No question about this trend to having the choice of smaller portioned food items at restaurants - including FF examples of: “Boston Market’s Market Sliders sandwiches, McDonald’s Snack Wraps, Burger King’s experiment with BK Burger Shots and Jack in the Box’s Mini Sirloin Burgers” - the point is also well made in the article about price point sensitivity in the new normal. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/malled-restaurants-offering-small-sized-items-with-big-728206.html - more too at the article.

I love this article - Subway to Change Cheese Distribution Strategy After Web Campaign? - talk about the customer being right - again. http://www.urlesque.com/2010/06/02/subway-to-change-cheese-distribution-strategy/

‘Social Media’ Are Top Buzz Words of NRA Show - don’t forget that `social contact/media’ when greeting your customer in the restaurant or at the drive-thru window. `Friendliness’ is one of the true drivers of increased sales and increased frequency of usage. http://www.qsrmagazine.com/articles/news/story.phtml?id=10970

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64Q42Q20100527 - Hunger for burgers overcomes economic fears - an article whose focus is the Five Guys chain and its success despite the economic landscape.

http://www.restaurantnews.com/firehouse-subs-announces-23-new-restaurants-in-salt-lake-city/ - Firehouse Subs goes wild with development in Salt Lake City.

From a bit back - Quiznos launches Operating Partner Program - http://www.fastcasual.com/article.php?id=17949&na=1&s=2 - if I am reading this right - 5,000 and you can be in the restaurant business.

Don’t leave yet - explore my sidebar for more about restaurants.

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.