One more time - Links without commentary.

New Concept, Coal Burger, Set to Sizzle in the Woodlands - http://www.restaurantnews.com/new-concept-coal-burger-set-to-sizzle-in-the-woodlands/ ——— New 1/4 Pound Southern Style Chicken Sandwich Debuts at Church’s Chicken Restaurants - http://www.restaurantnews.com/new-1-4-pound-southern-style-chicken-sandwich-debuts-at-churchs-chicken-restaurants/  —- Jack in the Box Introduces New Bourbon BBQ Steak Grilled Sandwich - http://www.restaurantnews.com/jack-in-the-box-introduces-new-bourbon-bbq-steak-grilled-sandwich/ —- Benihana Sizzles with Five-Course Filet Mignon and Hibachi Chicken for Two - http://www.restaurantnews.com/benihana-sizzles-with-five-course-filet-mignon-and-hibachi-chicken-for-two/ —— and today’s fun link - http://www.hamburgerchains.com/

Part Three tomorrow

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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Sometimes one has to wonder at the length of time it takes some chains to respond to favorites of other chains - especially when in direct competition with - and IMO, that is what the D.T. Double is. That said, better late than never — will BK figure it out next? (Or was that the Big King?) And, that said, I’d love to be eating a Big Boy at Frisch’s - http://www.nrn.com/article/wendys-tests-dt-double-texas-rhode-island - special `sauces’ on Burgers - not new, but quite compelling.

And, Wendy’s is not thru the testing above either - here’s a new Burger too (upscaled) and those can’t miss TV ads for the new Sea Salt Natural Fries -  http://www.slashfood.com/2010/11/10/wendys-new-daves-hot-n-juicy-cheeseburger-and-sea-salt-fri/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-w%7Cdl3%7Csec4_lnk2%7C183477

It’s news that is a month old from the elections - San Francisco bans Happy Meals - :Under the ordinance, scheduled to take effect in December 2011, restaurants may include a toy with a meal if the food and drink combined contain fewer than 600 calories, and if less than 35% of the calories come from fat. - http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-happy-meals-20101103,0,5438230.story

In Italian Restaurant news - OpenTable Diners Reveal Their Top Fifty Italian Restaurants Across the U.S. - http://www.restaurantnews.com/opentable-diners-reveal-their-top-fifty-italian-restaurants-across-the-us/ and one more OpenTable link - http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/02/BU8S1FN0O8.DTL – OpenTable coupons follow Groupon’s lead

Check the sidebar for more to consider.

Looking for revenue anywhere they can get it in this new normal - politicians in Omaha put a 2.5% tax on restaurant diners - forcing them to drive to other communities to avoid the tax.  http://www.ketv.com/r/25247993/detail.html

New Chicken Taco at Church’s Chickent - http://www.restaurantnews.com/churchs-chicken-on-the-go-with-the-new-crispy-chicken-taco/ - nice brand extension here for `on-the-go’ targeting too (did I see a burrito now offered at Hardee’s in Woodstock Ga?).

Wingstop Reaches 29 Consecutive Quarters of Positive Comp Store Sales  - http://www.restaurantnews.com/wingstop-reaches-29-consecutive-quarters-of-positive-comp-store-sales/

Will Arby’s and Wendy’s increase prices? - http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/10/01/are-wendys-and-arbys-going-to-beef-up-menu-prices/ – kinda a strange article to me as any beef price increases would certainly hit everyone.

Speaking of beef - Regional Chains Feed Hunger For Burgers - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38420989/ns/business-local_business/

From the in-case you missed it file - McDonald’s sss up 4.9% in August - http://www.restaurantnews.com/mcdonalds-posts-strong-global-comparable-sales-august-up-4-9/

More about my services at www.squidoo.com/tradeareasurveys

Those who charge 7,000 or more a month to credit cards and who meet a specified income level - increase quick service usage by 24% - three times the rate of other demographics. From the link:

“Subconsciously, I think I’m saving money by spending less on food, but my spending somewhere else must be going up, because the amount on my credit card is not going down,” Gutsell said to the WSJ, as he ate an Extra Value Meal at a McDonald’s.  - http://eatdrinkandbe.org/article/index.fast-food-rich-people-015

Yes, this is how screwed up the new normal is.

In other news about McDonald’s and the new normal - McDonald’s May Drop Health Plan - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703431604575522413101063070.html

20 New Items and a re-designed menu is what IHOP positions to re-invigorate customer base - http://www.restaurantnews.com/ihop-serves-up-new-menu-full-of-innovative-choices-to-satisfy-any-craving/ - (come to think of it - while it’s been years since I choose IHOP - it did have a confusing overwhelming menu).

Jack In The Box closes 40 company stores - http://www.forbes.com/2010/09/29/jack-in-the-box-to-close-40-restaurants-marketnewsvideo.html - the new normal does not bode well for turnarounds.

Creamy premium MilkShakes tested at Checkers - http://www.restaurantnews.com/checkers-brings-a-cold-wave-to-sunny-south-florida/ joining the growing trend in top of the line shakes.

Please visit my sidebar for more great links and products. Thanks.

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.