The Inspire Brands Flavor Forward: ProStart® Innovation Challenge is an exercise designed to supplement the Foundations of Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts (FRMCA) curriculum with a dynamic case study that invites culinary and restaurant management students to step into the shoes of a real-world product development team. In partnership with Inspire Brands, students will take on the exciting challenge of creating a new menu item for either Buffalo Wild Wings or Dunkin’. From concept ideation to marketing strategy, this experience empowers students to blend creativity with business acumen—mirroring the fast-paced innovation process behind some of America’s most iconic food and beverage brands.
Empowering Students Through Real-World Innovation
The Inspire Brands Flavor Forward: ProStart Innovation Challenge offers educators a powerful tool to bring classroom learning to life. Designed to align with the Foundations of Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts curriculum, this case study engages students in developing a new product for either Buffalo Wild Wings or Dunkin’, guiding them through the full cycle of ideation, costing, and marketing.
Specifically, this challenge supports learning objectives from the FRMCA curriculum allowing students to apply key concepts such as target market analysis, promotional strategy, recipe costing, and profitability. By simulating a commercial product development process, educators can reinforce essential career skills while fostering creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking in a real-world context.
Inspire Brands Background and Culture
Purpose: Ignite and nourish flavorful experiences
Vision: Invigorate great brands and supercharge their long-term growth
Stats:
- Founded in 2018
- 2nd largest US restaurant company
- 33,000+ restaurants
- Brand Portfolio: Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC
- 650,000 company and franchise team members
Core Behaviors:
- Mavericks: Doing what has never been done before
- Allies: Collaborating to win
- Visionaries: Having foresight and imagination
- Achievers: Getting it done, and having fun doing it
- Good Citizens: Elevating each other and the communities we serve
Brand Promise: Buffalo Wild Wings turns game-time into stories worth telling.
Brand Purpose: Inspire legendary experiences between friends.
Stats:
- 1,300 Restaurants
- Leading Sports Bar brand in the US
Values:
- Hustle: Take ownership in providing a winning guest experience. Anticipate and embrace change with zeal.
- Sportsmanship: Celebrate differences, be fair and act like a team player in all situations.
- Spontaneity: Be authentic while cheering on and adapting to the arrival of the unknown.
- Community: Create unique, positive guest experiences while fostering strong community connections.
- Fun: Enjoy the moment, create and engaging, entertaining environment.
Brand Purpose: Energize us all to power forward
Brand Promise: Dunkin’ get America ready to get it done.
Stats:
- 13,200 Restaurants
- Largest coffee and donuts brand in the United States
Values:
- Daily Delight: We deliver America’s craveable daily ritual.
- Trusted Wingman: We fuel America’s ambitions. We are the dependable boost to take on whatever lies ahead.
- Always Fun: We make every encounter upbeat, playful and real. We’re serious about our beverages and food, but don’t take ourselves too seriously.
- Community Minded: We take pride in our rich heritage that has made us a beloved part of people’s lives. Our connections in the communities we serve run deep.
- Forever Running: We move at the speed of life, always challenging ourselves to do more and to do it better. Like America, we aim high.
Additional Resources
- Buffalo Wild Wings · Social Media Inspiration · Team Building Activities · Proposal Templates
- Buffalo Wild Wings · Interactive Student Activity Worksheet
- Dunkin’ · Social Media Inspiration · Team Building Activities · Proposal Templates
- Dunkin’ · Interactive Student Activity Worksheet
- ProStart Innovation Challenge Lesson Plan Guide
- FRMCA Chapters and Learning Objectives
Inspire Flavor Forward Virtual Case Competition
Due to the busy competition season across ProStart programs nationwide, we are postponing the competition component of the Inspire Brands Flavor Forward: ProStart Innovation Challenge. As this is the program’s pilot year, we want to ensure the best possible experience for all participating classrooms.
But don’t worry—your hard work will not go to waste!
We’d love your feedback on the project and we’ve created a short survey to help us identify the ideal timing for the rescheduled competition. Classrooms that completed the project are also invited to submit their proposals for review by the Inspire Brands team. Each submission will receive feedback.
To participate:
- Complete this feedback survey: Flavor Forward: ProStart Innovation Challenge Feedback
- Submit your proposal as a PDF: Upload to this Dropbox folder
- Deadline: All materials must be submitted by 5:00 PM ET on Wednesday, April 1.
If you have any questions, please reach out to prostart@nraef.org.
Thank you for helping us shape this exciting new experience for ProStart students!