The fifth annual edition of the Leaky Bucket Survey shows that many large restaurant brands are finding new and better ways to retain customers. This helps build profitability in time when rising costs and tight consumer budgets make profiting from food difficult. The survey analyzed the customer loss of 78 companies by surveying over 2000 diners.
Wendy’s is bringing in a new salad just in time for the hot days of summer. The Berry Almond Chicken Salad is topped with fresh blueberries, strawberries and raspberries as well as sliced almonds, grilled chicken and a bed of 11 different greens. The fat-free raspberry vinaigrette dressing finishes it off. The full sized salad offers one full cup of fruit, two servings of vegetables and plenty of protein.
Salad chain Tossed has signed a new franchise agreement that will put five of the company’s restaurants in the Boston area. The chain made the agreement with a new franchisee but the Tossed brand already has strong loyalty in Boston. Tossed is also currently developing in Washington D.C. and working on their first international location in Vancouver, Canada.
Technomic’s recent polling indicates the consumers are eating more poultry now than any other meat. 25% of those chicken eaters said that they’d like to see more chicken based breakfast items. Restaurants interested in growing their breakfast sales should take note. Many consumers prefer chicken due to the lower fat content and low cost.
The USDA has changed its recommendations on the cooking temperature of pork. The new guideline says that a peak temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by at least three minutes of rest without cutting, is enough to kill all bacteria in the meat. This is 15 degrees below the old 160 degree requirement and may produce pinker meat than consumers are used to.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is having a record year despite the slow economy. Over 25 percent of its franchisees own more than one restaurant, and many that are still single unit owners are interested in developing a second or third location. Newcomers to a franchise typically struggle to learn the ropes, so multi-unit owners make for a strong company that can expand rapidly without issues.
Dean and Melissa Siracusa are two such multi-unit franchisees that are planning to open two more Dickey’s Barbecue Pit locations in Reno, Nevada. The popularity of their existing locations has prompted them to expand. They say that the high quality of the barbecue and the community atmosphere of the restaurants make them so appealing to diners. Kids also eat for free every Sunday, encouraging family visits.
Smashburger has won an award due to their suitability for shopping center installation. The International Council of Shopping Centers has awarded the franchise brand the 2011 Hot Retailer Award. The Council gives the award to brands that have done the most for driving new traffic into shopping centers around the world. Smashburger’s innovative food and friendly atmosphere make it a great attraction for any type of shopping center.
Baskin-Robbins has been developing new ice cream flavors for over 60 years, and the “Deep Freeze” archives contain hundreds of interesting and unusual combinations. Now the ice cream chain is giving fans a chance to vote their favorite flavors back into regular rotation. Visitors to the Facebook page of the chain can cast their votes for flavors like Lunar Cheesecake, Betel-Nut and Yankee Doodle Strudel.
Cracker Barrel has released their earnings report for the third quarter of 2011. The chain saw a net income of $15.2 million, which is a small rise over the $14.4 million income of last quarter. The chain has also seen slight losses in traffic, but is still seeing increases in check totals and total revenue over the 2010 numbers.