Restaurant Trade Area Research

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.

Hello, welcome back to the Restaurant Trade Area Research (RTAR) blog - thanks for stopping for a read. And, as you can see by the title of this post — once again in our depressed economy - where the discretionary dollar is scarce - where one restaurant unit after another closes - price points remain criteria number one for most restaurant chains.

Locally in northern Georgia - Mcdonald’s and Steak and Shake have met the Sonic reduced drink prices in the afternoon - Checkers has finally positioned a dollar menu — and as mentioned before Quizno’s `reduced prices’. And, two more restaurants have bitten the dust in the Woodstock Ga. market - Sonny’s BBQ (unbelievably) and the Woodstock Restaurant (daily buffet) - bringing nearly half a dozen closed up restaurants to Woodstock HWY 92 in the last few years.

But, it doesn’t end there - as the casual sit-downs are firing back on the price front with TGIF’s offering a buy one get one — with that being matched by other competitors like O’Charlies. And:

1-Wendy’s —- 3conmics (99cent choices) 2. Free Pancakes at IHOP tomorrow 3. Denny’s recent free grand slam breakfast 4. Steak and Shake’s recent `free combo’s for a year’ giveaway at local Atlanta locations 5. Fazoli’s - BOGO (buy one - get one) 6. Dunkin Donuts 1.99 breakfast combo 7. Starbucks - Breakfast value meal 3.95 — 8. McDonald’s Specials (like 3.33 for a Big Mac Combo) 9. Ruby Tuesday’s combo’s at 5.99 — Likewise Hooters 5.99

Makes one wonder when some chain will be bold enough in the south to make sweet tea a different price 24 hours a day - like 59 cents with any other purchase.

Finally, seems the burger front may be heating up - first Burger King’s mini’s will put pressure on Krystal’s and Roast Burgers at Arby’s - should compel trial. 

Hello, thanks for visiting my blog about restaurant research - something I’ve done for over 30 years. As you might know, I’ve been trying to bring to you a blend of posts - some with insights about marketing research and others just commentary on the whole subject of restaurants.

The data of this website also indicates that on posting days — we are getting 100’s of visitors who sometimes hit and read as many as 8 links each (but, generally it’s 2-5 links each). I say that so that you know that if you just continue to `read down’ the page that you will probably find lots of interest to a restaurant owner or manager like yourself. (Corporate folks are allowed to read too. Lol)

Today, I’ve decided to continue last weeks look at particular fast food (FF) commercials (last weeks post was Arby’s `Marry A Goat’ ad) - this week I’m posting on one of my personal alltime favorites - The Burger `King’ — if you’d like to know more about his history - use this link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Burger_King .

As you know, I panned Arby’s `Marry The Goat’ ad as `too edgy’ in my last posting (that said, it does get across the main selling idea of a combo at 5.00) and just too creepy. No, for creepy, - at an appropriate level - The Burger `King’ is the epitome. It is also great that `King’ is only used sparingly and with many different commercial versions on-going.

My favorite King commercial is, as I posted recently, - the `reverse bandit’ King who ends up getting SMASHED by a car. Totally smashed in a manner that a human would never survive - only the King - with the unchanging face.

Two different chains - two different takes on saving money - with two different takes on Creepiness. I can’t wait for Halloween.

Restaurant Links For Today

`Bud For A Burger’ - Pot Not Currency At McDonalds

http://www.cbs12.com/news/pannullo_4710070___article.html/pay_marijuana.html Figured we’d start with the humor — yep, someone tried to buy food with marijuana. Humorous 20 second read.

`Economy Weakens Restaurant Stocks’

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2008/10/worries-about-c.html Cheesecake Factory singled out.

`Casual Dining Chains - Seek Compelling Attributes For Sales’

http://www.walletpop.com/article/_a/bbdp/casual-dining-chains-hunger-for-change/210940?icid=200100397×1211186403x1200670159  This is a LONG in-depth article about the many ways that the casual dining chains (Ruby Tuesday’s, Friday’s - etc) are trying to re-tool their approach to the American consumer.

`The Delivery Debate’ - Should FF Consider?

http://www.qsrmagazine.com/articles/features/120/delivery_debate-1.phtml A well balanced read about the whole subject - pro, con, and other viewpoints. A good read for sure. Brand extensions are important.

`Krystal’s Drive IN Concept’

http://www.franchising.com/pressreleases/9135/ Here’s an example of a brand extension.

`New Zaxby’s’

http://www.murfreesboropost.com/news.php?viewStory=13214 Make sure any locations you open get coverage of this level. Great example of PR. (From a bit back.)

`New Opinion On Food Labeling’

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2008/10/restaurant_food_labels_revisit.html This is a quick read about someone who changes their mind about FF chains printing calorie counts and such — interesting read.

Ok, that’s it for today, please bookmark us and comeback next week — also, please keep reading down the page. How about a comment?