Raw Data Report: Fast Food Restaurants

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Lunch is Busiest at Burger King (BKC) with the Whopper as the Customers' Fave

Burger King Holdings, Inc. is the world’s second largest hamburger chain by numbers of locations, after McDonald's (MCD). and is doing surprisingly well, given the flailing fast food industry. Tickermine surveyed 27 locations across the US asking respondents which mealtimes were busiest, what were the most popular menu items, whether competing fast food restaurants were nearby and how old their location was.

Lunch was by far the busiest mealtime with 19, or 70% of respondents, and only 8, or 29.6%, stating dinner. The ever popular Croissan-wich was cited by a whopping 21, or 78%, of respondents as their customer’s favorite breakfast item, followed by the Enormous Omelet Sandwich and the Cheesy Bacon BK wrapper each cited twice, or by 8% of those polled. The Sausage Biscuit or Cheesy Tots were each cited once or 4%. The Whopper reigns as the most popular lunch item with 25 mentions, or 93%, the Chicken Bacon Wrappers and Bacon Double Cheeseburger were each cited once, or 4%. Twenty six people, or 96%, said their restaurant had been around longer than a year and only one, or 4%, said their location was new. Twenty three of those polled said similar fast food restaurants were nearby; this is 85% and only four, or 15%, reporting no close competition.

Long John Silver's (YUM) Store Owners Say Their Weekly Specials Don't Help Business

Long John Silver's, America's fried seafood restaurant chain, was surveyed by Tickermine this month. 24 stores were consulted about their specials for that week, whether these have generated more business, what was the most popular menu item, is the store near a mall and which restaurant was their closest competitor.

Lunch was the more popular mealtime apparently with 17 respondents, or 71%, and dinner was cited 7 times, or 29%. Lobster Bites were the new special for this week for 13 stores or 54% followed by the Family Chest Treasure Pack and the Value Basket Combos each with 3 respondents, or 12%. Crab cakes were cited by one party, or 4%, and 4 representatives, or 16%, reported having no special items this week.

The majority of respondents, 19, or 79%, did not think the specials drew extra business and only 6, or 21%, thought that the specials helped. The most popular menu on the item included Value Combos with 15 respondents, or 63%. Lobster Bites had 5 mentions, or 21%. Fish and Chips were cited 3 times, or 13%, and Treasure Chest Family meals were cited once, or 4%.

The Louisville, KY founded restaurant chain may be in need for a menu overhaul with all 24 respondents, so 100%, reporting that these items had been on the menu a long time, some citing for as long as seven years and location might be another issue with 21, or 87%, reporting that a mall or competing fast food restaurant was nearby and only 3, or 13%, reporting none. Asked which fast food outlet was nearest and the answers varied from McDonald's with 8 responses, Burger King with 3 and Arby's and Pizza Hut were both cited once.

CKE Restaurants (CKE) Thriving for the First Time in a Decade

CKE Restaurants, Inc., owners of various popular chains and franchises including the La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill restaurants, reported its first year of positive unit growth in a decade this quarter. A Tickermine report on La Salsa restaurants offers some insight into why. 26 representatives at varying locations were asked when was most busy, was their location new, the proximity of other similar chains, popular menu items and what customers spend. Twenty five respondents, or 96%, reported that their location was old and only one person, or 4%, of pollsters said their restaurant was new. Fifteen attendants or 58% of those surveyed said they had no similar restaurant nearby while 11 people, or 42%, reported having like businesses close by, 5 of which cited Rubio’s Mexican Grills.

Lunch was busiest according to 18 respondents, or 70%, and eight people, or 30%, cited dinner. Favorite menu items included the Baja fish taco with seven responses, or 27%, Baja style shrimp with six, or 23%, the overstuffed grilled burrito with four, or 16%,, the Sonora fish tacos, stuffed fajita quesadilla and Carnitas Guadalajara Taco each with two responses or 8% and the enchilada platter with one respondent, or 4%. Cost counts too with 12 respondents, or 46%, stating that $16 to $25 was typical for a party of two. Nine respondents, or 35%, cited bills of $15 or less and five respondents,or 19%, cited bills of $26 to $30.

Sonic's (SONC) Cinnasnacks a Hit With Diners

45% of the Sonic restaurants in a recent survey stated that the chain’s new “Cinnasnacks” dessert has increased business. 23% of those polled cite Cinnasnacks as the most popular menu item, followed by coney hot dogs (20%) , hamburgers (20%), and drinks (13%). 65% of the locations are busiest at lunch, with 29% busiest at dinner. When asked about the competitor closest to their location, 36% named McDonalds and 16% named Burger King.

Pizza Bagels Popular At Noah's (BAGL)

Tickermine recently surveyed 22 Noah’s Bagels locations across the US and found that all of them are currently selling Pizza Bagels. 100% of the respondents said the Pizza Bagels are selling well, with the most popular flavors being Pepperoni (36%), Cheesy Garlic Herb (23%), Cheese (18%) and Spinach & Mushroom (9%). Sausage, Canadian Bacon and Garden Veggie each picked up 5% of mentions. Slightly more than half (55%) of those polled stated that business was better in March than February, with 45% stating business had not improved.

Comments

[John Gordon:]

Interesting survey data, but not written by an expert. Anecdotial, customer level input.

CKE no longer owns LaSalsa, it was purchased by a private equity group in 2006/2007.

If you need more detailed restaurant analysis, contact us at pacificmanagmentconsul..., 619 379-5561, restaurant economics experts.

2008 Apr 07 11:53 AM

[TickerMine:]

The above comments are correct. Our data is accurate for La Salsa but we did mis-tag it as a part of CKE. We will identify La Salsa as "Private" in future posts.

Casey Ryan
CEO
TickerMine
[e-mail]

2008 Apr 08 12:27 PM

[LoveShorting:]

Given the choice between this type of free data and contacting some elite consulting organization to fork over good money for an opinion (without knowing what their bias may be ... are they getting $$$ under the table for favorable opinion?) I will gladly take the former. Thanks, Casey!

2008 Apr 20 02:48 PM

[Swingline:]

Dudes-
Knowing that SONCs are typically closer to a MCD (13,000 locations) than BKC's (7000 locations) is cool, but knowing that SONC might warn on the quarter and sell off 7% in 2 mins. would have been cooler. Just saying...

2008 May 09 09:43 AM

[ChickenGuy:]

What PE firm owns La Salsa now?

Jun 04 06:11 PM