How 10 Restaurant Brands Topped the Charts on Positive Consumer Perceptions

Buzz?Do You Hear the

What is…The Buzz Value by…

?

It’s a measure of brand perception among the public, tracking many

brands across multiple sectors simultaneously.

They interview 5,000 people a day, serving up more than 1.2 million

interviews per year

The only daily consumer perception research service

is

How did everyone stack up in YouGov’s

Mid Year Review?

Quick-Service Restaurant Chains

Casual Dining Chains

Let’s take a look at the decisions these brands made this year that have influenced

their buzz scores

Buzz Score: 17.6

“Subway to remove artificial ingredients from many items” “It also plans to remove artificial colors, flavors and preservatives from its

sandwiches, soups and cookies over the next 18 months.” Nation’s Restaurant News

“Subway rolls out order-ahead app and online ordering” “The new smartphone order and pay ahead app is available on both Android and

Apple devices and its revamped website allows for quick online ordering to its nearest location.”

Fox News

#MenuRevamp

#NewTech.

Buzz Score: 13.9

“Wendy’s exec: Without Great Content, Technology Doesn’t Matter”

“Wendy’s created its own content around LTOs, pushed out offers, and some screens even featured a live Twitter stream, so customers could

see their own tweets as well as those from others.” QSR Web

“Wendy’s Testing Antibiotic Free Chicken” “Wendy’s has begun testing antibiotic-free chicken this week in a handful

of Southern markets to evaluate the chain’s broader guidelines on antibiotic-free meat.”

Fox News

#NewTech.

#MenuRevamp

Buzz Score: 13.3

“UPS and Chick-fil-A make Customer Service Hall of Fame 2015”

“Chick-fil-A was once again the only fast food chain to make the top 10 list with 47% claiming to have received ‘excellent service’.”

Biz Journals

“Chick-fil-A Rolls Out Mobile Ordering And Payment System For Customers’ Convenience”

“The two new features aim to offer convenience and save time for customers.”

Franchise Herald

#CustomerService

#NewTech.

Buzz Score: 12.5

“Pizza Hut’s new pizza box does what!?” “The Yum Brands’ chain’s new pizza box also functions as a

movie projector. Pizza is a social food and movies are a social event. Perfect match.”

CNBC

“Pizza Refund! Pizza Hut Adds A Little Flavor to Tax Season With First-Ever National Pizza Return” “The world’s largest pizza company is bringing some much needed flavor to the 2015 tax season by unveiling the “Pizza Hut National Pizza Return,” giving fans across the country the opportunity to

redeem their 2014 pizza return.” PR Newswire

#CleverMarketing

#CleverMarketing

Buzz Score: 11.1

“Sonic Drive-In’s Largest Franchisee Group Begins Deployment of Mobivity’s SmartReceipt POS Cloud Technology”

“Mobivity’s SmartReceipt technology is a game changing technology for us…we expect the ability to transform our receipts into targeted, relevant and

measurable promotions will increase sales at our Sonic locations.” Nation’s Restaurant News

“Digital signage driving increase in average checks at Sonic Drive-In”

“…Sonic realized the functionality is twofold: It offers suggestive selling opportunities to customers watching the content and, once their orders are

confirmed, it can suggest add-ons.” Digital Signage Today

#NewTech.

#NewTech.

Buzz Score: 17.6

“Olive Garden Food Trucks Delivering Free Breadsticks Sandwiches to Chicago Area”

“Olive Garden will be doing what they do best — serving up breadsticks — for the Chicago area this week. But this time they’ll be doing it on wheels”

NBC Chicago

“Takeout orders powering Olive Garden’s growth” “Darden boss Gene Lee said during an earnings call that he expects 20 percent of OliveGarden’s sales to come from its takeout business, which

enables diners to order their meals online.” NY Post

#MenuRevamp

#NewTech.

Buzz Score: 16.7

“Panera lists ‘unacceptable’ ingredients in its foods” “The driver behind this action reflects the rapid evolution in consumer

concern over artificial-anything in foods and beverages.” USA Today

“More Kiosks, Fewer Cashiers Coming Soon to Panera” “…Panera’s rolling out a new store design where customers order on their phones or at kiosks. Rather than customers standing around and wait for

their order in front of the counter, a server brings their order to them, sans gratuity.”

Bloomberg Business

#MenuRevamp

#NewTech.

Buzz Score: 15.8

“Outback Launches Lunch Nationwide” “The company also offers online ordering for pickup and curbside to-go orders, as well as click-through seating enabling customers to get on a

waiting list before they arrive at the restaurant.” Nation’s Restaurant News

“Outback Steakhouse’s New Click Thru Seating Helps Eliminate The Wait”

“With Click Thru Seating, guests simply visit outback.com to view the current wait time at their local Outback Restaurant and put their name on

the wait list for now or later.” PR Newswire

#MenuRevamp

#NewTech.

Buzz Score: 14.6

“Applebee’s Wants to Be A Hip Hangout For Millenials” “Change is a central term to Applebee’s reinvigoration campaign, which will

officially launch Tuesday, July 21, with the largest-ever food giveaway.” CityPages.com

“Bar Snacks, Pub Plates and Shareables: Applebee’s Launches Robust Flavors in New Appetizer Platform” “Applebee’s Grill and Bar today launches a new platform of appetizers

featuring bold flavors, premium ingredients and Applebee’s tasteful twist on bar-and-grill classics…”

MarketWatch

#CleverMarketing

#MenuRevamp

Buzz Score: 13.7

“Red Lobster chef talks menu revamp” “Red Lobster’s new menu sharpens the focus on the chain’s area of

expertise — seafood — androids pork chops and other items incongruous with what it stands for…” Nation’s Restaurant News

“How Red Lobster Succeeds at Social Media” “The biggest thing about our social media program is that it really does play upon the fact that our guests love to share their experience at Red

Lobster.” Nation’s Restaurant News

#MenuRevamp

#CleverMarketing

These brands have something in common…

They aren’t afraid of

#NewTech.

#MenuRevamp

#CleverMarketingUsing social to promote food & the guests who are posting them

Re-Marketing a classic menu item

Removing artificial ingredients

Increased transparency in what’s in your food

Mobile strategiesDigital Signage & dynamic content

Kiosks to make ordering faster

What are they changing?

Takeaways

Listen to your consumers.

Use technology to improve their experience and make their

wait times shorter.

Be aware of the content you’re producing and make sure it’s

relevant and helpful for your market.

Be more transparent with what you’re putting on the

plate.

The term “fresh” should not just be a word, it should be a

strategy.

Don’t be afraid to take something you’re known for and change it to make it new and exciting again.

Create marketing people love and invest in it.

Thank You @RockbotBrands