Restaurant Marketing Links
Hello RTAR fans - sorry for the lack of posting - but today, 2011 and this blog starts anew once again. First, I want to thank everyone for their support in 2010: indeed, as you can see from this link - this blog remains in the top Alexa Rankings -
http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/restauranttradearearesearch.com# thanks to your interest and support. Please share RTAR with others.
Anyway, tons has happened in six weeks so let’s get started:
First, McDonald’s has been continuing it sales increases - partly thru dead on new product introductions that capitalize on the only segment that is growing - breakfast; and health - McDonald’s Offers New Fruit & Maple Oatmeal - http://www.restaurantnews.com/mcdonalds-offers-new-fruit-maple-oatmeal/ and this link talks about just how BIG the Happy Meal is to McDonald’s - Just How Happy Does the Happy Meal Make McDonald’s? - http://adage.com/article?article_id=147271 - how about sales bigger than IHOP? Wow.
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Indeed, this article wonders: Can Starbucks Adapt Like McDonald’s Has? - http://blogs.forbes.com/investor/2010/11/04/can-starbucks-adapt-like-mcdonalds-has/
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Indeed, the coffee giant may want to keep an eye over their shoulder as Dunkin’ Brands Opens Its 16,000th Location Worldwide - http://www.restaurantnews.com/dunkin-brands-opens-its-16000th-location-worldwide/
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General Restaurant News, Trends - Alcohol Sales at Restaurants and Bars Expected to Increase by Nearly 2 Percent in 2011 - http://www.restaurantnews.com/alcohol-sales-at-restaurants-and-bars-expected-to-increase-by-nearly-2-percent-in-2011/ – and here is a real interesting look at basics: Marketing Sense Isn’t the Same as Common Sense - and uses Little Caesar’s as it’s kicking horse - http://adage.com/columns/article?article_id=146846; meanwhile, Trendspotters Pick Top Five Food Trends at Winter Fancy Food Show - http://www.restaurantnews.com/trendspotters-pick-top-five-food-trends-at-winter-fancy-food-show/ Belgian Waffles and Tea for example.
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Meanwhile, the industry as a whole continues to sputter in a horizontal mode - Restaurant industry sees slow recovery - http://www.suntimes.com/business/3485891-420/restaurants-percent-industry-npd-chicago.html - highlights from this link includes HARD Data like this:
Traffic to restaurants was basically flat last year, NPD said, but visits to restaurants fell from 62 billion in 2007, the year the Great Recession began, to 59 billion in 2010…..“Never before have we seen weakness of this magnitude for this prolonged period of time… Nationally, 5,551 restaurants closed, a dip of just under 1 percent, NPD said.
Fewer restaurants, fewer visits - don’t let anyone tell you the New Normal is OVER.
More Soon. Promise.
