R&I’s 2007 Consumers’ Choice in Chains Awards: Burgers

Special Report: R&I’s 2007 Consumers’ Choice in Chains Awards: Burgers

By Staff -- Restaurants & Institutions, 9/15/2007

CULVER'S
Headquarters: Prairie du Sac, Wis.
CEO: Craig Culver
Units: 350
Average check: $7.82
R&I Top 400 Chains rank: 69
Respondents aware of chain: 16%
Respondents who visited in previous 12 months: 6%
STRENGTHS: An impressive 89% of its customers intend to return, with the chain earning 90%+ scores from all but Millennials. Culver’s has raised its value score 12 points since last year. Its food-quality rating is highest among Gen X customers, who are Culver’s strongest supporters.
WEAKNESS: Its return-intention score is comparatively low with the 26-and-younger crowd.

RED ROBIN
Headquarters: Greenwood Village, Colo.
CEO: Dennis Mullen
Units: 373
Average check: $10.73
R&I Top 400 Chains rank: 42
Respondents aware of chain: 49%
Respondents who visited in previous 12 months: 11%
STRENGTHS: Red Robin cultivates a family-friendly atmosphere, but it still gets a 90% return-intention score among customers without children (and an also-impressive 86% from those with kids). Menu variety scores highest among the key baby-boomer demographic.
WEAKNESS: Millennials are loyal customers but give Red Robin its lowest service score.

IN-N-OUT
Headquarters: Irvine, Calif.
President: Mark Taylor
Units: 209
Average check: Not available
R&I Top 400 Chains rank: 89
Respondents aware of chain: 33%
Respondents who visited in previous 12 months: 8%
STRENGTHS: Everyone loves In-N-Out Burger: Even 90% of customers ages 61 or older say they plan to go back. Cult status: In the Midwest, where the chain has no stores, 24% have heard of it. Millennials give In-N-Out its highest value score.
WEAKNESS: Considering how small its menu is, it’s amazing the chain’s menu-variety rating isn’t lower. But In-N-Out fans don’t care.

How Burger Chains Stack Up With Consumers