As summer winds down and thoughts turn to all things pumpkin spice, restaurant chains continue attempts to go viralwith out-of-the-box marketing gimmicks. Here are a few recent standouts.
LongHorn Steakhouse observed International Left Handers Day earlier this month by marketing a limited-edition steak knife for southpaws. The knife, which features a serrated edge angled to the left, was made available only to rewards club members at three units with the highest number of left-handed employees.
Fast-casual chain Honeygrow, known for its veggie-packed stir-fry bowls, is building on its wellness branding by hosting pop-up fitness events near some of its locations. What’s more, the chain is encouraging customers to check in to the hgAthletics exercise classes via the Honeygrow app to earn credit toward future food orders.
Bucking convention, the new app from growing fast-casual Mexican chain Dos Toros does not offer online ordering or even menus. Instead, at a random time each day, it alerts users that it’s “Burrito Time.” The first 10 people to open the app following the push notification receive a card that entitles them to a free burrito.
5 of the summer’s craziest restaurant marketing stunts
Photograph courtesy of KFC
4. Call in the World’s Strongest Man
KFC opted to go big with the debut of its latest indulgent offering. To promote the launch of its new Double Crispy Colonel (a sandwich of two fried chicken fillets, mayonnaise and pickles), the chain enlisted the muscles of Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (aka The World’s Strongest Man) to pull a sled filled with 700 pounds of the sandwiches.
Retail Watch: Technomic’s State of the Industry report sounds a c-store alarm, Grubhub expands grocery delivery and 7-Eleven completes its Laredo Taco Company acquisition.
The Maitland, Florida-based Tex-Mex chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after closing 40 restaurants this year. It has an agreement to sell the company.