OPINIONMarketing

What happens when promos don’t work as expected

Restaurant Rewind: If the offer proves more or less enticing than anticipated, chaos can follow. Here are some prime examples from the industry’s past.

Red Lobster has been making headlines for offering an all-you-can-eat deal that worked too well as a traffic driver. Management acknowledged that the spike in food costs ate about $11 million in profits for the third quarter.

The situation is hardly unprecedented in the restaurant business—even for Red Lobster itself. Two decades ago, it similarly saw margins crunched by an all-you-can-eat crab legs deal.

Join us as we look back at some of the memorable instances of restaurant chains over- or underestimating how popular a bargain deal would prove to be. Hit the Play button for a crash course on Riblets gluts and Mighty Wings over-supplies.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Technology

Starbucks sets out to redefine restaurant tech (again)

Tech Check: The coffee chain was a pioneer in hospitality and then digital ordering. Under CEO Brian Niccol, it must prove the two can coexist.

Operations

Here's why the restaurant business can never forget 9/11

Reality Check: Anyone alive that day felt the heartbreak. Here's how we remember it.

Financing

Why Starbucks needs to change its marketing

The Bottom Line: Brian Niccol’s early vision for his new company included an important comment: “We won’t let others define who we are.” That’s a key change for the coffee shop giant.

Trending

More from our partners