Marketing
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Courtesy of IHOP
IHOP adds burritos and bowls to meet off-premise demand
The causal chain's off-premise comp sales increased 154% during Q3, and the new more portable items are meant to be ideal for takeout and delivery.
By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 20, 2021 -
Courtesy of Checkers & Rally's
Q&ACheckers & Rally's CMO on 'crunching' 2020 and being nimble in the new year
QSR veteran Dwayne Chambers explained how an in-house marketing team and the restaurant's drive-thru concept helped the chain score a record year.
By Chris Kelly • Jan. 14, 2021 -
Courtesy of White Castle
White Castle revamps Valentine's Day event with drive-in, carhop service
Fans of the burger chain can book time for a socially distanced date through the OpenTable website or app.
By Robert Williams • Jan. 13, 2021 -
Courtesy of Burger King
Burger King prioritizes digital with first rebrand in more than 20 years
With its all-encompassing visual update, the QSR chain also seeks to demonstrate its improvements to food quality and sustainability.
By Chris Kelly • Jan. 07, 2021 -
DoorDash
DoorDash drivers can now earn cash rewards
The benefits are part of the company's $12 million Dasher Rewards Program, which was announced in November, that offers additional incentives to the most active couriers.
By Alicia Kelso • Jan. 06, 2021 -
Retrieved from McDonald's on January 05, 2021
McDonald's stirs up chicken sandwich wars with 3 new entries
The sandwiches fulfill franchisees' demand for competitive new chicken offerings to better compete with Chick-fil-A, which the National Owners Association listed as a top priority in 2019.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Jan. 05, 2021 -
Courtesy of Sonic Drive-In
How Sonic Drive-In swapped its iconic pitchmen for a 'pandemic-proof' campaign
Chief marketing officer Lori Abou Habib explains how the QSR shifted its focus from its long-running "Two Guys" to real families — right before COVID-19 upended the year.
By Chris Kelly • Dec. 23, 2020 -
Courtesy of Burger King
Burger King sends customers $1 via Venmo to push new value menu
The $1 Your Way menu features a lineup of Burger King items all priced at $1, including the brand's take on the bacon cheeseburger and its Chicken Jr. sandwich.
By Peter Adams • Dec. 22, 2020 -
Permission granted by Starbucks
Starbucks suspends traffic-driving Happy Hours
The coffee chain has canceled at least three events and plans to reassess the promotion's safety in January. Last December, Happy Hours drove 11% traffic increases.
By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 16, 2020 -
Grubhub offers free delivery in Chicago, NYC during winter
Through mid-March, the aggregator will offer its Grubhub+ subscription program to customers for free. It will also include local partner restaurants in the program at no additional cost.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 16, 2020 -
Courtesy of Uber Eats
Uber now lets businesses offer branded vouchers for rides, meals
Companies can offer vouchers that show their logo, giving them a way to create branded experiences that serve as another touch point with customers.
By Robert Williams • Dec. 15, 2020 -
Courtesy of Panera
Panera, Pepsi bite into virtual pizza party trend
Starring comedian King Bach, the push spoofs pandemic-spurred trends like virtual parties and cocktail hours on videoconferencing services such as Zoom.
By Robert Williams • Dec. 14, 2020 -
Courtesy of The Wendy's Company
Wendy's teams with Uber Eats on customized menus for Twitch gamers
The burger chain's "Never Stop Gaming Menu" includes combinations of items selected by five of the platform's most popular streamers.
By Robert Williams • Dec. 10, 2020 -
Retrieved from KFC on December 07, 2020
KFC gets steamy with Lifetime movie starring Mario Lopez as Col. Sanders
"A Recipe For Seduction" ties to a promotion with Uber Eats, as the marketer looks to link an ambitious original content play with commerce.
By Peter Adams • Dec. 07, 2020 -
Courtesy of McDonald's
McDonald's gives away McRibs to fans who shave their beards
The chain asks people to post photos of their clean-shaven faces to social media after observing No-Shave November to raise awareness about cancer.
By Robert Williams • Dec. 01, 2020 -
Courtesy of White Castle
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 -
Courtesy of Dunkin'
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 -
Courtesy of Chipotle Mexican Grill
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 -
Retrieved from Dickey's Barbecue Pit on November 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 -
Julie Littman
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 -
Courtesy of Arby's
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 -
Courtesy of Starbucks
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 -
Courtesy of Jordan Strauss for Wendy’s
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 -
Retrieved from Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. on October 26, 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
