Food Chain - Issue 215 - October 2026 | Page 41

________________________________________________________________________________________________ Global Partners

Ingredients across the food program are clean label with no preservatives or additives and the menu weaves in local suppliers, such as Massachusetts-based Fire King Bread – ultimately reinforcing the community focus that runs proudly through both banners.

Data driven

Behind all of this is a growing reliance on customer data. The Bee’ s Knees Benefits

loyalty app recently passed its first

anniversary, and Jac’ s team is using it to understand exactly who is shopping which categories and what factors are driving basket size.“ We’ re eagerly digging into the data we get from those purchases from our VIBs, as we call them,” she continues, emphasizing how it balances the needs of loyal customers against a younger,

more omnichannel-minded shopper who expects to see familiar brands in-store. Technology extends far beyond loyalty, with Global Partners also using AI to produce staff training content, investing in tools to predict product movement and maintain consistency across stores, and rolling out digital menu boards with location-specific messaging. Geofencing is also in development, allowing the company to prompt nearby customers with a timely offer.

Data also helps Global Partners decide on new locations. Using real estate metrics first, the company layers consumer insight on top – who lives nearby, what they buy, and what is already competing for their attention.“ If it’ s surrounded by Quick Service Restaurants, that might not be the best competitive advantage for us,” Jac points out.“ It’ s all about the location and the community we’ re building in.”

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