NEW YORK — Bucking tradition, casual dining restaurants this year are advertising price deals right through the holiday season, The Wall Street Journal reported this week.
Consumers are usually apt to splurge on spending for food, including dining out, around this time of year, but the casual dining chains apparently aren’t taking any chances. They’re targeting price-conscious diners.
SN reported recently that the food service industry, especially casual dining and quick service chains, have become aggressive with promotions, possibly in response to how well supermarket prepared food programs fared during the recession.
The Journal article noted that “with shoppers cherry-picking their stores based on deals, restaurants fear they’ll choose dinner outings the same way.” It points out that chains like Chili’s Grill & Bar and Applebee’s are using more discounts and advertising than in previous years.
