Pennsylvania’s Main Line Pizza has tapped into a new form of marketing that has led to skyrocketing sales. Text message marketing sends a convenient message to any cell phone that has opted in to the messaging list. Restaurant owners can collect the numbers of customers, then send out promotions, coupons or reminders at any time.
Smashburger may be under a decade old, but the burger franchise is rapidly growing. The company recently signed new franchise development agreements that will lead to 63 new locations. Once these new restaurants are built the chain will have 463 locations across the country. This agreement also helps Smashburger break into four markets they have not yet tapped.
Bruegger’s is focusing on healthy eating for the summer and they’ve added new Cafe Salads to all location menus. The five new dishes include the Harvest Chicken Salad with diced chicken and apples over romaine lettuce. Others include the Sesame Chicken, Classic Cobb and Asian inspired Mandarin Medley. All five salads have less than 330 calories.
To celebrate Memorial Day weekend, Luby’s is offering a special deal on pies. You can pick up a freshly made Buttermilk Chess, Cherry, Coconut Meringue or Famous Pecan pie that serves up to eight people for just $7.99. Guests must pre-order by Thursday, May 26th to receive this price and must pick up their pie over the Memorial Day weekend.
Most people don’t want to think about toilets or the associated waste while eating, but one themed restaurant in Taiwan is banking on the concept. Foods are served in small toilet shaped bowls at the aptly named Modern Toilet restaurant in Ximending. The restaurant started by selling chocolate soft serve exclusively, but became so popular that they expanded into a full menu.
McDonald’s will begin their fifth annual Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour shortly and they are proud to announce that Grammy Award winning Hezekiah Walker will be the main guest. Multiple stops in gospel churches in six cities including Atlanta and Philadelphia are planned. All of the concerts are free. Other guests include Myron Butler, Canton Jones and group 21:03.
To promote their new Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad Sandwich, Arby’s held a taste test contest inviting guests to compare their sandwich to the chicken offered by Subway. When the votes were tallied, Arby’s won with over 8000 votes compared to Subways’ 1000. The chain also donated $25,000 to the No Kid Left Hungry campaign by charity Share Our Strength.
The parent company of Red Lobster and Olive Garden, Darden Restaurants, has added three new locations of its top three chains to the Arundel Mills shopping center in Hanover, MD. Between the two previously mentioned restaurants and a new LongHorn Steakhouse the company created over 350 new jobs. The locations were also built with energy saving designs and environmentally friendly materials.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is continuing to make 2011 their biggest year for growth with the signing of an agreement for a new St. Cloud restaurant. A chairwoman of the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce, Sheila Tepley, and a partner chose the restaurant for its quality food and popularity. The restaurant will open in June, 2011.