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Church’s

Church’s is executing around a well-conceived strategic plan that works well in today’s operating environment so long as its target market can survive the ongoing inflation scare.

Sonic’s positioning works well in the current operating environment and, hopefully, will translate into new development, a national footprint and sufficient marketing scale to properly communicate the brand’s strong core equities.

Buffalo Wild Wings

While BWW has considerable brand equity as the largest and perhaps most iconic sports bar chain in the US, its challenge is how to improve its relevancy in the new world it finds itself operating in.

Arbys

Arby’s is well positioned as a QSR DT player that can serve as a credible alternative to a NY deli, the chain could benefit from strategies to bring its AUV closer to the segment average and more progress in digital.

Denny’s

• Denny’s unique “America’s Diner” brand positioning provides the promise of everyday value with craveable, indulgent products (comfort food) served around the clock.
• Current sales benefit from off-premise stickiness and incremental sales generated by its 2 new virtual brands (Burger Den & Meltdown).
• Now that Denny’s has largely returned to its 2019 unit-level financial performance, the chain must continue to contemporize by making further progress around lunch and dinner while also leveraging progress around off-premise to extend its reach to a younger demo.

Menu & Promotions Report

● Average menu size contracted -5.2% for QSR through 1H:21 given a post-lockdown focus on minimizing operational complexity and maximizing drive-thru speeds.
● Conversely, FSR menu size rebounded +6.8% (although still -21% below the 2014 peak) after declining -17.6% last year as the chains pivoted to an off-premise model.

Menu & Promotions

RR’s Menu & Promotions analysis provides data for 56 chains (33 QSR and 23 FSR) including: (1) a 6-year history of total menu items (2015 – May 2020); (2) promotional mix by quarter; (3) new product intros; (4) average check; (5) daypart sales mix; (6) digital & off-premise sales mix; (7) menu category mix; and (8) monthly new product calendar.

Dashboard: January 2020

Solid 4Q Outlook Improves Further; FSR follows QSR with Plant Protein & Pivots to Premium; 1Q:20 GDP Growth Outlook off to a Good Start; Lower Beef & Turnover Helps with Cost Inflation; Valuation Index Turns Bullish; Buyouts Continue to Support Remaining Restaurant Stocks; Cap Rates Fall to Lowest Level Since 2008