Ronald McDonald of course. The icon. The legend. Say it isn’t so, please, say it isn’t so — http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/company-news/ronald-mcdonald-put-to-pasture-as-fast-food-chain-gentrifies/19866419/ - more than likely, IMO, is that he is being given a marketing `rest’ to avoid burnout also. It also helps to not confuse the new McDonald’s perceptions (hey, it’s for adults too) just yet with the old-time favorite.
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Saw the new Dairy Queen ads which take on (poke fun at) the whole use of the word `Good’ in advertising campaigns by fast food brands (wonder who).
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Here’s a cheap fun idea - use your FF brand blog or social media to challenge a `celebrity’ in some manner - Denny’s Calls Out ‘Man v. Food’ Star Adam Richman - http://www.hospitality-industry.com/index.php/news/comments/dennys_calls_out_man_v._food_star_adam_richman/ could you eat 40 dollars of food from Denny’s? How about 20 dollars?
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Continuing to enhance at an important price point - Burger King Beefs Up Value Menu with BK Stackers - http://www.restaurantnews.com/burger-king-beefs-up-value-menu-with-bk-stackers/
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Meanwhile….
Cici’s continues push on price point - CiCi’s Pizza Announces $4.99 Endless Value Dinner Campaign - http://www.restaurantnews.com/cicis-pizza-announces-4-99-endless-value-dinner-campaign/ and Sonic - SONIC Adds Four New Premium Beef Hot Dogs to Menu - http://www.restaurantnews.com/sonic-adds-four-new-premium-beef-hot-dogs-to-menu/
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Thanks for your visit - RTAR’s Alexa rank - http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/restauranttradearearesearch.com# - will post again soon as I have lots of links ready to go.
One has to wonder how many years it of `the new normal’ that competitors will let McDonalds claim this value attribute to themselves in the FF arena — will everyone play catch-up? Will anyone have the nerve to go super-low on the Iced Tea as a response (other than convenience outlets)?http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704743404575127551110770616.html
Twitter’s allure is tough to translate into dollars, but one national name, Dunkin’ Donuts, is tracking results and ramping up its presence on the microblogging site. – Treating your customer base right is important - twitter can be part of it - http://www.portfolio.com/companies-executives/2010/03/16/dunkin-donuts-tracking-twitter-in-effort-to-turn-tweets-into-sales/
Franchising Redux at Sizzler Restaurants - Interesting Q & A with a head person - http://www.chainleader.com/article/453688-Executive_Q_A_Franchising_Redux_at_Sizzler_Restaurants.php
The ultimate giveaway and crowd pleaser - The Chains With Free Food Prizes and the People (600,000!) Who Want Them - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704688604575125753339035336.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines
See my research on trade areas at Squidoo - www.squidoo.com/tradeareasurveys
It was only something that I saw online yesterday - but - has FS dropped prices on sandwiches to 4.00 after 4PM? —– Nice response to Subways dayparting and even earlier. —- Daypart pricing; needed during the new normal.
Here’s some links too:
They will have the regular - http://www.wickedlocal.com/westport/features/x531840012/THEYLL-HAVE-THE-REGULAR-Frequent-customers-add-spice-to-SouthCoast-eateries The critical importance of `regulars’ in these economic times.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10456332-52.html Oh oh - seems Denny’s has allowed an error about it’s twitter account on it’s main menu for months - read the strange tale.
I have more links on my Squidoo site too www.squidoo.com/tradeareasurveys . Tell a friend about this blog. Thanks.
