Once again, McDonald’s is on the cutting edge - great story - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1322180/McDonalds-tracks-burglars-spraying-artificial-DNA-make-getaway.html
Dunkin Donuts expanding in TN. - http://www.restaurantnews.com/dunkin-donuts-announces-seven-new-restaurants-in-tennessee/ - make sure to see my questions and answers about Trade Area Surveys here before you do any expansions and to know more about your market - http://www.squidoo.com/tradeareasurveys
IHOP is re-positioning a portion of its menu to attract the light eaters - http://www.restaurantnews.com/ihop-makes-lower-calorie-dining-choices-simple-with-new-menu-items-and-tips/
When was the last time you did any research with Fast Food Rejectors? Here one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8G9OAFlquI
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.
I live only about 2.5 miles from a Stevi B’s - it’s pretty good pizza - that said, when it opened our family used to use it 3-6 tmes a year - but, it’s been 3-4 years since our last use. That said, free food can indeed bring in the old users (now nonusers) - and, IF they give that pizza to the customers as they leave - they may indeed stimulate some `take out’ business in the future. (Especially if the pizza re-heats well.) http://www.restaurantnewsrelease.com/stevi-bs-pizza-celebrates-second-annual-free-pizza-day-on-august-19/852283/ Free Food - Part of the New Normal.
(Finally) Blimpie Introduces New Lighter Stuff Menu - The Lighter Stuff menu is comprised of six deliciously healthy items, all less than 400 calories and six grams of fat. - with a celebrity endorser and all - http://www.restaurantnews.com/blimpie-introduces-new-lighter-stuff-menu/ - Just how many years ago was Jared?
“It’s Bo Time” - http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/07/19/1572009/bojangles-fries-up-new-ad-slogan.html - Will Bojangles new slogan live up to the impressive KFC `So Good’? Are you motivated?
Arby’s goes interactive to introduce a new 1.00 sandwich - New Web App Morphs Your Photo Into “Arby’s Junior” Character - http://www.restaurantnewsrelease.com/become-an-arbys-junior/852235/ will cutesy work? That said, the description of the sandwich sounds like a taste treat for one dollar: the Jr. Deluxe features oven-roasted, thinly sliced roast beef, topped with crisp, fresh lettuce, ripe tomato and mayo on a toasted sesame seed bun.
And, why not try the new media when - Starbucks Tops 10 Million Facebook Fans - http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=132008
