Helping an International QSR Optimize Its Menu Mix For Record Growth

BUSINESS OBJECTIVE

Define a strong brand positioning and then leverage it to create a Menu Vision that is both exciting to customers and viable for the organization to execute.

TO DO SO, WE HAD TO:

  • Complete stakeholder interviews and landscape assessments to help identify potential strategic positioning territories; then conduct qualitative consumer research to vet options and finalize the positioning.
  • Leverage the brand positioning to create a Menu Vision and then validate it via quantitative menu optimization research.
  • Finalize the Menu Vision and assist in its successful implementation.

The COMPLEXITIES

Success required a collaborative, inclusive approach with a focus on expanding the client’s offerings, while still honoring the organization’s rich specialty product legacy.

With a large menu, a multitude of stakeholders and years of operating without a clearly-defined positioning, it was critical to drive alignment and unify each business level across the organization.

Our client had to optimize a key part of their menu while also elevating and expanding another side of their business —an area they weren’t as well-known for.

Because the menu was so large and different stores charged different menu prices, the research was particularly challenging to design and implement.

OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS

We were tasked with developing a new positioning that would leverage the brand’s specialty product heritage while also establishing a menu vision that enables the organization to grow its share and compete successfully in other food categories.

  • An immersive approach including stakeholder interviews and secondary research helped secure alignment early in the positioning development process—and throughout the project.
  • Over 3,500 consumer interviews were conducted to guide the menu optimization.
  • A custom-built simulator was utilized to determine the best matrix of menu offerings to maximize revenue.

OUTCOME TO DATE

  • We created a new brand positioning for our client and helped them implement the new menu vision across their organization, including the hundreds of franchisees.

    • Our client saw a 99% positive sentiment on social media and an 80% increase year-over-year in hashtag use, helping to amplify their message and drive awareness.
  • The new menu vision will guide their strategic menu decisions for the next five years and provides them with a detailed plan on which categories to grow, maintain, and sunset.

  • Both the new brand positioning and menu vision ultimately helped create a consistently joyful customer experience across all outlets.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? LET’S TALK!

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