Top 10 FAQs

1. What Is ShoptoCook™?

ShoptoCook's Recipe-for-$ales Center^sm reduces the daily stress of everyday meal planning by providing an unlimited variety of fast, fun and fulfilling meal ideas while the shopper is in the store. ShoptoCook's touch-screen kiosks are located along the perishable perimeter in the meat, seafood, produce, wine, and cheese departments where meal planning takes place. With a simple touch of the screen or item scan, shoppers can view and print recipes for a specific product or need, on the spot.

2. So you are just another in-store promotion program?

No. The issues facing consumers today are complicated, and our technology can help address their complex needs. For example, the shopper may be looking for a low-carb recipe, a meal to please their picky children, or a great idea for a dinner party. Shoppers are different -- and so are their daily needs.

Most promotion programs are all about price, pushing deals and offers on to shoppers without any regard to their needs. Most shoppers do not purchase food items they do not know how to prepare, even if they are on sale!

ShoptoCook's approach to in-store promotion is to offer solutions designed to solve the shopper's meal planning problem. Providing recipe ideas for familiar and unfamiliar items helps build confidence, reduces meal-planning stress and replaces some of the boredom that many shoppers face when they prepare the same thing the same old way. And, it helps builds sales by providing shoppers with the confidence to experience all the variety available in a great perishable department.

In addition to recipes and meal ideas, ShoptoCook™ offers applications for wine and cheese pairings, and health and wellness information. Optional add-on services include an integrated price checker, aisle locator, and loyalty card information. The turnkey service provides a complete solution for retail food sales, marketing and promotion with a proven ROI.

Our subscription-based program requires no upfront licensing fees, and includes all of the technical support expected from our best-of-breed position in the industry.

3. Who are your customers?

First and foremost, our ultimate customer is the shopper. By keeping our eyes and ears constantly on the shopper, we are able to create services that solve their problems while also providing food retailers and manufacturers with direct access to individual shoppers.

Our primary business customer is the retail CEO and senior executive involved in corporate strategy.

4. How do you help retailers succeed?

ShoptoCook™ increases sales and store loyalty by leveraging the strengths of the perishable department's variety. Grocers can expand the customer shopping-basket by providing shoppers with information necessary to make meal planning easier including how to prepare unfamiliar items or use new products in a meal solution.

Shoppers find solutions from needs-based menus reflecting what's important to them such as Under 30 Minutes, Healthy Living, Main Dish Salads, etc. Or, they can scan any item in the perishable department and view recipes for the exact product in hand. Shoppers can instantly browse through thousands of recipe ideas along with high-resolution color photographs for quick, visual selection. A touch of the screen allows them to view the details and print the recipe including full preparation instructions, a shopping list, suggested accompaniments, and associated promotions - all in just seven seconds.

The perishable perimeter is the most traveled part of the store. ShoptoCook™ creates an opportunity for retailers to collect information about the desires of the shoppers while in the area of the store where they make their most critical decisions. All kiosk activity is logged and reported daily, providing detailed information about shopper's needs, and what they are looking for in your store.

We provide retailers with a turnkey solution including recipes, software, monitoring and reporting plus the technology expertise to manage a chain-wide network of touch-screen, interactive kiosks.

5. Where do food manufacturers fit in?

ShoptoCook™ gives branded food manufacturers an in-store advertising and promotional media channel located in the perishable aisle. This creates incremental, full-revenue sales by satisfying consumer needs and influencing the brand choice of individual shoppers already in the store looking for meal solutions.

Food manufacturers take part in the solution by providing recipes that include branded ingredients and accompaniments. Our recipe sponsorship program allows them to include their corporate kitchen recipes, including branded ingredients, banners and logos, and printed promotions or offers on every recipe printed featuring their product.

6. How have shoppers reacted?

They love it! 97% felt ShoptoCook's Recipe Solutions Center was very easy to use and 91% had a positive experience with the kiosk. In independent qualitative studies, researchers found that 62% of shoppers who printed recipes purchased ingredients during the same shopping trip. Of those shoppers, 67% not only made the recipe, but also said they would make it again. Repeat usage builds value for retailers and manufacturers.

7. What is the bottom line of what you do?

ShoptoCook™ increases food sales and builds store loyalty by solving basic consumer needs centered on meal planning.

8. Where is ShoptoCook™ installed?

ShoptoCook™ manages over 750 interactive devices located in 27 states, covering 33 different banners. In 2008 a typical shopper browsed 40 recipes, printed an average 1½ recipes per session, spent an average of 65 seconds, and left with a printed recipe in hand 80% of the time.

9. What's next for ShoptoCook™?

ShoptoCook's core competency is content development and management for interactive media in-store and on-line. Our solutions are designed to connect Retailers, Manufacturers, and Shoppers wherever and whenever they wish to interact; on the Internet, in the Store, or Mobile. We're committed to providing our clients with Retail hardened interactive solutions for emerging technologies so it's ready when they are ready - look to us for your Innovations in Interactive!