Lackmann Food launches test centers

Nation's Restaurant News, Jan 8, 1996

WOODBURY, N.Y. -- Lackmann Food Service has established Strategic Development Centers to test products and programs the company is considering offering to all clients.

The concept is part of Lackmann's recently developed Strategy 2000 plan, which is designed to help the company reach $100 million in annual revenue by the year 2000. Annual revenue is currently $62 million.

Designated SDCs are The Internal Revenue Service Cafe, Long Island; the Dean Witter Reynolds 43rd Floor Cafe, Manhattan; and the Hillwood Cafe, The Long Island University at C. W. Post College.

"These units were chosen because they represent different types of businesses and because each best exhibits our company's quality standards," said SDC coordinator Andrew Lackmann.

The units will be used on an ongoing basis to test service, food, marketing and MIS programs developed or selected by the company's Strategy 2000 group.

Previously, Lackmann developed programs in-house and then rolled them out to all units, ironing out problems as they occurred. Lackmann said the new procedure would be more efficient.

He added that the SDCs would test products and programs, as many as four or five at a time, on a continual basis. The test periods for specific items will vary.