler Market Grill, which offers premium ingredients, salad ‘mixologists’, and open seating areas, all of which create the unique dining experience that Millennials crave.

 

LYFE Kitchen, the California-based ‘flexitarian’ fast-casual concept, is passionate about their appeal to Millennials. When opening new units, the chain pinpoints areas with a high density of young people and chooses their locations accordingly. Their next step in appealing to Millennials is the release of their new loyalty app, MY Life, this September.

For more information, read the entire article here.

Please contact Synergy Restaurant Consultants for help with appealing to Millennials and driving traffic to your establishments.

 

Premium fast-casual players have created a new market niche called ‘fast fine.’ Restaurants such as Mendocino Farms, 800 Degrees Pizza, and LYFE Kitchen are pushing the fast-casual model and putting a greater focus on hospitality and restaurant design. While still keeping prices low, these industry players are looking to fine dining for menu and design inspiration.

Here are a few examples of what Mendocino Farms is doing to elevate the guest experience:

• Guests are greeted by a host and, while being guided through the line, are informed of daily specials and unique menu items
• A server works the floor to get guests anything they need throughout their meal
• Real flatwear, not disposable, is used
• Curated seasonal beer and wine lists are offered at each restaurant
• Each location has a unique design that reflects the neighborhood

LYFE Kitchen is known for a health-conscious menu and takes pride in serving not just food, but a complete experience. Noodles and Company has found great success with using ‘Noodle Ambassadors’ that work the floor as servers during dinner. This helps guests that may want to linger and take time to enjoy their dinner. 800 Degrees has taken their concept to the next level by incorporating high-end restaurant design from world renowned Phillipe Starck.

Read more about the ‘fast-fine’ trend here.

Premium fast-casual is being called the future of casual dining. Contact Synergy Restaurant Consultants if you would like to learn more about elevating your casual restaurant concept.

LYFE Kitchen has announced that six new LYFE Kitchen Restaurant locations are currently under construction and work will begin on two more by the end of the month.  There are some incredible new locations in the works including new corporate stores in California (four locations), Texas, Nevada, and New York.  The Chicago franchisee group will also be opening their second location and a new franchisee from Colorado will be opening their first location in Denver.  In addition to the ambitious growth plan, LYFE announced that sales are up are all of their existing locations.  We are so excited to hear this fantastic news from our friends at LYFE Kitchen and we look forward to their continued success throughout 2014.

 

 

 

Near the end of each year, hospitality industry experts such as the National Restaurant Association, like to predict what food trends the new year will ring in. The NRA’s 2014 Culinary Forecast has the low-down on what diners will likely be noticing on their plates in the year ahead.

 

For 2013, the NRA surveyed chefs to find what they thought would be a hot food trend– the top three of the list were locally sourced meats and seafood, locally grown produce and healthy kids’ meals. How do the 2014 predictions stack up to last year’s?

 

Local is still going to be big, and tops off the first two items of the NRA’s Top 20 Trends.

 

1. Locally sourced meats and seafood

2. Locally grown produce

3.  Healthful kids’ meals

5. Gluten-free cuisine

6. Hyper-local sourcing

7. Children’s nutrition

8. Non-wheat noodles/pasta

9. Sustainable food

10. Farm/estate branded items

 

Read the official report for the entire list of trends and results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We love a good restaurant success story, especially when it involves one of our clients!  We’re excited to share that LYFE Kitchen has released plans to reach 250 locations within the next five years.  After incredible success with the first two locations, including winning Best New Restaurant in Palo Alto and being named one of the most innovative companies in food by Fast Company Magazine, the brand is ready for expansion.  The LYFE Kitchen team just broke ground on their third unit in Tarzana, California and has plans to expand to West Hollywood, Irvine, and Chicago before the end of the year.  Also in the pipeline are franchise locations in the Northern California, Colorado, Texas, Las Vegas, New York, and Washington D.C. markets.

 

LYFE Kitchen was created by former McDonald’s executives who wanted to make healthy, sustainable food accessible to everyone.  Synergy was the primary consultant in the development of this highly successful fast-casual dining concept in the better-for-you space. Our team assisted with prototypical design components, the development of operating systems, menu and recipe creation, supply chain management, and value engineering.   We wish LYFE Kitchen congratulations on their recent success and look forward to continuing our partnership in the future!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Move over brown rice, the new good-for-you-grains are actually ancient! Ever hear of “kamut,” “freekeh” or “farro?” Or maybe you’ve heard of quinoa, a quick-cooking seed that’s popular among those on gluten-free and vegetarian diets? Did you know that quinoa originates from South America (in the Andean region) and was referred to as sacred and the ‘mother of all grains,’ by the Incas?

Most notably, these ancient grains are revered for their great nutritional benefits. Quinoa is particularly high in protein and also contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans.

While working with LYFE Kitchen, we wanted to incorporate these healthy grains into a flavorful gourmet dish. The result is Tal’s Ancient Grain Bowl, which has been a hit amongst seekers of healthful and tasty food. Containing stir-fried gardein* tips and vegetables over whole grain farro and quinoa with sweet chile-ginger sauce, Tal’s Ancient Grain Bowl is just 559 calories and 646 mg of sodium – a truly wholesome and delicious choice.

Want to read more on the healthy benefits of ancient grains? See this article here.

LYFE Kitchen: Tal’s Ancient Grain Bowl

 

We’re proud to have had the privilege to help bring the LYFE Kitchen concept to life and feel even prouder when we read real-life customer testimonials like this one.

Have you had a great experience  at LYFE Kitchen? Please share it with us!

When we walked into LYFE, the energy in the restaurant was beautiful and peaceful. There was a nice size crowd, it was decorated with comfortable couches and or love seats and chairs. The space was open. Everyone was smiling and laughing. There is a beautiful herb garden growing there by the register/ordering area. The kitchen is open and you can see them cooking. There are inspiring quotes printed on the walls. The whole place just makes you want to take a deep breath and really in-joy “LYFE”. Read the whole post from this LYFER

Fast food without the grease, salt … or guilt?

That’s what the entrepreneurs behind Lyfe Kitchen, a proposed fast-food chain slated to open later this summer, are promising customers.

“It’s going to be great-tasting, satiating, familiar foods,” Read entire full LA Times article.

Did you get a chance to chat live with Chef Tal Ronnen? Last week, Chef Tal completed LYFE Kitchen Chef’s Tour of San Francisco. Check out all the photos on LYFE’s Facebook Page