Blog & Podcast
Ep. 74: Next Generation Sports & Entertainment Marketing with John Balkam
In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and hospitality. We invite industry veterans to talk about how customer expectation have...
Expect These Changes to Stadium Concessions Operation in 2021
2021 is likely to be a big year for stadiums. It's likely the year for the industry to finally leave behind the gloom of the pandemic. It's the year of hope — especially given the promising news of mass vaccination which, albeit a tremendous undertaking and a very...
Partner Feature #MeetTheChef: Deeper Than Just Fried Chicken
Boxcar Betty’s three signature chicken sandwiches: Boxcar, Buffalo, and “Not So Waffle.” Image source: Boxcar Betty’s Instagram The story of Boxcar Betty's. You may describe Boxcar Betty’s as a Chick-fil-A with better taste, no politics, and no closed sign on...
The Future of Hotels: Trends to Watch in 2021
With their entire business revolved around services, and the people who deliver them, how can hotels execute a socially distanced service model during and after a pandemic? The hospitality industry has suffered greatly this past year, second only to the airlines. As...
2020: Year In Review
2020 took many turns we didn't expect. For a startup on the trajectory towards rapid growth in the beginning of the year, one can only imagine the shock and denial we felt upon realizing that gatherings and events wouldn't come back anytime soon. Our product, after...
How to Increase Hotel Revenue by Improving the Room Service
With social distancing being top of mind for most people, room service popularity has been on the rise. What used to be considered a premium service is now hailed for its convenience and safety. Research by PWC showed that 86% of guests are ready to pay more for great...
FanFood Launches #OpenThru2020 Thanksgiving Campaign to Benefit Food Service…
FanFood Launches #OpenThru2020 Thanksgiving Campaign to Benefit Food Service Operators Chicago, IL. Nov 8, 2020 — In an effort to help foodservice outlets and operations sustain through the holiday season, Chicago-based contactless ordering technology company,...
How Showboat Drive-In Uses Mobile Ordering to Generate Revenue During COVID-19
How Showboat Drive-In Uses Mobile Ordering to Generate Revenue During COVID-19 Showboat Drive-in theater has been welcoming customers to its 10-acre lot in Hockley, Texas for the last 15 years. Fitted with two movie screens and two stores, the drive-in can see...
Top 5 Tech Trends Transforming In-Stadium Fan Experience
Top 5 Tech Trends Transforming In-Stadium Fan Experience The in-stadium fan experience is not what it used to be. The vast difference between a stadium or arena in the year 2000 compared to present day is nearly incomprehensible. The focus has shifted from a purely...
Ep. 64: Social Media Strategy and Generating Growth with Billy Ash
Ep. 64: Social Media Strategy and Generating Growth with Billy Ash In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and hospitality. We...
Ep. 63: Creating A Differentiated Customer Experience in Sports Betting with Ben Fawkes
Ep. 63: Creating A Differentiated Customer Experience in Sports Betting with Ben Fawkes In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment...
Ep. 62: Modernizing Customer Experiences in Fitness with Austin Cohen
Ep. 62: Modernizing Customer Experiences in Fitness with Austin Cohen In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and hospitality....
Ep. 61: Executing the Northwestern Football Vision with Cody Vedja
Ep. 61: Executing the Northwestern Football Vision with Cody Vedja In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and hospitality. We...
Ep. 60: American Cornhole League Growth with Stacey Moore
Ep. 60: American Cornhole League Growth with Stacey Moore In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and hospitality. We invite...
Ep. 59: Fan Driven Marketing with Amir Zonozi
Ep. 59: Fan Driven Marketing with Amir Zonozi In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and hospitality. We invite industry...
Ep. 58: Sports Betting, Tech and Fan Engagement with Troy Machir
Ep. 58: Sports Betting, Tech and Fan Engagement with Troy Machir In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and hospitality. We...
Ep. 57: Engaging Fans Digitally & Creatively with Kris McCarthy
Ep. 57: Engaging Fans Digitally & Creatively with Kris McCarthy In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and hospitality. We...
Ep. 56: Evolution of FanFood with Carson Goodale
Ep. 56: Evolution of FanFood with Carson Goodale In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and hospitality. We invite industry...
How Contactless Ordering Impacts On-Premise Foodservice Revenue In Hotels
How Contactless Ordering Impacts On-Premise Foodservice Revenue In Hotels While traveling and hotel room occupancy is low nowadays, it won't remain this way forever. According to the Washington Post, "revenge travel" is likely to surge as the pandemic alleviates. A...
Ep. 69: How The Columbus Blue Jackets Think About Fan Engagement with TJ Ansley
Ep. 69: How The Columbus Blue Jackets Think About Fan Engagement with TJ Ansley In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and...
How Hotels and Hospitality Properties Should Use On-Premise Contactless Ordering
How Hotels and Hospitality Properties Should Use On-Premise Contactless Ordering Exactly how big is the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry? There's been 50% revenue decline in 2020, a year that's projected to be the worst year on record for hotel...
Ep. 67: Telling Brand Stories Through Digital with Jeramie McPeek
Ep. 67: Telling Brand Stories Through Digital with Jeramie McPeek In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and hospitality. We...
Using Contactless Ordering Solutions to Offset Revenue Loss
Using Contactless Ordering Solutions to Offset Revenue Loss There are just two months left in 2020 and needless to say, it's been a challenging year. If you're in the food and beverage space — be it a restaurant, food truck, concession stand or on-property F&B...
Ep. 66: Learning From Esports Growth with Eric Johnson
Ep. 66: Learning From Esports Growth with Eric Johnson In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and hospitality. We invite...
How Cashless Ordering Can Speed Up and Enhance Customer Experience
How Cashless Ordering Can Speed Up and Enhance Customer Experience Online and mobile ordering has transformed F&B services. Be it concession stands, restaurants, food trucks, ghost kitchens, on-property F&B outlets and more, operators are now aware that...
Ep. 65: How Zenni Is Using Technology To Improve Customer Experience with Sean Pate
Ep. 65: How Zenni Is Using Technology To Improve Customer Experience with Sean Pate In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and...
Ep. 64: Social Media Strategy and Generating Growth with Billy Ash
Ep. 64: Social Media Strategy and Generating Growth with Billy Ash In each episode of The Playbook presented by FanFood, host Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are modernizing today’s customer experience through technology in sports, entertainment and hospitality. We...
Rethinking the Business of Foodservice Operations in 2020
Rethinking the Business of Foodservice Operations in 2020 Last Thursday we concluded our livestream on the topic of “Rethinking the Business of Foodservice Operations”, hosted by Carson Goodale, CEO of FanFood and Mike Plutino, CEO of Food Service Matters. The...
How Are Countries Getting Ready for the Return of Sports?
How Are Countries Getting Ready for the Return of Sports? It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: starting in late June, American sports leagues will be pushing ahead with reopening. The NWSL is the first U.S. sports league to return, with its Challenge Cup...
How to Monetize the “New Fan” Despite Social Distancing: A Livestream
How to Monetize the "New Fan" Despite Social Distancing: A Livestream Last Thursday we concluded our livestream on the topic of “How to monetize the New Fan despite social distancing”, hosted by Carson Goodale, CEO of FanFood and Nick Lawson, CEO of SQWAD. Due...
FanFood Survey Reveals How People Feel About Attending Games Post Lockdown
FanFood Survey Reveals How People Feel About Attending Games Post Lockdown What once seemed like the distant future has arrived: states are gradually re-opening in phases. However, things will not be the same, and people’s mindset will not be the same. FanFood...
How Should Stadiums, Venues and Restaurants Manage Coronavirus
How should stadiums, venues and restaurants manage coronavirus "People aren’t going to be comfortable sitting shoulder to shoulder for quite a while.“ — Jon Taffer, Host of Bar Rescue It’s been months and we’ve finally let it sink in — nothing is ever going to...
Ep. 41: Sports Content Innovation with Jay Sharman
Ep. 41: Sports Content Innovation with Jay Sharman In each episode of The GameDay Playbook presented by FanFood, Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are transforming the sports and live entertainment industry by leveraging technology to enhance the fan experience and...
Live Chat with FanFood CEO: How Venues Should Prepare for Reopening
Live Chat with FanFood CEO: How Venues Should Prepare for Reopening Last Thursday we hosted a live stream with Carson Goodale, CEO and Co-Founder of FanFood. Amidst the uncertainties during this shelter in place period, one thing is certain: venues will eventually...
Ep. 40: Engaging The Fluid Fan with Josh Walker
Ep. 40: Engaging The Fluid Fan with Josh Walker In each episode of The GameDay Playbook presented by FanFood, Rob Cressy discusses how leaders are transforming the sports and live entertainment industry by leveraging technology to enhance the fan experience and...
How Businesses Use Mobile Ordering Creatively to Generate Revenue
How Businesses Use Mobile Ordering Creatively to Generate Revenue Adaptability isn’t unique to startups. While it’s true that FanFood thrives on challenges that require flexibility and resourcefulness, we’re also very lucky to have like-minded partners on this...
FanFood Manager Portal: The Control Center for Your Entire Operation
FanFood Manager Portal: The Control Center for Your Entire Operation Learning to operate a new system can sound daunting. The last thing we want is adding extra stress to your already fast-paced foodservice operations. Our partners consist of F&B...
How Rizzo’s Created Contactless In-restaurant Ordering System with FanFood + Toast Technology
How Rizzo’s Created Contactless In-restaurant Ordering System with FanFood + Toast Technology Outdoor beer garden at Rizzo's Bar & Inn in Wrigleyville, Chicago. Baseball season is underway, and while Cubs fans may not be able to attend games in person just yet,...
Why FanFood Is The Ultimate Ordering Platform For Your Foodservice Operation
Why FanFood Is The Ultimate Ordering Platform For Your Foodservice Operation FanFood currently operates at 160+ facilities and businesses worldwide. You can find us at school concession stands, drive-in theaters, restaurants and food trucks, across arenas and...
Is the hospitality industry ready for reopening?
Is the hospitality industry ready for reopening? While most states still have some sort of coronavirus restrictions in place, we're seeing businesses gradually open up. This week we zoom in onto the hospitality industry and see what pre-emptive measures hotels,...
13 Booster Club Fundraising Ideas and Their Profit Margins — COVID-19 Edition
13 Booster Club Fundraising Ideas and Their Profit Margins — COVID-19 Edition With states around the country reopening, it looks like kids are headed back to school, which means it’s time for booster clubs to start fundraising again. (You can see this list to track...
Rethinking the Business of Foodservice Operations in 2020
Rethinking the Business of Foodservice Operations in 2020 Last Thursday we concluded our livestream on the topic of “Rethinking the Business of Foodservice Operations”, hosted by Carson Goodale, CEO of FanFood and Mike Plutino, CEO of Food Service Matters. The...
How Are Countries Getting Ready for the Return of Sports?
How Are Countries Getting Ready for the Return of Sports? It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: starting in late June, American sports leagues will be pushing ahead with reopening. The NWSL is the first U.S. sports league to return, with its Challenge Cup...
5 Predictions About Stadium Concessions in 2020: A Revisit
5 Predictions About Stadium Concessions in 2020: A Revisit Update: At the beginning of this year, we could never have guessed what 2020 would have in store for us. A global pandemic, social movements and uncertainties have gripped the nation... and it’s only...
10 Ideas To Keep Your Venue Open During Social Distancing
10 Ideas To Keep Your Venue Open During Social Distancing If there’s one thing to be learned from this pandemic, it’s that we need to be comfortable living with uncertainty. There are a thousand and one questions we can ask that have no answers to: When will...
5 Reasons Why Peapod Co-Founders Invested in FanFood
5 Reasons Why Peapod Co-Founders Invested in FanFood “It’s an on-demand world, and FanFood is meeting that need of that on-demand world. ” — Thomas Parkinson, Peapod co-founder. The FanFood team constantly strives to deliver: not just pretzels and beer...
How Mobile Ordering Reduces Manpower Needed At Concession Stands
How Mobile Ordering Reduces Manpower Needed At Concession Stands Interview with Gregory Kobunski, Director of F&B at Lake Erie Crushers “Food’s hotter; drinks are colder; fans are happier.” Tim Gouw, via Unsplash. When implementing FanFood, Lake Erie...
Increase Your Concession Revenue Per Cap By $1.25 Within A Week
Increase Your Concession Revenue Per Cap By $1.25 Within A Week Interview with Jon Pickel, Owner of Tower Drive-in Theater and FanFood venue partner “First night, we set ourselves up to fail — and it turned out to be our busiest night so far.” It’s only...
Student Entrepreneurs Founded Company To Support In-Seat Delivery
Student Entrepreneurs Founded Company To Support In-Seat Delivery How UNC — Chapel Hill students tapped on FanFood to give back to the community “I highly doubt anyone will go to the concession stand three times during a game. But one buddy ordered three times at one...
How Owasso High School Increased Concessions Revenue By 20% With FanFood
How Owasso High School Increased Concessions Revenue By 20% With FanFood Interview with Jeff Harrington, Vice President at Owasso High School Band Patrons “Wow did it cut down the lines!” Jeff said. “It gives us a little breathing room, as you know how concession...
Durham Bulls Takes On Innovation In Concession Management
Durham Bulls Takes On Innovation In Concession Management Interview with David Levey, Director of Food and Beverage at Durham Bulls “I view the future of placing orders as this: Fans can place them whenever they want, not have to wait in line, and get it delivered if...
