Hot on the heels of a recent name change, Weight Watchers -- now known as WW -- has opened up a 'Freestyle Café' in Brooklyn's Barclays Center. While the location may seem like an unusual choice for a diet-specific café, the idea is to offer visitors to the Barclays Center some healthier alternatives to usually indulgent stadium fare.
The Freestyle Café is the first-ever WW café. To pay homage to its location, the café boasts a special BKLN's menu, curated by Iron Chef Cat Cora. In keeping with the WW points system, the café will offer healthy Mediterranean-inspired entrees, including Sesame Lamb Meatballs, Grilled Street Corn, and a Mediterranean Buddha Bowl. All the points are listed alongside each item, so those following the WW system can enjoy a meal without fear of derailing their diet. As WW's SVP of Marketing Sherry Thompson explains, "We want to be places people don’t expect us to be but where they still need healthy food."
Image Credit: <i> WW.</i>
What's Driving This Trend
- Diet-specific Cafés
- The rise of diet-specific cafés offers an opportunity for brands to cater to health-conscious consumers.
- Healthier Stadium Fare
- The demand for healthier food options at stadiums creates a disruptive innovation opportunity for food vendors and concession stands.
- Ww-inspired Menus
- Collaborating with popular diet programs like Weight Watchers (WW) provides an opportunity for restaurants to offer customized menus that align with specific dietary needs.
Who This Affects Most
- Restaurant Industry
- Restaurants can adapt to the trend of diet-specific cafés by incorporating healthier menu options and providing nutritional information.
- Sports and Entertainment Industry
- The sports and entertainment industry can disrupt the traditional stadium food offerings by introducing more nutritious and diet-friendly choices.
- Wellness Industry
- The wellness industry can capitalize on the popularity of diet-specific cafés by promoting healthy eating habits and providing support for individuals following specific diets.
