Case Study - Unilever

Background and Objectives

How did the Unilever partnership begin, and what prompted the need?

The HR team at a major Unilever manufacturing plant approached our company in January 2021. They had arranged some catering services for their team in the past and wanted to explore how The Food Truck Hub & Event Experiences could best support their goals.

What problems was Unilever trying to solve with their food truck program—especially for overnight shifts?

The plant administration found it challenging to figure out which food trucks would be best for their team. Their past experiences were met with mixed reviews and it was often challenging to coordinate with the food truck operators - especially with the added challenge of requiring caterers to provide service during the third shift (overnight service). They were looking for a partner to manage the opportunity for them.

Target Audience

Who was this catering program designed for at the Unilever facility?

The client approached TFTH&EE directly through our website and submitted a quote request through the 17hats link on our site.

Was this program created for different groups or shifts, or was it one experience for everyone?

See above - the client was not targeted by a marketing campaign.

Strategy and Planning

What was the overall approach for delivering a consistent, high-quality experience month after month?

The overall strategy was to provide a second-to-none experience, delivering high quality experiences to associates around the clock through a single, dedicated team to coordinate monthly themes and provide inspiring recommendations.

Measuring Success

How did Unilever and your team define success for an ongoing monthly program (beyond a single event)?

N/A - not the campaign success, but rather the success of the services that we have been providing every month since February 2021.

Challenges and Obstacles

What challenges came up around approvals, tastings, and timing for each monthly event?

To further engage employees, the HR team at the manufacturing facility created an engagement committee to help identify requested cuisines and to approve each caterer. The approval process entailed a tasting for the committee, which was often challenging to schedule, especially with such short turns for the next event.

How did you streamline approvals and planning so tastings and vendor selection stayed on track?

We met these challenges by planning a six-month cycle with our client contact, identifying opportunities earlier on in the process and scheduling tastings to ensure that enough time in advance was planned for the tastings and subsequent event.

Future Recommendations

What should companies do to keep service efficient and accommodate dietary needs at large onsite food events?

To maximize service efficiency and to share information with guests before they order, it is always critical to provide a detailed menu, listing any dietary and allergen notes.

Case Conclusion

What results did this partnership deliver over five years, and how did the program expand over time?

TFTH&EE completed 5 full years of partnering with Unilever by exceeding expectations, creating new menus, and introducing new events. In addition to the team favorite monthly lunch, we now provide an annual family picnic day and produce every component of that experience.