Thanks for Visiting!

Register for free to get the full story.

Sign Up
Already have a Placer.ai account? Log In

Placer Bytes: Fast Food's Latest

by 
Ethan Chernofsky
 on 
January 13, 2020
Placer Bytes: Fast Food's Latest

Big Changes For Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons is one of three key components to Restaurant Brands International alongside Burger King and Popeyes. And while the latter two have had stellar earnings, a decreased appetite for Tim Hortons has held the company back. With President Alex Mecado’s resignation announcement, there is a powerful opportunity for a turnaround. Tim Hortons had a difficult year, with most months down year-over-year in traffic compared to 2018. 

Yet, the decline might be the secret to the turnaround. While there is certainly value to be found in changes to in-store experiences and a wider menu, there is also a unique opportunity in better owning the calendar. When comparing Tim Hortons to U.S. coffee king, Starbucks this issue becomes more apparent. 

First, while Starbucks sees an inherent strength and demand throughout the winter months for hot coffee, Tim Hortons does not see the same benefit. Second, the inability to effectively tap into the holidays, limits the ongoing excitement surrounding the Tim Hortons brand. For example, from January 2017 through November 2019, Starbucks saw visits rise 62.7% above the daily baseline on Black Friday, while Tim Hortons saw a 14.6% increase. In fact, the highest daily increase Tim Hortons saw throughout the period was 48%. Considering the daily average for Starbucks is much higher, this makes the gap even more significant in the ability to manufacture events to dominate the calendar.

The Starbucks Advantage

Speaking of coffee chains, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks are serving similar audiences from an average Household Income perspective. While Starbucks does have a lead in customers’ earnings over $100,000, Dunkin sees an advantage in the $75,000-$99,999 segment. Yet, both of these numbers are relatively close. Starbucks sees 20.3% of visitors earning over $100,000, while Dunkin sees 19.5%. 

Yet, location can have a huge impact on this difference. For example, in New York, 29.2% of Starbucks customers come from homes with an Average Household Income of over $100,000, compared to 21.8% for Dunkin Donuts, a much larger gap. In Florida, the gap grows from 0.8% difference nationally to a 3% difference, a significant jump. And these differences matter, as they indicate the value of different strategies in different locations, something Starbucks has proven especially adept at taking advantage of.

Chick-Fil-A Expands Menu

Earlier this year, Chick-fil-A added Mac & Cheese to their menu and saw an uptick in traffic. Now the brand will be running tests for new menu items in specific regions across the country to test the viability of a new, streamlined menu. When the last news item was released on August 13th, it helped drive the second most successful week from November 2017 through November 2019, with visits 25.6% above the baseline.  

While it would be unreasonable to expect a limited release to match nationwide peaks, should the pilot go well, Chick-fil-A could be even stronger in 2020.

Can Tim Hortons take advantage of a revamped ‘holiday’ strategy? What sets Starbucks apart from Dunkin? Will Chick-fil-A’s new menu items drive a new wave of success? Visit Placer.ai to find out.

Get 3 brand & industry
breakdowns every week

Subscribe to the newsletter

Great! Prepare your inbox for data-driven insights...
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get a Demo

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please provide a valid email
Please enter your email
Please enter company name

Thanks for reaching out!

One of our experts will be in touch soon

Try Placer.ai Free
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Strong Start for Sprouts in 2024
Crocs’ Footwear Fairytale
Who Attends NCAA Final Four Events?
Eclipse Fever: How Did the (Retail and Hospitality) Stars Align?
Exploring Albertsons Companies’ Grocery Growth
Placer.ai Mall Index: March 2024 Recap – Malls Rise Again
Placer.ai Office Index: March 2024 Recap
Florida Spring Break Break-Up? Travelers Still Love Florida!
Provo-Orem and Ogden-Clearfield Emerging As Utah Hotspots 
Three Formulas for Experiential Retail in 2024
Aldi & Lidl Making The Cut
Texas Suburbs on the Rise
Exploring Luxury Hotel Brands’ Guest Segmentation
The St. Patrick’s Day Effect
How Can JOANN Make a Comeback?
Panera Bread Well Positioned for Possible IPO
Who Will Benefit From Family Dollar’s Downsizing?
Dave & Buster’s and Main Event Entertainment: Food and Fun for Everyone
Darden Brands: Location Analytics and Consumer Behavior
Nike and lululemon: a Strong 2023, Sprinting into 2024
Where Is Retail and Dining Foot Traffic Thriving in Early 2024?
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – February 2024
Three Retail & Dining Chains That May Surprise in 2024
Specialty Discount Chains Rock Retail Therapy
Placer.ai Mall Index: February 2024
Placer.ai Office Index: February 2024 Recap
Ulta Beauty Continues To Shine
First Watch Sails Into 2024
Hibbett Sports and DICK’S Sporting Goods: A Psychographic Analysis
Checking in With Discount & Dollar Stores
Peeking Behind The Curtain: Movie Theaters in 2023 and Beyond
Diving Into Brick-and-Mortar Eyewear
Getting Into Gear: Exploring The Auto Part Industry
Recapping Valentine’s Day 2024 Foot Traffic Trends
Fitness: A Strong Start to 2024
Dutch Bros. Continues To Percolate Visits
Super Bowl 2024: Placer.ai’s Postgame Foot Traffic Analysis
CAVA & sweetgreen Are On the Rise
Hats Off For Off-Price
Who Is Shopping at Malls?
Drilling Down Into Home Improvement
Walmart, Target, Costco & Superstore Space 2023 Recap
Catching Up With Shake Shack and Wingstop
Something To Chew On: Demographic Shifts at Steakhouse Chains
Placer.ai Office Index: Looking Back at 2023
Recapping RBI & Yum! Brands’ 2023 Foot Traffic Performance
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – January 2024
Who Shops at Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters?
Three Taco Chains to Watch in 2024
Starbucks and Dunkin’: 2023 in Four Data Points
Who Visits CVS and Walgreens?
Fashionably Frugal: Apparel in 2023
Catching Up With Fast Food
The Grocery Sector in 2023: An End-of-Year Recap
3 Mall & Shopping Center Trends for 2024
Bakery Chains Rising To The Top
Placer.ai and Esri Partner to Deliver Geospatial Analytics
Tampa Tourism Trends
Going For The Green: The Changing Dynamics Of Country Clubs
Christmas Day Dining Recap
Major Urban Shopping Districts – Holiday Season Recap
Placer.ai Office Index: December 2023 Recap
Recapping the 2023 Holiday Shopping Season
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – December 2023
7 Retail & Dining Segments to Watch in 2024
Diving Into Holiday Season Favorites
Super Saturday and Christmas Eve Eve: A Winning Combination
3 Budget Grocery Chains Finishing 2023 On a High Note
Making It In America: International Chicken Chains Bring The Heat
Domestic Tourism at a Glance: A Q3 2023 Roundup
Five Pizza Chains On The Rise
Jewelry Brands Taking Advantage of the DTC Opportunity
Secondhand News: Kids' Thrift Shops
Recapping 2023’s Dining M&As
MetLife Stadium Kicks Off Football Season
Placer.ai Office Index: November 2023 Recap
Small Coffee Chains Brewing Big Success
Placer.ai White Paper Recap – November 2023
Thanksgiving Travel 2023 Recap
Checking in With Nike and Lululemon
Black Friday 2023 Retail Recap
Starbucks’ 2023 Holiday Menu & Red Cup Day Performance
Turkey Wednesday 2023
Who Attended the 2023 Pickleball Championship? 
Three Surprising Holiday Shopping Trends
What’s in Store for Ulta Beauty This Holiday Season?
Best Buy and Department Stores: A Holiday Deep Dive
Discount & Dollar Stores: Strength Toward The End of the Year
The State of Off-Price Retail: Discounts Seal The Deal
Placer Mall Index Recap: October 2023
Placer.ai Office Index: October 2023 Recap
Retail Corridors Ahead of the 2023 Holiday Season
California, Here Gap Comes
Checking in With Home Improvement
Getting Into the Glasses Game: Warby Parker Takes Over
Fitness Positioned for a Strong 2023 Finish
White Paper Recap: October 2023
Coffee Giants Brewing Up Business
Popeyes and Burger King Lead the Way
Diving into Yum!