An example of why addressing customer complaints in the age of social media is vital to your business. In today’s social media driven world, customer service is key to positive word-of-mouth, no matter the size of your chain or the scope of the complaint. If you doubt the seriousness of addressing customer complaints in a…
Food Fight at the Breakfast Bar
While convenience stores continue to battle QSRs for coffee sales, a new clash has ensued for the morning daypart as a whole. By: Erin Rigik, Associate Editor. Despite busier lifestyles, breakfast remains the most important meal of the day to most customers. The Food Channel’s recent breakfast survey found that 95% of respondents viewed their…
McDonald’s Coffee Customers Most Loyal
In a study comparing McDonald’s, Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts customers, McDonald’s coffee customers are the least likely to stray. McDonald’s coffee customers are the most loyal compared to those who frequent Starbucks Corp. and Dunkin’ Donuts, a study by market research firm CustomersDNA LLC found. The currently unpublished study involved 15,000 fast-food customers who answered…
McDonald’s Announces Nationwide Hiring Event
As it looks to revamp the “McJob,” McDonald’s highlights employees who have successfully climbed the ranks to top company positions as it recruits new hires. C-store operators better hold on tight to their employees this April, as McDonald’s Corp. hosts a nationwide hiring event, to fill positions ranging from cashier to manager, scheduled for April…
Defend Your Hot Beverage Business
Tips for protecting sales and profits in today’s climate. Intensifying competition for the morning daypart and escalating commodity costs for coffee drinks have forced convenience retailers to make trade-offs between pricing and profits. This is no small issue as hot dispensed beverages are strategically vital to a retailer’s morning business segment and fresh foods program.…
Family Express Launches Oatmeal Breakfast Option
Family Express Corp. of Valparaiso, Ind., is beating McDonald’s to the punch. The c-store chain is rolling out a new breakfast oatmeal offering under its proprietary brand JAVA WAVE by Jan. 1, 2011. The Family Express Oatmeal breakfast chain-wide initiative is a first in the c-store channel, and it is being deployed ahead of McDonald’s…
McDonald’s Launches McCafe Scavenger Hunt
This Friday, Nov. 19, McDonald’s plans to hide three giant McCafe coffee cups in three locations located throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties during its first-ever national McCafe Scavenger Hunt. Beginning at 7 a.m. PST, McDonald’s will distribute clues on their local Twitter account, @McDonalds_SoCal. The first person to find one…
McDonald’s Reports October Sales Growth
McDonald’s Corp. reported Monday across-the-board sales growth in October, fueled by a steady uptick in North America and strong worldwide demand, MarketWatch reported. In the U.S., the fast food giant was up 5.6% on the back of the company’s Monopoly game promotion and products including Chicken McNuggets, McGriddles, and McCafe beverages. In Europe, same-store sales…
Electronic Wallet: The New Way to Pay
The thirsty teenager steps up to a bright red vending machine and takes out her mobile phone. She places the phone near a reader attached to the machine and a cold can of cola is immediately dispensed. This scene is repeated thousands of times each day for thirsty consumers—in Japan. For almost six years, Japanese…
Food Sales Are On A Roll
Few things in life are easier than slapping together a sandwich. At home, that is. For c-store operators, operating a successful sandwich program is a complex matter that takes training, solid management, quality ingredients and, most of all, a commitment to a very different type of business than what they’re used to. Even then there…