Archive for May, 2010

Innovation: Key Takeaway from 2010 NRA Show

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By: Doug Fergusson
May 27, 2010 | No Comments

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image from NRA Facebook page

I just returned from Chicago after attending the National Restaurant Association Show. If you have never been there, it is quite a spectacle; over 60,000 people were registered for the show and suppliers representing everything and anything used in the food service industry filled over 2.5 million square feet exhibit space. My feet are sore just thinking about it.

There was one common theme that I found everywhere: INNOVATION. New restaurant equipment, systems, supplies and ingredients were presented to provide restaurant owners a means to improve their customers’ experience while driving down costs.

A fascinating talk by Wallace Doolin (former CEO of TGI Friday’s) summed up the fundamental issues that are driving this need in the restaurant industry:

  • There are no new drivers of customer growth in the U.S.; the historic expansion of restaurant visits due to two-income families dining out has matured.
  • Customer expectations are transforming at ever increasing rates due to rapid technological-driven changes (Internet, social media, etc.)
  • The value equation is changing; there is very little room for differentiation in price and quality as the ability to deliver a given quality at a competitive price is being pressed to the limits. Customers are now looking for a unique EXPERIENCE.

The key to solving this problem is innovation. Restaurants that can create a unique experience and continuously evolve to keep it fresh will win. Agility will be a key organizational attribute; identifying new technology and providers that can quickly evolve will play a significant role in the success of these restaurant operators.

Customer interaction also was a topic of discussion at the show. There is a consensus that consumers want a more personalized and interactive experience. This begins in the direct communications with consumers and flows into the restaurant experience. Consumers want to feel that they are being heard, so localization of the store messaging will play a role in shaping this experience.

If you attended this year’s show, I’d like to hear from you. Let me know what interested you in terms of products, trends and discussions.

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Will We See You at Dine America This Year?

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By: Glenn Haertel
May 25, 2010 | No Comments

dine-logo-top (1)We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be sponsoring the Dine America conference presented by QSR Magazine, taking place September 12-14 of this year in Atlanta. In addition to sponsoring this event, we’ll be handling all of the print and distribution of the conference signage.

Dine America is a must-attend for food industry professionals seeking inspiration, education, and networking with like-minded individuals.

You can learn more details about the Dine America conference and see how to register here. We look forward to seeing you there!

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Do You Have What It Takes For Local Marketing?

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By: Glenn Haertel
May 17, 2010 | No Comments

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If you’ve ever considered local marketing for your brand or wondered how to better leverage the LRM campaigns you are doing, you won’t want to miss our free webinar: How to Execute a Successful Local Marketing Campaign. Registration is now open at qsrmagazine.com/webinars.

Sponsored by Synq and QSR magazine, this webinar will feature Brad Haley, EVP, Marketing CKE Restaurants, Inc. (Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s) and Synq’s Doug Fergusson, EVP, Solutions.  Brad has successfully deployed Local Marketing tactics to enable his brands to compete more effectively in this very competitive marketplace, while maintaining CKE’s brand standards and messaging guidelines. He’ll reveal best practices, challenges and solutions. Doug will add his experiences working with multiple brands and explain how technology helps streamline this process and makes it easier than ever to execute.

We hope you’ll join us on Thursday, June 24 at 2 – 3 p.m. EDT for what’s sure to be an informative and engaging event!  And if you have questions or topics you’d like our panelists to address, let us know by commenting on our blog.

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Notes from the 2010 Restaurant Leadership Conference

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By: Glenn Haertel
May 6, 2010 | 2 Comments

RestaurantLeadership

I attended the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona last month and was inspired by the topics raised. Much of the discussion went back to the unique issues that QSR and fast casual restaurants are dealing with in this economic environment.  For example, while today’s customer seeks value, that doesn’t translate to “cheapest.” Customers have plenty of options and want the best quality for the price. Consumers also expect restaurants to connect with them in a way they will remember, whether it’s greeting them at the door, offering to carry their tray to the table if their arms are full or having an exceptionally clean store. In a nutshell, they want a pleasant experience.

Another theme discussed was the need to increasingly funnel more marketing dollars into local campaigns, but in a way that compliments the national marketing strategy. This ensures brand standards are maintained and messaging is consistent  – yet can speak to the uniqueness of the local market.

With social media so prevalent today, the conference spoke about how important it is to stay connected to your customers. It’s not enough to market your company; you have to engage in a dialogue by speaking with your customer, not to them. Whatever the platform is — blogs, social media sites or microsites — the conversation must go both ways.  And it’s imperative that we monitor the social media sites to collect valuable insights on what our customers are saying.

One final note is that community remains a strong force. Restaurants must be engaged in their community.  There are countless ways to be engaged in and support your community, which could include supporting local schools, participating in charitable events or just volunteering time.  When you invest in your community, you will see a return on that involvement.

RLC was well attended this year, and I look forward to another motivating event next year. If you attended this year’s conference, tell me what you thought.

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More Focus on Trends in May

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By: Mike Snyder
May 4, 2010 | No Comments

Having recently returned from the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, we’re inspired to keep the dialogue going about trends in the restaurant industry. We’ll be talking about the issues that came out of the RLC conference and what we found of particular interest.  We’re also looking ahead to our local marketing webinar on June 24. Our free webinar will feature Brad Haley, EVP, Marketing CKE Restaurants, Inc. discussing how Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. have successfully leveraged local marketing, while maintaining a unified CKE message.

Lastly, we are sponsoring the 7th annual Dine America executive conference in Atlanta on September 12-14. This is a must-attend event that always raises the most critical issues facing QSR and Fast Casual restaurants, while sharing innovative ideas and solutions.

Tell us what trends are most impacting your business and join our discussions.

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