Steaks sizzle to help
Times build a brand

Times Super Market has taken the "sell the sizzle" concept all the way to your table, football party or picnic.

Almost a year ago the stores started carrying Sterling Silver brand of beef. "It's a USDA choice product and we wanted to introduce it to the public through sampling," said Roger Godfrey, president of Quinn Supers Inc., which does business as Times.

"One of our managers said, 'Gee, maybe we ought to try selling plate lunches,'" Godfrey said. "We started at our McCully store and it was well-accepted and it just grew from there."

Some customers come just for the $6.25 steak plates that include rice, salad and a Pepsi. "There are others that shop and then pick up a plate and certain Monday nights, when there's Monday Night Football, they pick up a plate and go home and watch the game," Godfrey said.

Times' crew prepares the steak plates from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the McCully and Waipahu stores on Wednesdays, the Aiea and Beretania stores on Thursdays, The Kailua and Waimalu stores on Fridays, the Kaneohe and Kunia stores on Saturdays, the Koolau store on Sundays and the Kahala and Liliha stores on Mondays. On Tuesdays, the crew rests.

There's just something about the aroma of steaks on the grill.

"It's amazing, the results you get, and of course the product is a good product. That's why we're successful because the grilling part, it's like you say, you sell the sizzle, right?"

The branding of meat products is a relatively new industry trend, Godfrey said.

"Perishables in the past didn't do any branding. That's all changing now, so the perishables are now becoming branded like a can of peas or corn."

Sterling Silver is a name used by Excel Corp. which is a division of Cargill Inc.

TV show heads for radio

"Walaau," a show giving viewers inside scoops on community issues and events, has been hosted by Dickie Chang for some 10 years.

The two are coming together in an arrangement where the show's audio will be carried on Coast-FM 87.7 as the show airs on Hoike, Kauai's public access station.

There is a new episode of the show each week that airs several times on Hoike. It will air less often on the radio, according to spokeswoman Joy Miura Koerte.

"This is truly part of the evolution of 'Walaau,'" said Chang.

Station owner Jeff Chang, no relation, plans a dual kick-off by hosting a Kauai Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event Sept. 9 at the Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club.

Separately, Jeff Chang has entered into a partnership with Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School's multi-media class. Students will produce short weekly radio shows to begin airing on Coast-FM in late September or early October.