It didn't take much research to pinpoint the problems. Four months after we arrived, we realized what our direction had to be. Our aim is focused on Echo Boomers. Fast-food places, of course, have long catered to families, but Taco Bell recently had a survey conducted by Directions Data Research, to determine if the tastes of Echo Boomers were the same as their parents. In response, Taco Bell is using more white meat chicken in its products, and using their talking Chihuahua in television spots promoting products featuring white chicken meat.
Pleasing children can be more difficult at table-service restaurants than at QSRs.
Some casual-dining restaurants, such as the Ruby Tuesday chain, based in Mobile, Ala., and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, based in Lebanon, Tenn., have always catered to families with children. Cracker Barrel also was among the Top 10. Both Cracker Barrel and Ruby Tuesday provide different types of entertainment to pass time before food arrives. Ruby Tuesday has crayons and activity place mats, while Cracker Barrel has a peg game on every table plus a checkerboard game rug in a common area. A key ingredient to restaurants making a successful pitch for the Echo Boomers, according to the NRA, is a special childrens' menu.