When the term `survival’ is used concerning any restaurant chain - it is not good news - especially when trying to change the positioning to more upscale in the new normal. But, that is exactly what RT is trying to do to create some positioning difference from competitors such as Applebees, T.G.I. Friday’s and Chili’s. Read more of the strategy here - http://www.theledger.com/article/20100722/NEWS/7225054/1001
And, as you the restaurant owner knows that the new normal means - US Restaurant Count Down by 5,204 From Last Year, Reports NPD - http://www.restaurantnews.com/us-restaurant-count-down-by-5204-from-last-year-reports-npd/
McDonald’s, once again, is heads and tails above the rest in effectively following the trend to fresh and fruit - Customers Go Bananas for McDonald’s New McCafé Real Fruit Smoothies - http://www.restaurantnewsrelease.com/customers-go-bananas-for-mcdonalds-new-mccafe-real-fruit-smoothies/852184/
Or, you can take this approach to new products - being outrageous - KFC’s Double Down fails to take off http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/14/news/companies/kfc_double_down/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote
Here’s another story on Wendy’s going upscale with their salads (and upscale in price) - http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/07/09/wendys-upgrading-salads-but-it-will-cost-you/
And, Ruby Tuesday’s is not the only casual restaurant hoping to advance in the new normal - Can O’Charley’s find a recipe for success? - http://www.dnj.com/article/DN/20100704/BUSINESS01/7040332/1088/BUSINESS/Can+O+Charley+s+find+a+recipe+for+success
More Soon.
As I mentioned in one of my first blog posts in this blog - http://restauranttradearearesearch.com/2008/08/17/mcdonalds-perception-change/ – competitors better realize the time is now if not last week to fear the FF giant. Talk about having all the right tools, and understanding that research, and understanding a customer base - it will only get tougher if you do not have the arches in front of your store. What are YOU doing about understanding your customer base?
Anyway - this `new idea’ is to make McDonald’s more `leisurely’ — absolutely could work too IMO. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0413-mcdonalds-makeover–20100412,0,2749029.story
In other news - Colonel Punishment - The significance of the KFC Double Down - the takeaway from this post is that it all ISN’T price price price in 2010 as the manner to create a buzz. That said, this product has already been panned. http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/15/news/companies/kfc_double_down.fortune/index.htm
And, Firehouse Subs grabs some good PR with this Firehouse Subs Launches “Chip In” Program - http://restaurantnews.com/firehouse-subs-launches-chip-in-program/
Thanks for visiting today - in the sidebar you can see the most important posts of 2008 and 2009 - I exclude ones with links and just put the ones with `my articles’ - so give it a look. Thanks.
And, actually, well into the Alexa rankings at 12-13 millionth (most popular URL’s in the world out of over 1 trillion URL’s - they only rank the top 25 million or so) - http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/restauranttradearearesearch.com# and, indeed, earlier this week this blog had it’s most one day unique visitors at over 200. Thanks for your support and thanks for turning other restaurant owners onto my blog.
And, the first verdicts on the new KFC sandwich are coming in - as shown by this misleading title - http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/04/13/kfcs-double-down-is-no-bread-winner/? KFC’s Double Down is no bread-winner - Reviewer thinks it’s overpriced too.
I detail some of the services I can bring to your restaurant here - www.squidoo.com/tradeareasurveys — more links there too.
