Restaurant Trade Area Research

In what can only be considered somewhat eye-opening, much like the subject matter - McDonald’s clearly wins in this study of over 15,000 respondents (customers) for loyalty in the important coffee segment of customers - especially for the still growing breakfast daypart. More menu census data extensions - http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/Daily/Pages/ND0418112.aspx and speaking of McDonald’s - check out this fun list floating around of the `secret menus’ you can order from FF restaurants if you know what to ask for - http://www.ranker.com/list/mcdonald_s-secret-menu-items/secret-menu-items - BIG MAC dipping sauce for french fries? Hmmm. The above article also links to the secret menus of other FF restaurants too. Much like this article of the Cult origins of various FF choices - http://www.minyanville.com/special-features/articles/McDonalds-McDonald-brothers-Ray-Kroc-history/11/23/2010/id/31222

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Meanwhile, in modern marketing … Arby’s Flash Mob Descends Upon Times Square - http://www.restaurantnews.com/arbys-flash-mob-descends-upon-times-square/ - with video. Instant karma via marketing? group spoofed Gene Kelly’s dance in Singing in the Rain and helped spread a good mood to passersby.

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More upscaling news at Fast Food brands - Fazoli’s - http://www.kentucky.com/2011/03/12/1667393/in-era-of-failing-restaurant-chains.html - following the lead of Boston Market and others with upscale plateware and lobby services. Nice full article on the turnaround in progress.

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Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr sales, year to year, same store - Hardee’s Up 4.4%, Carl’s Jr Down 4.8%.

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Thanks for your visit today - have a look around if this is your first time here.

Here’s a detailed article about WHY Red Lobsters demographics may be indexed strongly with Black customers - hint: think `menu census’ (a great form of research too) - http://atlantapost.com/2011/04/05/understanding-red-lobsters-popularity-amongst-african-american-diners/

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One way that FF restaurants are defining their `upscaleness’ over the last few years has been `Milkshakes’ (with a capital M) - such as this new premium offering from Chick-Fil-A - Chick-fil-A Whips Up New Banana Pudding Milkshake - http://www.restaurantnews.com/chick-fil-a-whips-up-new-banana-pudding-milkshake/

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Taco Bell has responded to the `fake meat’ rumors that some charge or accept with an open ear - such as here - http://www.thatsfit.com/2011/03/18/do-you-believe-taco-bell-is-real-meat/ - with an advertising response http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DeJGN_QfTQ - speaking up for content (sourcing) is VERY important. Good Move.

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Speaking of content - Dunkin’ Donuts Serves Up New Big ‘N Toasty Breakfast Sandwich - http://www.restaurantnews.com/dunkin-donuts-serves-up-new-big-n-toasty-breakfast-sandwich/ - DD continues to make inroads into the ONLY growing daypart segment (really) breakfast. That said, I’ve seen the ads and can’t help but think that drive-thru users (and possibly road eaters) couldn’t help but get YOKEY when biting into the sandwich. (However, they do make the fried egg yoke looked pretty cooked.)

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Thanks for your visit today.

In an excellent marketing move very likely to covert some folks into NEW breakfast users - Subway has made the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Flatbread - The FOOTLONG 5.00 Sub of the month. One would assume that introducing a new daypart into a long standing competitive marketplace segment, breakfast, as Subway did last year, is a slow go at best. However, this featuring of the breakfast daypart sandwich - ALLDAY- should certainly get lunch and evening trial and therefore potentially stimulate the breakfast daypart. (Hasn’t McDonald’s said in the past that they were going to make their fun menu an allday choice? Burgers before 10:30 and Biscuits in the afternoon?) http://www.subwayfreshbuzz.com/menu/footlong_of_the_month/ GREAT IDEA.

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IS Sbarro going under? - Sbarro Wins Court Approval of $16.5 Million Financing While in Bankruptcy  - http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-05/sbarro-wins-court-approval-of-16-5-million-financing-while-in-bankruptcy.html - article sites rising cheese costs and slowing consumer sales. Long time brand names going under reflects the real market IMO.

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Carl Jr’s and Hardee’s go ALL IN on Turkey Burgers. - http://www.restaurantnews.com/carls-jr-hardees-first-national-fast-food-chains-offering-charbroiled-turkey-burgers/ - FIVE versions, heath positioning — first to do — great moves. Is TURKEY the next Angus?

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Meanwhile, BK has pulled back on forcing stores to stay open til 2AM - http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/15/1973901/burger-king-pulls-back-on-after.html — win for franchisees –  Here’s Saladworks approach to helping new franchisee operators find new site locations - http://www.restaurantnews.com/saladworks-executive-team-searching-for-new-sites/ - excellent reading.  —– My only suggestion would be to have some outside independent person (like myself) who has conducted trade area research at hundreds of FF restaurants - to also provide suggestions, especially if a location of the brand is already in the market and cannibalization is an issue.

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Sometimes it is funny reading employee reactions to various advertising campaigns - like this of an Arby’s employee - http://www.ryanlmueller.com/2011/02/nibble-giggle-repeat.html and here is another opinion - http://makethelogobigger.blogspot.com/2011/03/mcarbys.html

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In more evidence of the `recovery’ being largely spotty, segmented,  and a reflection of `reverse attrition’ from the closing of so many restaurants - Seafood restaurant sales largely in the tank - http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-eating-less-seafood-20110227,0,711787.story and, as I’m sure you are aware - Analysis: U.S. immigration probe fears weigh on Chipotle - http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/01/us-usa-immigration-chipotle-idUSTRE72007S20110301

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