Marketing

How QSRs can pivot their marketing to join the holiday conversation

Less travel and in-person shopping could mean fewer moments for fast food, but savvy restaurant brands still have opportunities to join in on the season.

By Chris Kelly • Nov. 25, 2020

Dunkin' pushes for TikTok followers with return of branded onesies

After its recent holiday merch drop mostly sold out, the brand is promising to bring back last year's onesie if it reaches two million TikTok followers.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 20, 2020

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Independent restaurants

In an industry built on in-person interactions and long-term relationships with customers, the COVID-19 crisis was a serious blow to independent operators, but many have pivoted and found new ways to reach diners.

By Restaurant Dive staff

Chipotle turns fans into 'royalty' with TikTok challenge

The chain's latest campaign on the embattled video app gives users a chance to win $10,000 and turn their go-to orders into a temporary menu item.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 18, 2020

Over 30% of diners plan to cater a holiday meal, survey finds

Fifty-three percent of consumers also plan to buy a restaurant holiday gift card this season, according to a Tripleseat survey.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 18, 2020

Consumers expected to spend 29% more on restaurant gift cards, study says

Fifty-two percent of consumers plan to double their gift card purchases during the holidays, a trend that could help restaurants incentivize more diners to order out during the slow winter months.

By Alicia Kelso • Nov. 10, 2020

Arby's flips viral TikTok videos into special menu item

Inspiration for the campaign stems from a video of a user saying his new flat-screen TV only displayed a message from Arby's.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 09, 2020

Starbucks brews buzz for mobile ordering in new holiday campaign

With the tagline "Festive is a tap away, download the app today," the effort touts mobile ordering as the pandemic dissuades people from lingering in coffee houses.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 05, 2020

Wendy's turns drive-thru into spooky Halloween experience

For people not near the Los Angeles "scare-thru," the chain is running a coupon effort on Twitter to ramp up usage of its app and loyalty program.

By Aaron Baar • Oct. 30, 2020

Chipotle lets diners track environmental impact of burritos as restaurants prioritize sustainability

The Real Foodprint tracker, which mirrors a recent move by Panera to label eco-conscious menu items, is explained by Bill Nye in TikTok videos.

By Peter Adams • Oct. 26, 2020

CMOs must decipher pandemic-related consumer behavior changes, Dentsu survey finds

Prepared CMOs were already shifting to digital and e-commerce channels, which are now table stakes for restaurants, evidenced by the dramatic growth of digital sales at chains like Chipotle.

By Chris Kelly • Oct. 21, 2020

Wendy's coupon gets more valuable with each retweet

The coupon on Twitter was retweeted 10.8K times, translating to customers receiving 30% off a breakfast order on the Uber Eats app through Friday morning.

By Robert Williams • UPDATED: Oct. 14, 2020 at 4:55 p.m.

Yelp adds alerts for businesses accused of racism

The company's notification system was introduced in response to a surge of media-fueled reviews over the past few months warning users of businesses' alleged racist conduct. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 09, 2020

McDonald's continues celebrity menus with reggaeton's J Balvin

With drive-thru, digital and delivery businesses bright spots during an otherwise tough period, the chain further targets young, digitally savvy diners.

By Aaron Baar • Oct. 06, 2020

S.Pellegrino swaps signature dishes between NY, LA restaurants

The Nestlé brand is giving residents of both cities a chance to sample food from restaurants on the opposite coast as the pandemic continues to scuttle travel plans.

By Robert Williams • Oct. 05, 2020

McDonald's is running out of its Spicy Chicken McNuggets

The offering is the chain's second promotion in less than a month to experience shortages, following the popularity of the Travis Scott Meal in early September. 

By Alicia Kelso • Oct. 01, 2020

Taco Bell sets up personalized taco gifting service ahead of holiday rush

Available through Taco Bell's website and app, the feature will be permanent, showing the chain's continued bets on loyalty innovations.

By Peter Adams • Oct. 01, 2020

SevenRooms integrates its waitlist product with Google's Reserve

Guests can add themselves to a waitlist online from home via the restaurant's chosen channels, where they can view real-time estimates.

By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 30, 2020

Nearly half of consumers will try new brands if the ad is relevant, study shows

Before diverting marketing dollars to video-based social media — as Chipotle has done with its successful TikTok campaigns — marketers need to remember that context matters more than ever, according to a DoubleVerify study.

By Aaron Baar • Sept. 29, 2020

Resy, AmEx will bring a fine dining 'drive-thru' experience to Los Angeles

Diners can enter the Hollywood Palladium via car Oct. 15 and Oct. 16, where they will be assigned a designated waiter who will guide them from "restaurant" to "restaurant" to serve guests a 10-course meal through their car windows.

By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 23, 2020

Burger King puts Whopper recipe on wrappers as part of 'real food' push

Following efforts centered on moldy burgers and cow farts, the QSR is trying a simple and direct approach to market its "clean food" menu.

By Robert Williams • Sept. 18, 2020

McDonald's app offers mock insurance to drive trial of new spicy McNuggets

The promotion that includes a 40-minute Instagram video of Anthony "Spice" Adams reflects the chain's focus on drive-thru, delivery and digital as it ramps up marketing spend.

By Robert Williams • Sept. 16, 2020

White Castle launches first systemwide loyalty program

The burger chain accelerated its plans to roll out a rewards program to provide more contactless services and grow its digital footprint, White Castle Vice President Jamie Richardson said. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • Sept. 10, 2020

Chipotle employs TikTok creator cohort to promote group-ordering app feature

As TikTok users join up to form creator houses, Chipotle is early to a trend that reflects its own efforts to target wannabe brand ambassadors.

By Peter Adams • Sept. 08, 2020

Buffalo Wild Wings sells season passes to feed and entertain NFL fans

The chain returns to experiential marketing with an effort to appeal to customers who are eager to return to normal activities and those who are sticking close to home.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Sept. 04, 2020

Uber Eats unveils first ad format with sponsored restaurant listings

To encourage restaurants to test the new format, Uber Eats is offering $25 million in marketing credits to small and medium-size businesses.

By Robert Williams • Aug. 31, 2020