CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT
When you think Pimlico and Laurel race tracks, what do you think? Horse racing, right? Not food, but we talked with Brendan O’Dea, Food and Beverage Operations Manager for the Maryland Jockey Club which operates both locations and asked him what the Maryland Jockey Club does to grow sales and set themselves apart from other race tracks. He told us that they reach out to other local companies such as hotels, concierges and chambers of commerce to help drive traffic to the tracks. Their marketing department does digital media including listing events through online calendars and posting on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to make the public aware of events happening at both of the locations. Most of the answers he gave us were related to their food offerings. In the past year they have changed their menus and the food quality has greatly increased, which Brendan said people at the track have noticed and they have received lots of positive feedback. For the Preakness this year, they brought in a celebrity chef, Mike Isabella. They also did a farm to table concept and used fresh Maryland crabmeat to help set this year’s event apart. The Maryland Jockey Club is trying to capture those in their late 20’s to 30’s to 40’s who currently do not come to the track. They are going to hold beer dinners and other things of that nature in hopes of drawing that group in to see what all they have to offer. They are also developing a concession menu and opening a candy store, deli, Taste of Italy and a Smokehouse to expand their offerings. Hopefully this will encourage more people to try the food and see that there is a large variety of improved offerings.
Other events are held at the tracks such as Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Day and Maryland Million Day, which attract more customers. According to Brendan, Fridays and Saturdays are really good days even without other events going on. Right now everyone is getting ready for opening day of onsite racing, which starts September 18th and goes through December. The Maryland Jockey Club has been a solid Performance Foodservice customer for three years. Brendan really likes his sales rep, Fred Rosenzweig and thinks Performance Foodservice is a good honest company. He also said that everyone from the company that has been there has been extremely nice and very easy to work with. A little advice from Brendan if you’re looking to get into the foodservice industry – make sure you are financially stable and ready to work really hard for years before making good money. As long as you have the drive and passion, you can learn and succeed!