Chain to Create Nearly 7,000 Jobs through Restaurant and Sales Growth

Chick-fil-A Achieves Record Annual Sales of $4 Billion

Atlanta, GA  (RestaurantNews.com)  In continuing with its trend of strong sales performance, Chick-fil-A®, Inc. announces that it exceeded $4 billion in annual sales in 2011. A record for the Atlanta-based chain, annual system-wide sales at Chick-fil-A totaled $4,050,992,837, a 13.08 percent increase over the 2010 overall sales performance. The company also generated a healthy seven percent same-store sales increase and marked the 44th consecutive year of sales growth since the company began in 1967.

“Of all our years of sales growth, we are humbled and deeply grateful to our customers for making 2011 particularly exceptional,” said Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer Dan T. Cathy. “We are blessed with a family of Operators and team members whose daily commitment to excellence and heartfelt, personalized service creates an atmosphere of hospitality that is unparalleled in our industry while also having a positive impact in the communities they serve. We believe the Chick-fil-A brand will remain vibrant as long as we remain focused on providing an experience that our guests love to brag about!”

In addition to a milestone year of sales performance, the Chick-fil-A chain celebrated a number of other business achievements in 2011:

• Introduced two new products to the breakfast menu: the Chick-fil-A® Spicy Chicken Biscuit and Multigrain Oatmeal
• Continued its strategic restaurant expansion efforts:
  • Opened 92 new restaurant locations, including 75 stand-alone restaurants and 17 licensed locations (e.g. college campuses, hospitals, airports, businesses and industrial sites).
  • Surpassed 1,600 total restaurant locations
  • Celebrated the opening of the chain’s Hollywood and Chicago restaurant locations
  • Opened first stand-alone restaurant in Idaho market (Ammon, Idaho)
  • Dedicated reinvestment resources to renovate nearly 200 of its existing restaurants
• Continued innovative marketing strategies to fuel sales momentum, including a Breakfast Variety Giveaway promotion awarding more than 830,000 breakfast entrees to guests, as well as providing nearly 600,000 free meals to cow-clad customers during its annual Cow Appreciation Day event in July.
• Recognized with top industry awards:
  • 2011 Zagat National Fast Food Survey’s “Top Large Chain”
  • 2011 Consumer Reports’ “Top Chicken Chain”
• Presented 69 franchise Operators new vehicles as part of the chain’s Symbol of Success sales incentive program. Through the program, franchisees are awarded a new Ford automobile of their choice for meeting individual annual sales goals.
• Awarded nearly $1.6 million in college scholarships to Chick-fil-A restaurant team members, which brings the program total to nearly $30 million since its inception in 1973. Additionally, Chick-fil-A donated $200,000 in scholarship funds to the four schools participating in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games.

What to Expect in 2012

• New Job Creation: Chick-fil-A will generate nearly 7,000 new job opportunities in 2012 as a result of its new restaurant openings and existing restaurant growth.
• New Product Introductions: In January, Chick-fil-A debuted one of the nation’s most nutritious kids meals with the addition of the Grilled Chicken Nuggets entree option. The chain also enhanced its children’s side offerings with the addition of Buddy Fruits® Pure Blended Fruit to Go applesauce, a complement to the existing fruit cup option. In April, Chick-fil-A will launch a new line-up of desserts, including a warm Chocolate Chunk Cookie, a Fudge Brownie, and Sundaes.
• Restaurant Growth: Chick-fil-A will add 92 new locations around the country, including 75 stand-alone restaurants, two mall restaurants, and 15 licensed locations.
• Restaurant Reinvestments: Chick-fil-A will also dedicate resources in 2012 to renovate more than 300 of its existing restaurant locations. These reinvestments reflect the company’s commitment to continually enhance the guest experience and introduce new efficiencies that will help attract and accommodate greater sales volume.
• Scholarship Donations: Chick-fil-A will award an additional $1.65 million in college scholarships to its restaurant employees.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the nation’s second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain (based on sales), with more than 1,600 restaurants in 39 states and Washington D.C.  Credited with inventing the boneless breast of chicken sandwich and first introducing the chicken nugget concept, Chick-fil-A serves nutritious and freshly prepared food products in mall locations, stand-alone restaurants, drive-thru-only restaurants, Chick-fil-A Dwarf House® and Truett’s Grill® full-service restaurants, and through licensed outlets in college campuses, hospitals, airports, businesses and industrial sites.  More information about Chick-fil-A is available on the chain’s websites, located at www.chick-fil-a.com/pressroom, or through Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChickfilA or Twitter: www.Twitter.com/ChickfilA.

All Natural Blended Fruit Pouches Makes for a Healthier Fast Food Option

Chick-fil-A Adds Buddy Fruits to Kid's Meals Nationwide

Coral Gables, FL  (RestaurantNews.com)  Buddy Fruits’ all natural fruit snacks, today debuts on Chick-fil-A kid’s menus nationwide, as the two companies join forces to provide a healthier fast food option. With the new agreement Buddy Fruits’ fruit pouches, which are gluten-free with no added preservatives or sugar, will appear on all 1,500 Chick-fil-A restaurant menus. This announcement marks a major milestone for each company as this new initiative encourages customers of all ages to stay fit and healthy by eating a well balanced diet.

Recognizing that children are among the pickiest eaters, Chick-fil-A selects Buddy Fruits for its ability to make consuming fruit fun and innovative. The easy to eat and tasty treat compliments Chick-fil-A’s family-centric image and aligns with the company’s growing menu of nutritional offerings. Available in a variety of flavors including, banana, apple cinnamon, strawberry and multi-fruit, Buddy Fruits is a perfect option for the family on-the-go.

“To be able to offer Chick-fil-A customers a Buddy Fruit is a significant achievement for our team,” said Fabian Milon, co-founder of Buddy Fruits. “They have established a reputable brand that caters to active families while meeting nutritional requirements. The new partnership is not only a positive step forward for both companies but also a success for healthier lifestyles.”

Made from all natural ingredients, Buddy Fruits Blended Fruit pouches are made of 100% fruit with no sugar added. Each pouch contains only 60 calories and do not need to be refrigerated.

About Buddy Fruits

A simple concept for eating fruit — a squeezable pouch filled with 100% blended fruit with no sugar added. That’s what Fabian Milon, a chef and restaurateur, had in mind when he set out on a mission to deliver 100% fruit in a fun, on-the-go way. In 2008, the dream became a reality, when Fabian and long-time friend and co-founder Jerome Lesur created Buddy Fruits. Three years later, Buddy Fruits has exploded in the U.S., and is currently found in over 13,000 stores across the country. With an expanding product line, Buddy Fruits is the fun, easy way to eat 100% fruit on the go. For more information, visit http://www.buddyfruits.com.

Chain Sets Standard for Industry by Featuring More Nutritious Entrée Option for Children

Chick-fil-A Debuts One of America's Most Nutritious Kid's Meals

Atlanta, GA  (RestaurantNews.com)  According to the Let’s Move initiative, one in three American children is considered overweight or obese. Children also consume 31 percent more calories and 56 percent more fat than their peers did 40 years ago. Starting today, Chick-fil-A® is taking another step in continuing to address the issue of childhood obesity by debuting one of the nation’s most nutritious kid’s meals.

In recent months, many fast food chains have updated their side options in an attempt to offer healthier children’s menu items. Chick-fil-A instead is concentrating on making the entrée healthier by adding Grilled Chicken Nuggets as an alternative for children. The move marks the first time a national fast food chain has offered a grilled entrée as part of a children’s menu.

The chain also is enhancing its side choices, adding Buddy Fruits® Pure Blended Fruit To Go applesauce as a complement to the Fruit Cup option Chick-fil-A added to its menu in 2004. And, the chain is changing its children’s beverage line to only feature one percent milk, 100 percent apple juice, its signature freshly squeezed lemonade, and water as drink choices.

Chick-fil-A’s Grilled Nuggets, paired with the Fruit Cup and one-percent milk, is one of the most nutritious children’s meal combinations offered among any major fast food chain. The meal has only 210 calories and 3 grams of fat – reflecting an 86 percent cut in fat grams and a 56 percent calorie reduction compared with its previous offerings.

“According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control, Americans frequently choose convenience over nutrition. This has created a greater likelihood of our children becoming overweight or obese. The reality is that we live in an on-the-go world where parents have limited healthy meal options for their kids on the way to and from recreational activities, school or other events,” said Woody Faulk, Chick-fil-A’s vice president of brand strategy and design, who oversees Chick-fil-A’s menu. “Our new Kid’s Meal reflects our commitment to helping parents strike a balance between nutrition, convenience and price. We want parents to know that they do have a choice at Chick-fil-A.”

Following is more information on Chick-fil-A’s new Kid’s Meal offerings:

1. Introduction of Grilled Nuggets: These gluten-free Grilled Nuggets are made from a boneless, skinless breast of chicken tumbled in a salt and pepper spice blend and then grilled to perfection. The four count is only 80 calories and 1 gram of fat, while the six count contains 110 calories and 1.5 grams of fat.
2. Addition of Buddy Fruits ® Pure Blended Fruit To Go: Apple Cinnamon: Each squeezable fruit pouch is gluten-free, all natural and contains 100 percent pure fruit. It is 60 calories, 0 grams of fat and equals one serving of fruit.
3. Improved beverage options: Kid’s Meal beverage offerings will be changed to only feature one percent milk, 100 percent apple juice, Chick-fil-A’s freshly squeezed lemonade (30 percent DV vitamin C), and water as drink options.

According to Chick-fil-A’s full-time dietitian Jodie Worrell, these new menu additions come as part of Chick-fil-A’s broader initiative to offer healthier menu options to customers. Initiative highlights include the addition of the Fruit Cup in 2004 and moving to a complete menu (including all condiments) with zero trans fats in 2008. Chick-fil-A also is actively working to reduce sodium across its menu, including a 40 percent sodium reduction in its Chargrilled Chicken filet, 25 percent less sodium in breads and removing 10 percent of sodium in dressings and sauces.

“While we are excited about the moves we have made on the Kid’s Meal menu, we also are extremely proud of the progress we have made with our overall menu,” Worrell added. “Removing trans fats, adding more nutritious salads and reducing sodium are examples of some of the steps we have taken in recent years to further our commitment to customers of offering a well-balanced menu of choices. Our work is not complete though. We are constantly looking for a better way to offer our customers healthier choices.”

Kid’s Meal Commitment Extends Beyond the Food

Chick-fil-A’s commitment to families extends beyond offing more nutritious menu options. The chain also uses its “Growing Kid’s Inside and Out®”Kid’s Meal program as an opportunity to nourish young minds through the premiums included as part of the meal. Rather than offering a toy promoting the latest movie or television series, Chick-fil-A complements its quality children’s menu offerings with meaningful and fun tools that encourage interaction between children and their families. Examples include Little Gold Books, VeggieTales CDs, Discovery Kid’s activities and books adapted from the Martha Speaks PBS series.

For more information, please visit the Chick-fil-A pressroom at www.chick-fil-a.com/Kids/New-Meals. Media-ready broll is available by clicking here.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the nation’s second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain (based on sales), with more than 1,600 restaurants in 39 states and Washington D.C. In 2010, Chick-fil-A produced record sales of $3.5 billion – an 11.37 percent overall increase and a 5.92 percent same-store sales gain that helped extend the chain’s streak of consecutive sales gains to 43 years.

In September 2011, Chick-fil-A was named Top Large Chain by Zagat’s National Fast Food Survey of 6,000 customers. Consumer Reports named the chain the nation’s top chicken chain in its August 2011 Quick Service Restaurant survey of 36,000 readers.

While many of its competitors have hit a wall, Chick-fil-A is on a roll.

The College Park-based chicken sandwich chain rang up the fast-food industry’s highest average sales per store last year – almost $2.7 million per shop – putting it ahead of industry giants such as McDonald’s, which posted $2.4 million.

At the same time, several of Chick-fil-A’s big competitors have stalled. While Chick-fil-A has been adding stores, rival KFC has been shrinking in terms of total units, as have Pizza Hut, Arby’s, Hardee’s and Dairy Queen, according to QSR, a trade magazine for quick-service restaurants.

So what is Chick-fil-A’s secret ingredient?

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Chick-fil-A Warms Menu with Limited-Time Chicken Tortilla Soup

Atlanta, GA  (RestaurantNews.com)  Chick-fil-A^® is adding its own twist to a Southwestern soup classic this winter as the restaurant chain continues to expand its menu offerings. Beginning Jan. 2, 2012, Chick-fil-A will offer a new Chicken Tortilla Soup nationally through March 31. The new soup complements the chain’s long-standing Hearty Breast of Chicken Soup, which is available year round.

Chick-fil-A’s Chicken Tortilla Soup is made with shredded boneless breast of chicken, navy, northern and black beans in a white creamy base with a blend of vegetables and a variety of spices.  Topped with seasoned corn tortilla strips, the soup is a warm, hearty option for a lunch or dinner meal during the winter months. The soup also furthers the chain’s continued foray into spicier menu items, including the addition of its Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Spicy Chicken Biscuit within the last 18 months.

“While we do not have any immediate plans to regularly offer limited-time products, we have enjoyed great results with seasonal flavors added to our milkshake line over the last few years. We believe we have the same potential for our soup menu,” said Woody Faulk, Chick-fil-A’s vice president of brand development. “Our new Chicken Tortilla Soup has been a regular menu offering at our Chick-fil-A Dwarf House and Truett’s Grill restaurant concepts in the Atlanta area for more than a year and has developed a loyal following.  We anticipate our latest offering will satisfy our growing base of customers and will also help attract new customers as well.”

The Chicken Tortilla Soup will be available in medium and large servings for $2.69 and $4.99, respectively.

About Chick-fil-A, Inc.

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the nation’s second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain (based on sales), with more than 1,600 restaurants in 39 states and Washington D.C.  In 2010, Chick-fil-A produced record sales of $3.5 billion – an 11.37 percent overall increase and a 5.92 percent same-store sales gain that helped extend the chain’s streak of consecutive sales gains to 43 years.

In September 2011, Chick-fil-A was named Top Large Chain by Zagat’s National Fast Food Survey of 6,000 customers. Consumer Reports named the chain the nation’s top chicken chain in its August 2011 Quick Service Restaurant survey of 36,000 readers.

Chick-fil-A makes a point of emphasizing family values and its management is still in the family, as president Dan Cathy explained to a group of wide-eyed children at the restaurant’s South Boulevard location last week.

“This restaurant was started by my father, Truett Cathy,” he told them, pointing to a picture of his dad, before taking them on a behind-the-scenes tour of the restaurant’s kitchen and showing them how to use the ice cream machine.

Cathy, who’s been president of the Atlanta-based chicken chain since 2001, was in Charlotte to tour local franchises. There are 39 Chick-fil-A restaurants in the Charlotte market. Nationally, the chain had $3.6 billion in sales last year, its highest yet.

Continue reading . . .

Chick-fil-A Rolls Out 2012 Cow Calendar, Seasonal Milkshake for the Holidays

This holiday season, the Chick-fil-A “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows are honoring the historic contributions of the cows that came before them to influence world history in the chain’s new 2012 Cow Calendar. The holiday cheer from Chick-fil-A doesn’t end with the release of the annual Cow Calendar. The Atlanta-based restaurant chain is also bringing the Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake back to menus as a limited-time flavor.

The 15th edition of the cow-themed calendars, entitled “Trail Grazers: Blazing New Paths That All Lead to Chicken,” pays tribute to some of world history’s bravest human explorers. Twelve courageous bovines that ventured into new frontiers by air, land and sea are featured in the calendar, proving that cows can do more than make a good meal. Among the famous trail grazers featured are “Amealia Airhoof,” the “first heifer in flight who took to the skies to spread the message of chicken” and “Corralin’ Shepard,” the bovine who ventured into space to “make one giant leap for cow kind aboard Apoultry 14.”

Beginning today, the calendars can be purchased at any participating mall or stand-alone Chick-fil-A restaurant for $6 (plus tax) through early January (or until supplies last). Calendars may also be purchased online through the chain’s website.

Back by popular demand, Chick-fil-A’s Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake also returned to Chick-fil-A menu boards this week for the third straight year. As with the chain’s year-round milkshake flavors, the Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake is hand-spun with Chick-fil-A’s popular “home-style” Icedream and topped with light whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. The seasonal flavor will be available through early January and is offered in 14 oz. or 20 oz. cups priced regionally from $2.55 – $3.19 and $2.95 – $3.69, respectively.

The owner of a Chick-fil-A franchise in Rocky Mount has reached a milestone after 25 years of doing business locally.

At 16 years old, Bill Lehnes went to work at a Chick-fil-A store.

“It’s pretty much all I’ve ever done,” said the 48-year-old current owner of the restaurant at Cobb Corners shopping center. “I worked at a Chick-fil-A through high school and college back in South Carolina, and then when I got out of college, I tried to get my own store.”

In 1986, he opened his first restaurant in Rocky Mount, one of the first 26 stores to open in the first phase of the development Golden East Crossing mall.

The company had given him the option of opening there or in the older Wilson Mall.

“I took Rocky Mount, knowing the mall was going to be newer and bigger (than Wilson),” Lehnes said.

Continue reading . . .

Chick-fil-A is promoting their new breakfast menus with the “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows asking everyone to vote “Chikin 4 Brekfust”. To encourage votes the chain is also giving away free coupons for the breakfast item of your choice. Customers can make a reservation and redeem their coupon from September 6^th through the 10^th.

Domino’s Pizza has released over 30 stores that were previously company-owned and operated. The re-franchising move put four local Domino’s franchisees in charge of the restaurants. One of the new owners, Mike Orcutt, took over 14 of the stores. This brings his total to 93 locations, making him the second biggest franchisee in the country.

IHOP restaurants are celebrating the beginning of apple harvest season with their new Caramel Apple Sensations. This limited time special menu ends on October 2^nd. The breakfast items, including the Caramel Apple Crisp Crepe and the Apple Fritter, are available all day long. The SIMPLE & FIT menu item is the Cinnamon Apple Crisp Crepe Combo.

Boston Market has completed renovations and changes to their Los Angeles restaurants to ensure guests have a better experience. Upgrades have also been added to other locations. The program, known as the America’s Kitchen Table upgrade, makes the interior of the store more inviting and added a number of new entrees to the menu.

The National Restaurant Association has announced a new initiative that will take place over the month of September. The 17^th annual National Food Safety Education Month will ensure that restaurant industry employees around the country all follow the same set of health and safety guidelines. Free seminars and training sessions are planned.

A regional launch of the new Green Chile Double burger last year proved surprisingly popular, so Whataburger is now expanding the burger to all of its restaurants. The burger will only be available until October 3^rd. The burger features two patties, topped with a slice of American and Monterey Jack cheese and roasted green chiles.

The strict adherence to a specific system has let McDonald’s keep customer experiences and food quality exactly the same even in the desserts of the Middle East or the mountains of China. Salesman Ray Kroc pioneered this system. Identical restaurants have allowed the brand to grow beyond anyone’s expectations.

Quiznos has signed new franchise agreements that will increase the number of international restaurants in the chain. Agreements with Sub One Hospitality Services will bring Quiznos to the Western and Northern India. The chain also celebrated the opening of its largest international location in Southern India recently.

The Cheesecake Factory has added a new member to their executive team. Donald Evans has joined as the new Chief Marketing Officer. He will use over 15 years of experience in the marketing industry to develop new promotional materials and advertising for the brand. He worked for over 11 years with the Walt Disney company.

North Carolina is now home to its first Johnny Rockets location. The Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel has added Johnny Rockets to their Cherokee, North Carolina casino. This is the 21^st location for the chain inside of a casino. The Harrah’s company chose the chain for its All-American menu and exciting restaurant design.

In-N-Out Burger and Chick-fil-A round out the top three in national consumer survey

BOULDER, Colo.  (RestaurantNews.com)  2011 has been a very good year for Five Guys Burgers and Fries, as it again tops consumers’ favorite quick-service restaurant (QSR) list, followed by In-N-Out Burger and Chick-fil-A, according to the annual consumer restaurant chain survey conducted by Market Force Information, a worldwide leader in customer intelligence and customer experience management solutions.

Five Guys earned the top spot in Market Force’s annual study based on total votes earned per store, and is consistent with the firm’s rapid growth through exemplary customer service and popular food. It is notable that West Coast favorite, In-N-Out Burger, jumped into in the top three ranking this year as well. Like Five Guys, this chain is also known for its passionate patrons and relying on word of mouth to drive sales. The study also revealed that each of the top three excelled in friendly service – the category with the most differentiation among all contenders.

More than 4,500 consumers across North America participated in the survey, which was conducted in August 2011. It examined which QSRs consumers prefer and which attributes are the most important to them. Market Force first calculated the favorites based on pure number of votes, and then factored in the number of locations for each chain for a more level view of the results.

Study Adjusts for Total Number of Restaurants
When the consumers were shown a list of the country’s 55 top quick serve franchise restaurants* and asked to select their single favorite, Chick-fil-A received the highest number of votes, with 10.4% of the more than 4,500 total responses. Panera Bread came in second with 9.9% and Five Guys ranked a close third with 9.1%. See Graph 1. These standings show a shift when compared to Market Force’s 2010 restaurant industry survey in which Panera Bread and Subway received the highest and second highest number of votes.

Graph 1: 2011 Favorite QSRs Based on Number of Votes

Five Guys Gets Top Billing for Votes per Restaurant Location
However, this first set of data only tells part of the story. While Chick-fil-A has more than 1,500 U.S. locations and Panera Bread has more than 1,300, Five Guys has less than half that number. Since consumers are only likely to vote for restaurants they visit, Market Force indexed the results to account for the number of restaurant locations per chain to see which would dominate.

When the votes were indexed, Five Guys was consumers’ clear favorite, earning 7.2% of the total. In-N-Out Burger, also a more regionally-based chain, rose to second with 5.9%, while Chick-fil-A dropped to third with 4.1% and Panera Bread landed in fourth with 4.1%. Coming in at No. 13 and No. 14 – each earning .1% of the votes – were Subway and Burger King. See Graph 2.

Graph 2: 2011 Favorite QSRs Indexed by Location Count

Which Restaurants Reigned Supreme by Attribute?
Market Force attempted to uncover why respondents prefer one QSR over another by asking respondents to rate them by attributes such as food quality, taste, speed of service, cleanliness and value. See Graph 3. Friendly service was the category with the most differentiation, and it was no surprise that Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out Burger and Five Guys dominated. The least variation was found in the taste category, which suggests that consumers see the most differentiation—and value—in those restaurants with the best service and friendliness.

While consumer-favorite Five Guys didn’t dominate any of the categories, it performed consistently well across most of them. Similarly, In-N-Out Burgers scored highest in food quality and second highest in friendly service and value. Other chains were less consistent. For example, McDonald’s scored poorest for quality of food, but ranked second for speed of service behind Sonic. Similarly, Taco Bell was lowest in cleanliness, but highest in overall value.

Graph 3: QSRs Scored by Attributes

Other Ways QSRs Differentiate
The chains showed greater differentiation among other attributes, including healthy choices, accommodating children, atmosphere and green/sustainable practices. The results mapped back in interesting ways to each chain’s brand positioning. For example, Panera Bread came out ahead on atmosphere and second for healthy choices, while Subway took the highest score for healthy choices. Interestingly, McDonald’s scored very low in the healthy choices category, despite its recent emphasis on healthy meal choices, but did rank highly on being kid-friendly. Chick-fil-A was called out as the most kid-friendly, and Chipotle ranked through the roof for its green/sustainable practices. See Graph 4.

Graph 4: QSR Rankings in Other Differentiating Attributes

Charting QSRs on The Delight Index
In a related Market Force survey, 3,300 consumers were asked to rate their last experience eating at any QSR. Market Force analyzed the data to develop a Consumer Delight Index revealing the intersection between the likelihood of recommending the QSR to friends/family and overall satisfaction. On this index, Five Guys once again emerged in first place with 4.68%, Panera Bread followed close behind with 4.6% and Chipotle came in third with 4.5%. Consumers were apparently less delighted with McDonald’s and Burger King among the top 15 contenders, as they scored lowest and second lowest on the index, respectively. See Graph 5.

Graph 5: Customer Delight Index

The pool of survey respondents ranged in age from 18 to more than 70 and reflected a broad spectrum of income levels, with 62 percent reporting incomes of more than $50,000 a year. Seventy six percent were women, the primary household consumer purchasers. Half of the participants said they have children at home.

For more information on Market Force’s customer intelligence solutions for the restaurant industry, visit www.marketforce.com/industries/qsr-quick-serve-restaurants.

About Market Force Information

Market Force Information, Inc. is the leading global customer intelligence solutions company for business-to-consumer companies including major retailers, restaurants, grocery and convenience stores, financial institutions, entertainment studios and consumer packaged goods companies. Market Force Information has pioneered the industry with a suite of customer intelligence solutions that provide clients with the business intelligence they need to delight their customers and drive bottom-line results. The company measures store-level operations and customer attitudes through mystery shopping, customer feedback, market audits and merchandising services, with the analytics to drive targeted improvements. For more information, please visit: www.marketforce.com and follow us on Twitter @MarketForce.

* List of 55 obtained from QSR Magazine; included all with 2% or more responses

The Chick-fil-A “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows are asking customers to vote “Chikin 4 Brekfust.” To help the Cows along the campaign trail, Chick-fil-A is treating customers to breakfast the week of Labor Day at its restaurants nationwide. Beginning today, Chick-fil-A patrons can visit www.chick-fil-aforbreakfast.com to reserve the free Chick-fil-A breakfast entree of their choice. Reservations may be redeemed Sept. 6 – 10 during breakfast hours (6:30 to 10:30 a.m.) at the selected restaurant by presenting a printed copy of the personal invitation received upon making a reservation on the website. The offer is limited to one free breakfast entree per customer, per restaurant during the five-day period. Offers and availability may vary at participating locations.

Customers will have up to nine breakfast entrees to choose from, including the Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit, Spicy Chicken Biscuit, Sausage Biscuit, Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Minis (three-count), Chicken, Egg & Cheese Bagel, Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, Chicken Breakfast Burrito, Sausage Breakfast Burrito and the new Multigrain Oatmeal. Entree choices may vary by restaurant.

While the free breakfast giveaway will showcase Chick-fil-A’s diverse menu options, the promotion also gives the chain an opportunity to highlight its latest breakfast menu addition, Multigrain Oatmeal. Introduced nationally in July as an option for its health-minded customers, Chick-fil-A’s Multigrain Oatmeal is slow cooked in kettles to retain the nutritional value naturally found in oats. The mixture is a combination of steel-cut oats, rolled oats, flax, buckwheat flour and whole wheat flour. Customers can choose one of three toppings, including cinnamon brown sugar, roasted mixed nuts (almonds, pecans and walnuts) or a dried fruit blend (cranberries, blueberries, golden raisins and cherries).

“We have been very intentional about building our breakfast day-part over the past several years,” said Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A’s senior vice president of marketing. “This giveaway allows us to showcase the diversity of our breakfast menu – highlighting our signature breakfast items, such as our original Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit or Chick-n-Minis, as well as some of our non-chicken breakfast items, including our Sausage Biscuit or Breakfast Burrito and our new Multigrain Oatmeal.”

Chick-fil-A’s entry into the breakfast market came in 1986 when the then mall-based chain expanded outside of shopping centers and began building stand-alone restaurants that opened for the full breakfast day-part. The chain has steadily focused on building the breakfast day-part over the past five years and has diversified its morning menu with Breakfast Burritos, Bagel Sandwiches, Fruit Cups, Yogurt Parfaits and now Oatmeal.

“For years, we have developed our full Chick-fil-A menu to offer our customers a variety of options based on eating preferences,” Robinson added. “We feel the success we have had building our breakfast sales is directly tied to expanding menu options we continue to offer to our breakfast customers.”

Even the best educated, smartest and most talented restaurant managers and owners are prone to developing blind spots. These blind spots make it difficult to achieve true restaurant success because you can’t even notice that they’re a problem. Asking for the input of an outside source, whether its a friend or a professional consultant, helps work around these problems.

Private equity firm Advent International has purchased the ownership interest held by Falfurrias Capital Partners in the Bojangles’ Restaurant Company. Falfurrias Capital Partners first bought the chain four years ago. Advent International plans to work with the current management team of the company and has no plans for drastic changes to the structure or menu of the chain.

Burger King restaurants have added the BK Minis sandwich packs to their national menu. Each BK Minis set contains four, eight or 12 tiny burgers or chicken sandwiches. Snackers can share a set of mini-sandwiches or chow down all by themselves. The four pack begins at just $2.99, with the 12 pack costing only $7.99.

Red Mango, a quickly growing chain specializing in frozen yogurt and smoothies, has appointed a new CEO. Barry M. Barron will take over as the head of the chain and will bring his extensive experience in the restaurant industry to the chain. He spent six years as the head of expansion at Papa Johns and learned how to be a top-notch CEO at the ACE Cash Express chain.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is making tasty, freshly fried chicken fun again with the new Rip’n Chick’n. The meal features chicken tenders pre-cut so you can tear them apart and dip into the ranch dipping sauce. For just $3.99 diners will receive a buttermilk biscuit, ranch dip, the chain’s signature Cajun fries and a Rip’n Chick’n breast piece.

Chik-fil-A is expanding its breakfast menu across the country with health-conscious consumers in mind. The newest menu addition is the slow-cooked Multi-Grain oatmeal. Four types of grains, including rolled oats and flax, are used to increase fiber and nutrients. Topping choices include mixed nuts, dried fruit and brown sugar with cinnamon.

Domino’s Pizza is taking a unique and daring step to win customer loyalty. The pizza chain is adding a live display in Times Square that shows customer feedback from the online ordering program as it is added. Negative and neutral reviews will be displayed along with positive feedback. Customers also get to use the Domino’s Tracker to see which employees prepared their pizza at each step.

Taco Bell restaurants around the country launched the new Big Box Remixed meal today. The meal also gives consumers access to exclusive music content through a partnership with the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards. A Quick Response, or QR, code on the box gives your smart phone access to a mobile site with music downloads and other exciting content.

Hardee’s and the My Coke Rewards program have teamed again to help diners win one of two $5,000 gift cards. Large fountain drinks, including those with large sized combo meals, feature promotional codes that are redeemable for free menu items and My Coke Reward points. The promotion will run until September 18^th.

Growing demand for healthy dining variety has led the Zoup! Fresh Soup Company to grow rapidly. Franchisees Don and Pat Hoag are developing their second location with the brand that will open in October in Cleveland, Ohio. The chain currently has 35 restaurants mainly located in the Midwestern states like Michigan.

Recognizing the importance of a balanced breakfast, Chick-fil-A is offering Multigrain Oatmeal as a new breakfast menu option for its health-conscious customers at its restaurants nationwide beginning today.

Starting at $2.49, Chick-fil-A’s wholesome oatmeal is served as a entree in an 8 oz. bowl or can be purchased as part of a Chick-fil-A Breakfast Meal, which includes a small coffee and medium fruit cup, starting at $5.65.

Choosing a different approach than most chains, who offer “instant oatmeal” that is prepared by adding hot water to the oatmeal, Chick-fil-A’s Multigrain Oatmeal is slow cooked in kettles to retain the nutritional value naturally found in oats. The mixture is a combination of steel-cut oats, rolled oats, flax, buckwheat flour and whole wheat flour. Customers can choose one of three toppings, including cinnamon brown sugar, roasted mixed nuts (almonds, pecans and walnuts) or a dried fruit blend (cranberries, blueberries, golden raisins and cherries). A serving of oatmeal contains 120 calories and 2.5 grams of fat without toppings and up to 290 calories and 11 grams of fat with the addition of toppings, all with no trans fat.

Woody Faulk, Chick-fil-A’s vice president of brand strategy and design, who oversees the chain’s menu strategy, says the Multigrain Oatmeal is a direct result of feedback Chick-fil-A has received from nutrition-minded customers.  

“Our customers have made it clear that they would like to have healthier alternatives for breakfast,” said Faulk. “Over the past few years we have tried to respond to those requests by diversifying our menu with healthier options, such as the Yogurt Parfait we introduced last year, and our Fruit Cup and Multigrain Bagel we added a few years ago. Our menu is all about choices – we offer our signature Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit for the more hearty appetite to the Cinnamon Cluster for those craving something sweet in the morning to the health-minded customer who now has an additional choice of our slow-cooked oatmeal.”  

Chick-fil-A’s full breakfast menu first appeared in 1986 with the construction of its stand-alone restaurants. Over the past five years, the chain has steadily focused on building the breakfast day-part by diversifying its morning menu with a variety of entree options, including Breakfast Burritos, Bagel Sandwiches, Spicy Chicken Biscuits, Fruit Cups and Yogurt Parfaits.

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the nation’s second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain (based on sales), with more than 1,560 restaurants in 39 states. In 2010, Chick-fil-A produced record sales of $3.58 billion – an 11.37 percent overall increase and a 5.92 percent same-store sales gain that helped extend the chain’s streak of consecutive sales gains over its entire history of 43 years.

The bright, colorful plastic play structures found at fast food restaurants like McDonalds have come under heavy scrutiny. Mother and developmental psychologist Erin Carr-Jordan has taken samples from over 50 structures that shows a lack of cleaning and dangerous levels of bacteria growth and food accumulation. She says that companies like Chick-fil-A do a better job than competitors.

A large franchisee of Applebee’s restaurants, the Apple Gold Group, has purchased 13 existing locations in South Carolina. The restaurants are located in large cities like Charleston and Myrtle Beach. This brings the company’s total to 86 Applebee’s restaurants and makes it one of the four largest franchisees of the brand.

Subway restaurants have focused on non-traditional development that puts restaurant locations in colleges, office buildings and large retail complexes. This focus has led to the opening of the 8,000^th non-traditional location. The newest restaurant was opened inside a Jeep and Chrysler Assembly Plant in Toledo.

Saladworks is on the expansion path again. The national fresh tossed salad chain has signed a new development agreement that will help one franchisee open his third location in Delaware. Nearly 75% of all franchisees with Saladworks own more than one restaurant. The chain was also named one of the 10 ten franchises by QSR Magazine for 2011.

Smashburger is growing by leaps and bounds as consumer demand for higher quality burgers swells. The chain opened its first location in Frisco, bringing the current total number of locations in Dallas to four. Six more restaurants will be added to the area over the next three years.

The National Restaurant Association has introduced a new initative program to help parents make informed healthy dining choices for their children. The “Kids LiveWell” program involves over 15,000 restaurants that will voluntarily added healthier menu items for children. Brands include El Pollo Loco and Outback Steakhouse.

Denny’s has been chosen by the National Restaurant Association as an Inaugural Leader of the program. The chain already has two menu items for kids that meet the program’s healthy dining requirements, the Junior Build Your Own Grand Slam and Spaghetti Plate. The two dishes will be featured at the Kids LiveWell Event.

IHOP is celebrating their participation in the LiveWell program by running a special promotion during the month of August. Each evening in August the “Kids Eat Free” promotion will return so kids can try the new SIMPLE & FIT kids’ menu items. Options that meet the LiveWell program guidelines include the Jr. Fish and Baby Cakes with a Jr. Fresh Fruit Dish.

OSI Restaurant Partners, parent company of Bonefish Grill, Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba’s Italian Grill, have also joined the inaugural LiveWell program. All three restaurants now offer dishes for child diners that fit the nutritional requirements. Options include Grilled Chicken and Whole Grain Spaghetti Pomodoro and the Joey Sirloin.

Joe’s Crab Shack was proud to join the LiveWell program when it was first announced and worked with registered dieticians to create a better kid’s menu. The Kid’s Snow Crab and Kid’s Simple Grilled Shrimp are healthy low-calorie options with plenty of flavor. Kids can also choose from side dishes like applesauce and corn on the cob.

Holy Cow! It’s time to break out your cow-spotted apparel and leave your wallet out to pasture. On Friday, July 8, Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide will celebrate the annual Cow Appreciation Day event by offering a free meal to any customer who visits one of the chain’s mall or stand-alone restaurants fully dressed as a cow.

This year, customers who aren’t too chicken to dress completely as a cow will again be rewarded with a free Chick-fil-A Meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner), which includes an entrée of choice, a side item and a medium Dr Pepper (or other beverage). For those too chicken to wear full cow costumes, Chick-fil-A will award a complimentary entrée to customers partially dressed in cow attire, such as a cow-spotted scarf, purse, tie, hat or other accessory.

Chick-fil-A recently launched a special website dedicated to the occasion www.CowAppreciationDay.com. In addition to providing further details about the event, the site offers cow costume ideas, downloadable cow spots, masks and other bovine-themed accessories for customers to use in creating their costumes. Chick-fil-A is also organizing a photo contest that will be co-hosted on the Cow Appreciation Day site and the chain’s Facebook page. Chick-fil-A will offer a number of categories where the best cow-dressed customers will have the chance to win various prizes. Customers can upload photos for the contest from July 8 – 31.

Now in its seventh year, Chick-fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day continues to build momentum. Last year’s event – and the resulting turnout – confirmed that Chick?fil-A has a strong following of customers willing to go to great lengths to show their appreciation for their cows. More than 450,000 cow-clad customers stampeded Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country. Costumes ranged from simple cow-spotted T-shirts to full cow suits complete with furry ears, cow bells and homemade sandwich boards with personalized renditions of the “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows’ quirky messages.

“Cow Appreciation Day is a great barometer of how passionate our customers are for our brand,” said Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A’s senior vice president of marketing. “If you’re willing to dress up like a cow for a free meal, you’re obviously a loyal and even ‘raving’ Chick-fil-A fan. While the event is a natural tie with our cow-themed marketing campaign, Cow Appreciation Day is intended to be a fun day to reward some of our most loyal customers with free food.”

For the past 16 years, the renegade “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows have entertained consumers with their desperate, self-preserving antics in an effort to convert beef eaters into chicken fans. The Chick-fil-A Cows and the “Eat Mor Chikin” campaign have enjoyed such widespread public success that the chain has evolved both into a fully integrated marketing program. In addition to clever roadside billboards, the “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows are the focal point of Chick-fil-A’s in-store point-of-purchase materials, promotions, radio and TV advertising, billboards, and clothing and merchandise sales.

In 2010, Chick-fil-A was recognized as one of the top “Marketers of the Year” by Advertising Age, and as one of J.D. Power and Associates’ “Top Restaurant Brands in Customer Satisfaction.” In 2007, the Cows were selected as America’s most popular advertising icons in a public vote sponsored by Advertising Week, and became the newest members of New York’s Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame. A permanent banner to recognize this achievement was unveiled on Madison Avenue in 2008.

Appreciation for Cows Fueling Sales Volume

Thanks in part to the successful “Eat Mor Chikin” Cow campaign, Chick-fil-A continues to experience record setting growth. The Atlanta-based chain finished strong in 2010, reporting system-wide sales of more than $3.5 billion, an 11.37 percent increase over the chain’s 2009 overall sales performance and a same-store sales increase of 5.92 percent. The company’s record sales performance in 2010 continues a trend of year-over-year growth the chain has sustained since its inception in 1967.

Chick-fil-A will add 90 new locations to its restaurant portfolio in 2011, including 71 stand-alone locations, four mall/in-line restaurants and 15 licensed outlets.

If you don’t mind going out in public dressed as a black and white spotted cow you can net yourself a free meal. July 8^th will be the next national promotion day where Chick-fil-A awards visitors dressed as cows with a free combo meal. The Cow Appreciation Day was started as an annual promotion to encourage customers to have fun.

Arby’s is adding an exciting new roast beef sandwich option to their menu. The new Angus Cool Deli Sandwich features cooled Angus top round roast beef topped with Swiss Cheese, pickles and a special onion and herb vinaigrette dressing. The sandwich is sold nationally for $4.99 or as part of a combo meal at $6.99.

Smashburger is one of America’s fastest growing burger chains due to their focus on high quality burgers. The chain is about to expand into Atlanta with a new location on Piedmont Road. 20 other locations are expected to open over the next two decades in the metro area. The restaurant serves the full menu as well as a few regional specialties.

NRD Holdings, an Atlanta-based franchise restaurant operators, has acquired 23 Domino’s Pizza restaurants in Florida. 17 of the restaurants are located in Jacksonville and the other 6 are in Orlando. This moves the company into the top 25 rankings for largest operators in the Domino’s franchise.

GE Capital Franchise Finance has extended a new $28.9 million dollar credit agreement to the Rottinghaus Company. The credit is split into a $4.4 million dollar revolving line of credit and a $24.5 million dollar fixed loan. The Rottinghaus Company is responsible for 359 Subway brand restaurants across the Midwestern U.S.

Chipotle Mexican Grill challenged visitors to “Wrap What You Love” in their most recent contest. The grand prize winners wrapped their four year old baby in the company’s 18^th anniversary gold wrapper and took home $10,000 dollars. Eric Timperly, the baby’s father, was chosen as the winner by both the official judges and by popular vote.

Baskin-Robbins invited ice cream lovers to vote on their favorite classic flavor from the chain in their recent “The Big Thaw” contest. Over 80,000 enthusiasts responded and picked the Pistacho Almond Fudge flavor from the 60s to return. The chain will offer the flavor in packed quarts at all locations later in the summer.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit grows its numbers again with a new location opening in Huntsville, Alabama. The chain has been a part of the city for some time but demand has made it possible for a second location. The brand now has a total of 153 restaurants around the country.

McDonald’s popular slogan may be “lovin’ it” but consumers beg to differ, the fast food icon was joined by Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell among the lower ranked chains in Consumer Reports first ever major fast food ratings.

The survey, based on responses from 36,733 subscribers who made more than 98,000 visits to 53 fast-food chains revealed that readers found them to offer uninspiring food, only so-so service. Other major chains with relatively low scores: sandwich shops Arby’s and Quiznos and pizza joints Domino’s and Pizza Hut.

“Chains like McDonald’s and Taco Bell boast supersized values, but consumers don’t necessarily think they offer much bang for the buck,” said Tod Marks, Senior Projects Editor, Consumer Reports. “Fifty four percent of our subscribers cited low prices as a reason for picking a particular fast-food restaurant.”

By contrast, CR’s survey revealed good deals and even better meals at dozens of ever-present fast-food restaurants. Consumer Reports readers gave 21 of the 53 chains high marks for food.  Among the winners:

• For burger fans, In-N-Out Burger rated highest of all 53 chains rated in Consumer Reports Survey with high scores for food, service, value and speed.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill was among the best of 8 leading Mexican food chains, and earned high scores for food, politeness of staff and speed of service.
• One chicken chain topped the rest hands down: Chick-fil-A. With outstanding scores for politeness of staff, and high marks for food, value, and speed of service, respondents rated it higher than seven other leading poultry stops.
• If you’re craving a top-notch wedge, hero, hoagie, or sub served quickly with a smile on the side try Jason’s Deli or Firehouse Subs. Readers gave them the highest marks for food and favorable scores for politeness of staff and speed of services among 11 sandwich and sub chains.  
• The single standout for pizza: Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza, which has an unconventional concept where the patrons order a pizza to bake at home. It earned the highest marks for food, and exceptional scores for value, staff politeness and speed of service among the pizza chains.

Other Key Findings:

Diners want better food. Many restaurants scored higher for service—specifically, speed and politeness—than for food. At chains with the highest scores for food, 42 to 54 percent of patrons called the fare excellent, but at Burger King, KFC, McDonald’s, and Taco Bell, no more than 11 percent of patrons did. In fact, 15 to 19 percent of respondents who ate at one of those chains thought the food was fair, poor, or very poor. At Sbarro, an Italian chain, 27 percent of patrons judged the food fair, poor, or very poor.

Diners want a better experience. Whether they ordered cafeteria-style, at a counter, or at a drive-thru, or had food delivered, readers were much less pleased overall with fast-food restaurants than with casual full-service eateries like Cracker Barrel, Outback Steakhouse, and Red Lobster. Sixty percent of respondents said they were completely or very satisfied with their fast-food dining experiences vs. 68 percent of casual-restaurant patrons.

For the complete ratings of 53 popular fast-food quick-service chains, to find out which chains offer the best food according to Consumer Reports readers, or to learn more about survey results, visit www.ConsumerReports.org starting June 30th, or pick up a copy of August issue of Consumer Reports  wherever magazines are sold.

Truett Cathy, founder of the Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A restaurant chain, has experienced both “poverty and plenty” in his lifetime. In his new book Wealth: Is It Worth It?, Cathy explores the opportunities and responsibilities that accompany financial success, and recounts the lessons he learned while growing up in a financially poor family.

“My message is caution,” Cathy says. “Wealth has the power to build or to destroy. When we use wealth to help people who are in need, we experience tremendous joy. But I’ve seen many people and families damaged by the wealth they have gained because they became complacent or jealous.”

In his book, available nationwide in major bookstores and through online retailers in early July 2011, Cathy explains his belief that wealth is “worth it” only if it is earned honestly, spent wisely, saved responsibly and given generously.

Cathy, age 90, acquired his business philosophy early in life. He entered the business world when he was 8 years old during the Great Depression. Forty-six years before he would open the first Chick-fil-A restaurant, he showed his entrepreneurial skills by setting up a Coca-Cola stand in his front yard, and he delivered the local newspaper throughout his public housing neighborhood in Atlanta. These experiences helped Cathy develop the “people first” business philosophy that distinguishes the Chick-fil-A brand today.

He and his wife, Jeannette, worked 21 years behind the counter of their mom-and-pop restaurant, where the Original Chick-fil-A Sandwich was developed, before they opened the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in 1967 in an Atlanta shopping mall. Today, the chain of 1,562 restaurants generates annual sales approaching $4 billion.

Cathy says he wrote the book as a personal message to current and future generations, as well as to his “Chick-fil-A family,” as it is his hope the company will remain a successful family-owned and operated business through multiple generations.

“If you want to have a healthy respect for wealth,” says Dave Ramsey, radio show host and author of The Total Money Makeover, “go find a wealthy person who’s doing it right. I can’t think of anyone better suited for this task than my friend Truett Cathy.”

Ken Blanchard, co-author of the One-Minute Manager adds, “Truett’s book asks an important question: Is money worth the trouble it takes to attain it? Is it worth the trouble it can bring if you happen upon it through good fortune? His answer is profound and just what you’d expect from a man famous for his generosity. Wealth is worth it only if you give it away.”

Today, the way Americans eat on-the-go will change forever as Heinz announces the national availability of Heinz Dip & Squeeze Ketchup, the new packaging innovation that allows for both dipping and squeezing and holds three times as much Heinz Ketchup as the traditional packet.¹ After 42 years of messing with ketchup packets, people can now eat America’s Favorite Ketchup with ease.

To celebrate the availability of the new package, Friday March 4^th will be declared FREE FryDay at Chick-fil-A restaurants. Between 2 and 4 p.m. local time, ketchup lovers who ask for Heinz Dip & Squeeze Ketchup at all Chick-fil-A restaurants will receive a FREE medium order of Chick-fil-A Waffle Potato Fries, limit one per customer. Chick-fil-A is the first restaurant partner to carry Dip & Squeeze Ketchup nationwide.

The Wait Is Over

Heinz Ketchup fans have been eagerly awaiting their chance to try Dip & Squeeze Ketchup since it was unveiled in 2010. Since then, the Heinz Ketchup Road Trip, a mobile tour featuring Heinz Dip & Squeeze Ketchup with a side of free fries traveled more than 5,500 miles to give ketchup lovers a chance to try the new package and share their feedback.

“The response from consumers who have had the chance to experience the new Dip & Squeeze Ketchup package has been overwhelmingly positive,” said John Bennett, Vice President of Marketing at Heinz. “People have been telling us that they love the convenience and functionality of the new package, and we are thrilled that it is now available to people nationwide.”

To Dip or to Squeeze? That is the question.

After trying Dip & Squeeze Ketchup with French fries on the Heinz Ketchup Road Trip, more than 1,000 people were surveyed about their ketchup eating habits. The findings? Sixty-three percent of people said they were “dippers,” while 37 percent considered themselves “squeezers.” If you’re a double dipper, you’re not alone! A majority of ketchup lovers weren’t embarrassed to admit to ‘double dipping’ when sharing Heinz Ketchup.

Join the Fun

Now that Dip & Squeeze Ketchup is available nationwide, ketchup enthusiasts everywhere are encouraged to join in the fun on FryDay and beyond.

Facebook – Post FryDay photos of dipping and squeezing in action on the Heinz Ketchup and Chick-fil-A pages: www.facebook.com/HeinzKetchup and www.facebook.com/ChickfilA.

Twitter - Twitter users can follow @DipAndSqueeze and @ChickfilA and use the hashtag #FreeFryDay to answer trivia questions for a chance to win Heinz and Chick-fil-A prizes!

Mobile Game – The fun doesn’t stop after mealtime. With the new Dip & Squeeze Ketchup Craze Mobile Game now available for free on iTunes, dipping and squeezing skills can be tested in ten different games – from dipping nuggets to squeezing ketchup onto a burger.

Locator Application – To find the closest Chick-fil-A restaurant serving Heinz Dip & Squeeze Ketchup, check out the Dip & Squeeze Ketchup Locator at www.HeinzKetchup.com/Dip-and-Squeeze/Locator.

YouTube Channel – For more ketchup-themed entertainment including “Great Moments in Ketchup” and other fun videos, visit the Heinz Dip & Squeeze Ketchup YouTube channel – YouTube.com/HeinzDipAndSqueeze.

Heinz Dip & Squeeze Ketchup is now available at Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide and will be rolling out in select quick-service restaurants in the coming months.

For more information on Heinz Ketchup, please visit www.heinzketchup.com or check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HeinzKetchup or @DipAndSqueeze on Twitter.

For more information on Chick-fil-A, visit www.Chick-fil-A.com or www.facebook.com/ChickfilA

¹ One package of new Heinz Dip & Squeeze equals three, nine-gram ketchup packets.

For many Americans, a banana pudding recipe isn’t just a recipe. It’s an institution. A good serving of banana pudding provides the perfect comfort-food remedy to a long day at work, and avid banana pudding enthusiasts claim that the delectable dessert is even known to cure a headache. Starting Monday, Feb. 28, customers can satiate their cravings for the Southern classic with the new Banana Pudding Milkshake available in Chick-fil-A® restaurants nationwide through June 4.

With a taste sure to evoke memories of your grandmother’s best recipe, the new Banana Pudding Milkshake will be offered in 14 oz. or 20 oz. cups and priced at $2.49 and $2.89, respectively (at most locations). The milkshake is made with fresh bananas, real Nilla® wafers, a splash of vanilla, and is hand-spun with Chick-fil-A’s popular “home-style” Icedream® and topped with light whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.  

To celebrate the new milkshake recipe, Chick-fil-A is inviting customers to submit their favorite heirloom or family banana pudding recipes and the story behind them on the chain’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ChickfilA.

“As we continue to offer limited time flavor milkshakes, we ask customers what flavors they would like served at Chick-fil-A.  Again and again, customers said ‘banana something.’  We wanted to offer something unique, yet connected to our Southern roots, instead of the typical banana milkshake option. In the South, banana pudding reigns supreme as one of the favorite traditional desserts, most commonly associated with family.  Our new Banana Pudding Milkshake is like drinking your grandmother’s recipe through a straw,” said Woody Faulk, Chick-fil-A’s vice president of brand development.  ”Our customers continue to tell us how much they enjoy our hand-spun milkshakes, so we want to continue to satisfy their tastes while also surprising them with occasional limited-time new flavors!”

The Chick-fil-A hand-spun milkshakes have proved to be one of the most popular products on the menu. As a result, the chain adds a variety of limited-time flavors to its milkshake menu annually.

In a year of major new product introductions, geographic expansion and new store openings, Chick-fil-A announces yet another year of consecutive sales growth. The Atlanta-based chain finished strong in 2010, reporting system-wide sales of $3,582,473,798 an 11.37 percent increase over the chain’s 2009 overall sales performance and a same-store sales increase of 5.92 percent. The company’s record sales performance in 2010 continues a trend of year-over-year growth the chain has sustained since its inception in 1967.

“We have been very blessed with our sales performance, which is a testament to our family of franchise Operators who remain committed to the business and dedicated to attracting the very best restaurant team members,” said Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer Dan T. Cathy. “Their dedication to go above and beyond our customers’ expectations with warm, friendly service and gracious hospitality is key to sustaining our momentum. It’s said, ‘build a strong brand and sales will follow,’ and we believe the Chick-fil-A brand will continue to thrive as long as we continue to focus on providing exceptional customer service and high-quality products.”

Chick-fil-A’s sales performance complemented a number of other business achievements in 2010:

• Introduced the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, the chain’s first new sandwich to hit menu boards since the Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich was introduced in 1989. Chick-fil-A sold more than 10 million Spicy sandwiches within less than two months after it became available on the menu in June.
• Continued its deliberate restaurant expansion strategy:
  • Opened 80 new restaurants, including 66 stand-alone restaurants, two mall/in-line locations and 12 licensed outlets (e.g. college campuses, hospitals, airports, businesses and industrial sites), a year-over-year increase of 5 percent.
  • Celebrated the opening of the chain’s 1,500th store location in downtown Los Angeles, adjacent to the University of Southern California.
  • Entered the Chicagoland area for the first time, opening three restaurants in Aurora, Orland Park and Wheaton.
  • Dedicated reinvestment resources to renovate 164 of its existing restaurants.
• Provided nearly 4,500 new job opportunities through restaurant growth.
• Recognized with a number of prominent industry awards, including:
  • 2010 Zagat Fast Food Survey’s “Best Value” and “Best Milkshakes”
  • 2010 J.D. Power and Associates Restaurant Satisfaction Study “Top Restaurant Brands in Customer Satisfaction”
  • 2010 Advertising Age “Marketer of the Year” Runner-Up
• Granted more than $1.5 million in scholarships to Chick-fil-A restaurant team members.  
• Awarded 54 franchise Operators new cars as part of the chain’s Symbol of Success sales incentive program. Through the program, franchisees are awarded a new Ford vehicle of their choice for meeting individual annual sales goals.

What to Expect in 2011

From expanding the breakfast menu to continued growth into new markets, Chick-fil-A has a number of initiatives planned to help sustain its sales momentum in 2011. Following are highlights of key initiatives Chick-fil-A believes will help continue to grow the business in 2011:

• New Product Introductions: In January, the chain introduced a new Spicy Chicken Biscuit, featuring a hand-breaded boneless breast of chicken seasoned with a fiery blend of peppers and spices, pressure-cooked in 100 percent refined peanut oil and served on a made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuit. In March, Chick-fil-A will introduce a new Banana Pudding Milkshake as a limited-time flavor.
• Restaurant Growth/New Market Expansion: Chick-fil-A will add 90 new locations to its restaurant portfolio, including 71 stand-alone locations, four mall/in-line restaurants and 15 licensed outlets. Chick-fil-A will also expand into entirely new markets for the chain, with plans to further its expansion into the Chicago metro area this spring, enter the San Francisco Bay area in the fall, and open in Boise, Idaho in the fall.
• Restaurant Reinvestments: In addition to opening new restaurants, Chick-fil-A will dedicate reinvestment resources to renovate more than 200 of its existing locations in an effort to enhance the guest experience and introduce new efficiencies that will help attract and accommodate greater sales volumes.
• Scholarship Donations: In 2011, Chick-fil-A will award $1.6 million in scholarships to its restaurant employees.
• Celebrating the Great Legacy of S. Truett Cathy: In March, Chick-fil-A will host a tribute in honor of the 90th birthday and life of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy.

Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the nation’s second-largest quick-service chicken restaurant chain (based on sales), with more than 1,540 restaurants in 39 states and Washington D.C.  Credited with inventing the boneless breast of chicken sandwich and first introducing the chicken nugget concept, Chick-fil-A serves nutritious and freshly prepared food products in mall locations, stand-alone restaurants, drive-thru-only restaurants, Chick-fil-A Dwarf House and Truett’s Grill full-service restaurants, and through licensed outlets in college campuses, hospitals, airports, businesses and industrial sites.  More information about Chick-fil-A is available on the chain’s websites, located at www.chick-fil-a.com/pressroom, or through Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChickfilA or Twitter: www.Twitter.com/ChickfilA.

Chick-fil-A is offering customers a new alternative to break-up their breakfast routine in 2011. On Jan. 10, the Atlanta-based restaurant chain will introduce a new Spicy Chicken Biscuit to its breakfast menu to complement the Spicy Chicken Sandwich Chick-fil-A added to its lunch and dinner menus in June.

To celebrate, Chick-fil-A is giving customers a chance to taste the new biscuit for free before it is officially added to the menu. Beginning Dec. 27, customers can visit www.getspicychicken.com to reserve a free Chick-fil-A Spicy Chicken Biscuit at participating Chick-fil-A restaurants. Reservations may be redeemed the week of Jan. 3 – 8 during breakfast hours (6:30 to 10:30 a.m.) at the selected restaurant by presenting a printed confirmation from the reservation web site. Reservations may be redeemed in both the restaurant and drive-thru.

The Spicy Chicken Biscuit features the chain’s signature hand-breaded boneless breast of chicken seasoned with a fiery blend of peppers and spices, pressure-cooked in 100 percent refined peanut oil and served on a made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuit. The biscuit starts at $2.25 as an entree and is also offered as part of a Chick-fil-A Breakfast Meal, which includes a beverage and an order of Hash Browns or other side item, starting at $4.09.

“Customers began asking for a spicy version of our hero breakfast offering, the Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit, as soon as our Spicy Chicken Sandwich hit menu boards in June, and the demand for spicy products in general continues to grow,” said Woody Faulk, Chick-fil-A’s vice president of brand strategy and design, who is responsible for the chain’s menu. “The Spicy Biscuit will give our customers the option to start their day with something truly different, and certainly a whole lot ‘hotter,’ as we continue to expand and vary our breakfast menu. The Spicy Biscuit will give customers another reason to visit Chick-fil-A for breakfast – a day-part that continues to grow.”

Faulk added that Chick-fil-A’s new Spicy Chicken Biscuit also gives customers another option to break up the habitual breakfast routine. According to marketing research firm NPD Group, 48 percent of people say their breakfast choices are driven by routine, with “most consumers looking at breakfast as part of a ritual for getting started in the morning. It’s the only meal when eating the same food every day is not only common but acceptable.”  

“Breakfast is an extremely routine-oriented day-part,” Faulk added. “People typically travel to and from work the same way each day and they also tend to have a list of stops they frequent during the work week. Even more importantly, people are time-starved in the morning, so when they make a stop, they expect prompt, accurate and courteous service. Chick-fil-A continues to meet these needs with new offerings that appeal to a broader range of customers who may eventually make Chick-fil-A’s breakfast a part of their morning routine.”

NPD Group also found breakfast sales accounted for 60 percent of growth in foodservice traffic over the past five years. Their foodservice market research also shows that for the year ending March 2010, there were over 12 billion morning meals served at U.S. restaurants, and 80 percent of restaurant morning meals were purchased from quick-service restaurants. Over the past five years, morning meal traffic increased an average of two percent per year, comparatively, while lunch visits were flat, and supper traffic declined by two percent per year on average.

Chick-fil-A’s entry into the breakfast market came in 1986 when the then mall-based chain expanded outside of shopping centers and began building stand-alone restaurants that opened for breakfast. The chain has steadily focused on building the breakfast day-part over the past five years and has diversified its morning menu with breakfast burritos, bagel sandwiches, fruit cups and yogurt parfaits.  Its signature breakfast item continues to be the Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit.

“This has been an exceptional year for Chick-fil-A,” said Chick-fil-A’s Senior Vice President of Marketing Steve Robinson. “In June, we made our largest new product introduction ever with our Spicy Chicken Sandwich. Just six short months later, we are fortunate to be in a position where our business is healthy enough to add another new entree item to our breakfast menu with the Spicy Chicken Biscuit.”

Robinson noted that these menu additions coincided with strong restaurant growth as well. While many quick-service chains have slowed restaurant expansion plans, Chick-fil-A has remained committed to its deliberate growth pattern of adding some 75 to 80 restaurants annually. The chain will end the year with the addition of 81 new eateries across the country, including its first three Chicagoland locations, for a 2010 growth rate of more than five percent.

Menu enhancements coupled with stable restaurant expansion have helped fuel Chick-fil-A’s sales in a sluggish economy. As a result, the chain anticipates exceeding last year’s overall and same-store performance to maintain its streak of consecutive sales gains over its 43 years of existence (since 1967).

Be sure to check out this nice series of articles from the folks at Minyanville.

The Origins of Cult-Favorite Fast Food Restaurants: Chick-fil-A

The Origins of Cult-Favorite Fast Food Restaurants: Domino’s

The Origins of Cult-Favorite Fast Food Restaurants: In-N-Out Burger

The Origins of Cult-Favorite Fast Food Restaurants: McDonald’s

The Origins of Cult-Favorite Fast Food Restaurants: Sonic

The Origins of Cult-Favorite Fast Food Restaurants: Starbucks

The Origins of Cult-Favorite Fast Food Restaurants: White Castle

The Origins of Cult-Favorite Fast Food Restaurants: Yoshinoya

The second time around was the charm for Jay Early.

Six years ago, he was in line for his own Chick-fil-A franchise when he was deployed to Iraq for a year with the 77th Brigade Combat Team of the Army National Guard, based in Houston.

“I was actually up for a store in 2004,” Early said. “But my (National Guard) unit was activated, and we went to Iraq in 2005. That put everything on hold.”

All told, he’s been working with the company for almost seven years now, trying to get his own store, and Thursday his dream became a reality.

Continue reading . . .

Landry’s has purchased Claim Jumper’s in a bankruptcy auction for a total of $76.6 million.  The selling price is more than $20 million more than Claim Jumper’s had originally agreed to be sold for.  Because the restaurant was an asset in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, the sale was required to happen through an auction to return the highest price possible.  Claim Jumper’s had originally agreed to sell to Private Capital Partners for just under $55 million.

A person posing as a health inspector has hit again.  An unidentified caller has been calling restaurant owners and operators claiming the need for an emergency inspection.  The person then asks restaurateurs for detailed and sensitive personal and business information.  It is unknown how many restaurants have been impacted by the scam.

Chick-fil-A will once again release a cow themed calendar for the holiday season.  This year’s calendar will feature the familiar Chick-fil-A Eat Mor Chikin’ Cows paying homage to a number of popular reality television shows.  The calendar is available for purchase now.

White Castle has announced it will introduce 13 new members into the restaurant’s Cravers Hall of Fame.  The Hall, which opened in 2001, will include 67 members after the class of 2010 is inducted.  More than 6,600 people have applied for inclusion in the White Castle Hall of Fame since opening its doors.

Burger King thinks the Kinect for Xbox 360 will be the hottest gift this holiday season and wants you to be able to get in on the action.  The company is offering guests a chance to win Kinect Xbox 360 Prize Packs by entering a code found on large and medium beverage containers, Whopper wrappers, and large frypods.  The promotion is currently running.

IHOP has announced the introduction of a special Festival of Flavors menu.  The new menu will include three new breakfast items for guests to pick from.  The menu will offer Banana Bread French Toast, Cinnamon Apple Crepes, and Pumpkin Praline Pancakes.  All items will be available for a limited time at participating locations.

Little Caesars, Inc. has announced the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes.  The promotional contest gives players multiple opportunities to win football and pizza related prizes in a three- tier system.  Prizes range from winning a Little Caesars Pizza Party to winning a trip for two to the college bowl game of your choice.

SONIC has announced the SONIC Flavor Touchdown Sweepstakes.  The contest will run from November 1 through December 12 and offer players a chance to win a VIP football trip for six to a college bowl game of their choice along with an additional prize package.  Players can enter the contest at FlavorTouchdown.com

Texas Roadhouse, Inc. has announced the results for their third quarter ending September 28.  The company saw comparable store sales increase by 4.3% at company owned locations and a 4.4% increase at franchise operated stores.  Texas Roadhouse also announced they had opened three company owned locations during the quarter and that restaurant operating margins had increased by 79 base points.  Diluted earnings per share increased by 28% over the same quarter last year.

Morton’s Restaurant Group, Inc. has reported the unaudited financial numbers for their third fiscal quarter ending October 3.  The company reported that system-wide revenues were up by 3.9 % over last year’s same quarter and that comparable store revenues were up by 3.2% over the same time.

The Chick-fil-A Eat Mor Chikin’ Cows are taking reality TV by stampede this holiday season with the chain’s new 2011 Cow Calendar. The seasonal cheer at Chick-fil-A doesn’t stop there. The Atlanta-based restaurant chain will also sell gift cards and add the Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake back to menus as a limited-time flavor to celebrate this special time of year.

The latest edition of the cow-themed calendars, entitled “The Cows of Reality TV: You Can’t Script the Fight Against Burgers,” pays homage to some of today’s most popular reality TV shows. In an effort to prove cows can do more than just make a good meal, the clever bovines star as the leading mammals and contestants on the reality shows featured each month in the calendar. Shows include “Boogyin with the Bovines,” a dance competition featuring cows attempting to “show the world that it’s better to see a cow cut a rug than see one become a cold cut” and “The Beefcake,” a dating show starring 20 heifers vying to win the affection of a “prize bull.”

The calendars can be purchased at any mall or stand-alone Chick-fil-A restaurant or at www.Chick-fil-A.com for $6 (plus tax) beginning Nov. 1 through early January (or until supplies last). The calendar also includes monthly food and beverage offers.

The holiday excitement continues with the seasonal Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake, which is back by popular demand on Chick-fil-A menus nationwide starting Nov. 1. As with the chain’s year-round milkshake flavors, the Peppermint Chocolate Chip Milkshake is hand-spun with Chick-fil-A’s popular “home-style” Icedream and topped with light whipped cream and a maraschino cherry. Milkshakes are offered in 14 oz. or 20 oz. cups and are priced from $2.55 and $2.95, respectively.

Four chicken restaurant chains think Atlanta will add sizzle to their sales.

Bojangles’ Restaurants Inc., Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Chick-fil-A Inc., and Church’s Chicken plan to add roughly 55 stores collectively to the Atlanta market within the next three years.

Both Bojangles’, based in Charlotte, N.C., and Popeyes, owned by Atlanta-based AFC Enterprises Inc., expect to double their size in the market.

Fried chicken is big business and Atlanta-based companies are well represented.

Continue reading . . .

Chick-fil-A is issuing a cattle call! On Friday, July 9, Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide will celebrate the company’s annual Cow Appreciation Day event by offering a FREE meal to any customer who visits one of the chain’s mall or stand-alone restaurants fully dressed as a cow.

Customers dressed “head to hoof” in cow attire will receive a free Chick-fil-A Meal which includes an entrée of choice, a side item and a Dr Pepper (or other beverage choice). For customers partially dressed in cow attire, such as a cow-spotted scarf, purse, hat or other accessory, Chick-fil-A will award a complimentary entrée.

Two online photo contests are also part of the festivities. A photo contest for adults is hosted on the Chick-fil-A Facebook page. A second photo contest for kids 10 and under called Show Us the Cow is available at www.showusthecow.com. Both contests will award free Chick-fil-A products for a year to the best cow-dressed customers, and children will also have the opportunity to win a $1,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond and a digital camera through the “Show Us the Cow” photo contest.

“Cow Appreciation Day continues to be one of our best indicators of the great passion our customers have for our brand,” said Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A’s senior vice president of marketing. “It takes a loyal fan to dress like a cow for a free meal. Cow Appreciation Day is our way of thanking them for their loyalty, not to mention a day simply to have fun!”

For the past 15 years, the renegade “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows have entertained consumers with their desperate, self-preserving antics in an effort to convert beef eaters into chicken fans. The Chick-fil-A Cows and the “Eat Mor Chikin” campaign have enjoyed such widespread public success that the chain has evolved the campaign into a fully integrated marketing program. In addition to clever roadside billboards, the “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows are the focal point of Chick-fil-A’s in-store point-of-purchase materials, promotions, radio and TV advertising, and clothing and merchandise sales.

To learn more, go to www.cowappreciationday.com

On Friday, July 9, 2010, Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide will celebrate the annual Cow Appreciation Day event by offering a free meal to any customer who visits one of the chain’s mall or stand-alone restaurants fully dressed as a cow.

Customers dressed “head to hoof” in cow attire will be rewarded with a free Chick-fil-A Meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner), which includes an entree of choice, a side item and a Dr Pepper (or other beverage choice). For those “too chicken” to wear full cow costumes, Chick-fil-A will award a complimentary entree to customers partially dressed in cow attire, such as a cow-spotted scarf, purse, hat or other accessory.

Chick-fil-A will launch a special website dedicated to the occasion, www.CowAppreciationDay.com, on June 24. In addition to providing further details about the event, the site offers cow costume ideas and tips, as well as downloadable cow spots, masks and other bovine-themed accessories for customers to use to create their costumes. For the first time, the Chick-fil-A “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows will embrace social media by tweeting, checking in on Foursquare and providing Facebook updates throughout the day from their profile pages.

Young Chick-fil-A fans have an additional opportunity to show their cow spirit and win prizes in the annual Show Us the Cow photo contest June 21-August 31. Parents with children ages 10 and younger can submit a photograph to one or both of the contest’s categories: an original photograph of their child dressed as a cow or an original photograph of their child’s decorated Cow Herd Figurine, available in Kid’s Meals through July 24.

Show Us the Cow participants and fans may enter and vote for their favorite photos at www.ShowUsTheCow.com. The 10 entries with the most votes in each category will be selected as semifinalists and win a Chick-fil-A prize pack. Chick-fil-A, Inc. will select three finalists and one grand prize winner from both categories. Grand prize winners will receive free Kid’s Meals for a year, a Chick-fil-A party at their school, a $1,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond and a digital camera. The winning designs may also be featured on an upcoming Kid’s Meal bag. There will be a similar photo contest for adults on Facebook beginning July 8.

Now in its sixth year, Chick-fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day continues to build momentum. Last year’s event – and the resulting turnout – confirmed that Chickfil-A has a strong following of customers willing to go to great lengths to show their appreciation for cows. More than 300,000 cow-clad customers stampeded Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country. Costumes ranged from simple cow-spotted t-shirts to full cow suits complete with furry ears, cow bells and homemade sandwich boards with personalized renditions of the Chick-fil-A “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows’ quirky messages. 

“Cow Appreciation Day continues to be one of our best indicators of the great passion our customers have for our brand,” said Steve Robinson, Chick-fil-A’s senior vice president of marketing. “It takes a loyal fan to dress like a cow for a free meal and, based on the stories we hear from our restaurant Operators around the country, we have quite a large – and constantly growing – base of Chick-fil-A fans.  Cow Appreciation Day is our way of thanking them for their loyalty, not to mention a day simply to have fun!”

The additional excitement around Cow Appreciation Day each year offers further proof that the passion for Chick-fil-A’s beloved bovines is stronger than ever. For the past 15 years, the renegade “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows have entertained consumers with their desperate, self-preserving antics in an effort to convert beef eaters into chicken fans. The Chick-fil-A Cows and the “Eat Mor Chikin” campaign have enjoyed such widespread public success that it has evolved into a fully integrated marketing program. In addition to clever roadside billboards, the “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows are the focal point of Chick-fil-A’s in-store point-of-purchase materials, promotions, radio and TV advertising, and clothing and merchandise sales.