Restaurant Traffic
The traffic in restaurants has exhibited a declining trend for casual dining and quick service restaurants (QSR) throughout October, continuing through the week ending on October 23rd. As of the current month-to-date data, casual dining has seen a reduction in traffic by 4.1%, showing a slight improvement compared to the 6% decline observed in September. On the other hand, the traffic for QSRs has worsened, registering an 8.3% decline as opposed to the 4.2% decrease noted in September.
Industry Discounting
DPZ
Domino’s "Emergency Pizzas for Student Loans" program is designed to provide customers who are still servicing their student loan payments with an opportunity to apply for a complimentary medium-sized pizza with two toppings, available while supplies last. This initiative, besides offering a free pizza, also presents an exclusive “Emergency Pizza” to the beneficiaries. Commencing on October 25, 2023, the pizza chain will distribute a fixed number of free "Emergency Pizza for Student Loans" codes daily until the entire allotment of $1 million worth of free pizzas has been claimed.
Here are the steps to apply for and redeem your free "Emergency Pizza for Student Loans":
- Visit dominos.com/student-loans.
- Submit an application for an "Emergency Pizza for Student Loan" to receive a free medium 2-topping pizza.
- Verify the email address you have provided.
- If codes are available for the day, you will receive an email from "" containing your free pizza code, redeemable on your subsequent online carryout or delivery order within the following 30 days.
- To redeem your free pizza code for a delivery order, ensure that your order meets the store’s minimum delivery requirements.
Sweetgreen's Dinner-worthy Plates Have an Uphill Battle
On Tuesday, Sweetgreen, a fast-casual chain, unveiled three new dinner plates to cater to customers seeking more substantial dinner options beyond salads. These additions, incorporating new ingredients like salmon and white basmati rice, are part of a broader entrée category, aiming to attract a more comprehensive range of diners. Sweetgreen co-founder Nicolas Jammet sees this as a strategy to boost evening sales, which currently constitute about 35% of the chain's total sales. Chad Brauze, the new head of culinary, is spearheading this initiative, reflecting a significant menu transformation under his leadership.
New Dinner Menu Items: Miso Glazed Salmon: A dish resembling a deconstructed sushi roll featuring Atlantic salmon, white basmati rice, avocado, cucumber, and pickled onions, served with spicy cashew sauce Southwest Fajita Plate: A fajita-inspired dish with balsamic-marinated herb-roasted chicken thighs, red pepper, onion, shredded cabbage, black beans, basmati rice, umami seasoning, drizzled with crema, and Lime Cilantro Jalapeno vinaigrette. Hot Honey Chicken Plate: The revamped version of a fan favorite, now with a double serving of herbed quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, and a creamy veggie slaw topped with crispy onions.
Pricing: The dishes are priced between $14 and $16, with salmon being the premium option. Are consumers really going to go to SG for salmon?
Sales Strategy: The move aims to enhance dinner sales, which comprise roughly 35% of total sales, with variations observed across urban units. How much will it cost to promote the dinner day part? This expansion follows successful trials of non-salad dishes, like the Hot Honey Chicken, and a positive response to a pilot test where 75% of participants were willing to dine more frequently if provided with more non-salad options.
Leadership: Chad Brauze, the new head of culinary with prior experience at Burger King and Chipotle, is leading this menu expansion, marking his first major initiative since joining six weeks ago. Nicolas Jammet, Sweetgreen co-founder, emphasized diversifying the menu to cater to a broader customer base, including those not typically drawn to salads.
Future Additions: More center-of-the-plate proteins, such as turkey meatballs and possibly steak, are being considered for future menu expansions. Two limited-time salads and the Elote Bowl introduced earlier will now be permanent menu items, and more desserts are planned following the Crispy Rice Treat's debut last year. The menu expansion means increased complexity and increased cost.
