Restaurant Trade Area Research

There is brand loyalty and there is brand loyaty - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/12/in-n-out-burger-north-texas-expansion_n_861172.html?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-w%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk3%7C213092 with video. Up until now I had been blissfully unaware of In-N-Out’s Christian connections. ————————-

Holy Smokes. Panera Bread has added choice sirloin steak to the breakfast daypart, salad offerings, and sandwich segments of it’s menu - quality marketing moves - http://www.fastcasual.com/article/181104/Panera-Bread-beefs-up-menu-with-steak-sandwiches-salad ——————————————-

Meanwhile…. Wendy’s Fries Beat McDonald’s in National Taste Test - http://www.restaurantnews.com/wendys-fries-beat-mcdonalds-in-national-taste-test/ - if it was ME - I’d position this information to all the NON TRIERS — ad, two friends, one gives facts to the other and says `You mean you haven’t tried them yet?’  ————————————–

McDonald’s to increase prices one percent - http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/22/mcdonalds-to-bump-prices-yet-ads-wax-fifties-nostalgic/ ———————

And, here’s an interesting research study about the breakfast daypart with consumers which provides actionable understandings - Research Reveals Restaurant Diners Want Healthier Breakfast - http://www.restaurantnews.com/research-reveals-restaurant-diners-want-healthier-breakfast/ - healthy fast food, a growing segment for sure. —- here is more proof of the pudding - Lower Calorie Items Gaining Momentum on Restaurant Menus - http://www.restaurantnews.com/lower-calorie-items-gaining-momentum-on-restaurant-menus/

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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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The only big burger chain without a breakfast presence in the marketplace - will try it again in 3 test markets - for the third (is that all?) time. The effort will be including oatmeal bars, egg sandwiches, paninis and burritos (which evidently are being demanded elsewhere?) to entice the new users set already in their morning drive breakfast routine. (Where’s the toast? Bacon? Pancakes?) - Perhaps in direct mocking of the BK new breakfast ads with marching males - Wendy’s could use Sexy Secretaries or something similar? - more at the link behind the move into extending dayparts http://www.ajc.com/business/wendys-sees-opportunity-in-618248.html

Speaking of burritos - Carl’s Jr., Green Burrito Open 500th Dual-Branded Restaurant - http://www.restaurantnews.com/carls-jr-green-burrito-open-500th-dual-branded-restaurant/

And, speaking of opening - Steak ‘n Shake Opens New Prototype Restaurant in Rome, Georgia - Same seating, @1/3 less to build - better view of grill for patrons - more at link http://www.restaurantnews.com/steak-n-shake-opens-new-prototype-restaurant-in-rome-georgia/

http://www.fastcompany.com/files/imagecache/panoramic_image/files/MOD-105-Weil-1.jpg

And speaking of makeovers - here’s a great story about the man who is re-designing McDonald’s - http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/149/super-style-me.html

My YouTube Channel which has free 2010 Top Of Mind Research about Restaurant Brands - http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?feature=mhum

BK goes directly after the only daypart still expanding in visits - Breakfast; with upscale type items, a 4.29 full breakfast platter, AND 1.00 value items too. Did I mention pancakes?

Ads begin 9-13 and info will be positioned broadly for the next 11 weeks. http://www.restaurantnews.com/burger-king-rolls-out-new-breakfast-menu/ more details at the link.

Here’s the story of a chain that has largely gotten the whole `new normal’ right - Taco Bell - Taco Bell CMO David Ovens Sees Hot Opportunities - http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/direct/e3ic193b6eacf48409b5f5a56dbec655408 good coverage of his marketing strategies in this interview.

New To This Blog? http://restauranttradearearesearch.com/important-posts-of-2009/

http://restauranttradearearesearch.com/important-posts-in-2008/

With banks lending most of the money - the #2 Burger chain is sold -blaming focus on the 18-35 year old male as one positioning problem with the brand - http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/09/02/129604272/burger-king-sold-for-3-26-billion-to-private-investors - here’s to hoping the BK `King’ Character is safe.

Hardee’s develops for the only increasing segment of visitors - breakfast - and focuses on having the product `mobile’ for users - Hardee’s Makes a Breakfast Classic Portable with New Country Fried Steak ‘N’ Gravy Biscuit - http://www.restaurantnewsrelease.com/hardees-makes-a-breakfast-classic-portable-with-new-country-fried-steak-n-gravy-biscuit/853611/ - still, is GRAVY on a biscuit - really `mobile’?

Meanwhile - instead of pursuing the `Gravy’ crowd at breakfast - Ruby Tuesday’s is going Healthier and Lower Calorie at Lunch - Ruby Tuesday Highlights More Healthy Options on New Menu - http://www.restaurantnews.com/ruby-tuesday-highlights-more-healthy-options-on-new-menu/ - the salad bar allows RT’s to have more of a positioning in this area compared to a Chili’s, etc.

More about my services here - www.squidoo.com/tradeareasurveys - have a safe Labor Day Weekend.

And, this first review is not too positive with grades from C+ to F for each of the first standard sandwich offerings. Seems the reviewer had very salt sensitive buds (as it seems anyone ready to write a negative food impression has to have) and hated the mouth favorite, a `Steak-Um’s’ similar choice. Interestingly, the reviewer tried NONE of the sandwiches custom made - (strange as wouldn’t nearly all of those that walk in custom make these?). http://www.slashfood.com/2010/04/05/subway-breakfast-sandwiches-reviewed/?

Seems Burgerville is having strong success with various online strategies - worth a browse here - http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=124407

Here’s a pretty deep thought and science experiment as to what happens when folks view a Fast Food Sign - Simply the logo. Seems it makes them read faster, seeks ways to save time and other effects. Really shows how deep our impressions can be and affect behaviour. http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/healthzone/mindmood/article/786836–how-a-fast-food-sign-changes-your-day

In this era of the new normal - where your restaurant brand in staking out a price point or points — comes this NEW level of price positioning - Denny’s has gone to promoting FOUR price value points http://restaurantnews.com/dennys-redefines-the-value-menu/ - see the full offerings at 2,4,6,and 8 dollars here.

KFC is about to introduce a new SUPER sandwich sure to raise the eyebrows of many - great picture of this TWO patty sandwich with NO bun. http://www.cnbc.com/id/36191290 I wonder what the demos on this sandwich would be? (Who Eats What menu research is always very interesting - something that YOU can do at your restaurant too via my services as part of the MarketView.)

Find out more about the MarketView here - www.squidoo.com/tradeareasurveys — I also have some current restaurant links at that site too.