What We Do

CSSI is truly unique in the agency world. We combine industry-leading strategic thinking with comprehensive marketing services and culinary-focused development, three pillars that showcase our talents and lead to big results. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work!
Our recent projects

Sustainability that cooks up
deliciously every time?

USA Rice is empowering operators to deliver on consumers’ demands for great tasting food that’s local, sustainable and good for them. Now the group is partnering with leading restaurant chains, including P.F. Chang’s, to celebrate National Rice Month and donate food to hungry families across the country.

Sustainability that cooks up deliciously every time?

USA Rice is empowering operators to deliver on consumers’ demands for great tasting food that’s local, sustainable and good for them. Now the group is partnering with leading restaurant chains, including P.F. Chang’s, to celebrate National Rice Month and donate food to hungry families across the country.
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Through a secured partnership with P.F. Chang’s, we spread awareness to more than 78K Twitter followers, nearly 5M Facebook visitors, and 4.42M guests—and easily met the donations cap of 1M meals for hungry folks.

We wear it on our sleeves.

Our goal: Create a branded innovation process targeting national account customers. Custom Culinary®, global leader in all things flavor, has put a brand on it. A best-in-class collaborative innovation process, that is.

We wear it on our sleeves.

Our goal: Create a branded innovation process targeting national account customers. Custom Culinary®, global leader in all things flavor, has put a brand on it. A best-in-class collaborative innovation process, that is.
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A compelling story was told to position Custom Culinary® as an industry heavy hitter and valuable resource and partner.

That will happen when pigs fly.

Well, they’re flying. Pork powerhouse Smithfield has repositioned a tired cut to resonate with consumer trends and operator needs.

That will happen when pigs fly.

Well, they’re flying. Pork powerhouse Smithfield has repositioned a tired cut to resonate with consumer trends and operator needs.
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We overcame impossible odds as Smithfield surpassed first year sales expectations, reinforcing the notion that the sky is the limit.

Just leaf it to us.

Innovative produce grower Mann Packing is about as customer-focused as anyone out there. So much so, they can even grow lettuce to a uniform leaf size that’s perfect for burger applications.

Just leaf it to us.

Innovative produce grower Mann Packing is about as customer-focused as anyone out there. So much so, they can even grow lettuce to a uniform leaf size that’s perfect for burger applications.
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The stars aligned, and the Better Burger Leaf from Mann Packing was featured on a premium burger that launched nationwide into 1,500+ units of a major chain.

A healthier relationship.

Our client, a Top 10 restaurant chain, promised to make substantial inroads in reducing sodium across its broad menu. Keep the flavor and brand identity in, take some of the sodium out. Easier said than done.

A healthier relationship.

Our client, a Top 10 restaurant chain, promised to make substantial inroads in reducing sodium across its broad menu. Keep the flavor and brand identity in, take some of the sodium out. Easier said than done.
Intensive recipe re-development ushered in a mind-blowing 10%+ sodium reduction on a variety of menu applications.

See me, see you…C&U? We’re taking our expertise on the road.

USA Rice is empowering operators to deliver on consumers’ demands for great tasting food that’s local, sustainable and good for them. Now the group is partnering with leading restaurant chains, including P.F. Chang’s, to celebrate National Rice Month and donate food to hungry families across the country.

See me, see you…C&U? We’re taking our expertise on the road.

Wait…what’s the best approach to building demand for products the C&U segment? While we’re at it, what about B&I, recreation, schools and so on? A leading global foodservice manufacturer (Client “Z”) targeted the onsite market for enhanced focus and growth but knew that the best practices to take their business to the next level are constantly evolving.
Client team members from all customer-facing functional areas participated in a strategic immersion workshop that renewed their understanding of the market, changes at key customers and best practices, empowering their ability to partner with the diverse customer touch points of major onsite operators.

Rock star strategy?

It was planning season, once again. Our client wanted to inform and add current insights to their annual planning process. Block out the noise; amp up the key issues for a strategy that really rocks.

Rock star strategy?

It was planning season, once again. Our client wanted to inform and add current insights to their annual planning process. Block out the noise; amp up the key issues for a strategy that really rocks.
This day-long program helped structure and inform our client's strategic planning process. The team rallied around an immerseive approach to assessing relevant industry trends and changes - then analyzed them within the context of their business. In a word, the resulting strategy jams.

Flying without a net?

With so many distractions and competition for attention, NRA (and other industry events) can sometimes feel like a circus. CSSI was ready to turn NRA weekend on its head, ensuring that our clients were the star attractions to their operator chain customers.

Flying without a net?

With so many distractions and competition for attention, NRA (and other industry events) can sometimes feel like a circus. CSSI was ready to turn NRA weekend on its head, ensuring that our clients were the star attractions to their operator chain customers.