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Restaurants wooing customers on Valentine's Day
Restaurant brands are trying to entice lovers on Valentine’s Day to show them a little love.
February 10, 2016 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
For most people, Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating love, which translates into a huge marketing opportunity for restaurant operators. Check out how several brands are enticing lovers to show them a little love on Valentine's Day.
Showing a lot of heart
Dunkin' Donuts is offering hearts for sweethearts by bringing back its heart-shaped donuts in two varieties: Brownie Batter and Cookie Dough.
"Valentine's Day is a fun holiday that we enjoy celebrating each year, and it has also become one of the most popular holidays for Dunkin' donut fans," said Jeff Miller, executive chef and VP of Product Innovation for Dunkin' Brands. "We are so excited to bring back our heart-shaped donuts this year — with these delicious and festive treats, we have created something special that everyone can share at a party, with a friend or with a loved one."
What says love more than coffee and chocolate?
Starbucks has created three new chocolate beverages that will be available through Feb. 14, according to a company press release. They include:
- Molten Chocolate Latte: Chocolate chips are melted into espresso, topped with steamed milk combined with bittersweet mocha sauce and finished with mocha and espresso-infused whipped cream andan espresso mocha drizzle. It's available hot and iced.
- Molten Chocolate Frappuccino: Coffee with mocha sauce and chocolate chips blended with milk and ice and finished with mocha and espresso-infused whipped cream and an espresso mocha drizzle.
- Molten Hot Chocolate: Bittersweet mocha sauce and chocolate chips melted into steamed milk and topped with mocha and espresso-infused whipped cream and espresso mocha drizzle.
We heart vets
Wayback Burgers is playing cupid for veterans and military members on Valentine's Day by offering free Valentine's Day dinners at select restaurants throughout the country from 5 to 8 p.m., Feb 14. Veterans and active-duty military personnel who dine-in in uniform or show proof of service will receive one free American Heroes meal, which includes the Cheeseburger Hero, Chocolate Banana WOWBUTTER Milkshake and side of Frings — French fries and onion rings. Each restaurant will be decorated with a festive Valentine's Day theme for a romantic dinner date, according to a company press release.
Reservations can be made online at www.WaybackBurgers.com/valentines.
Turning White Castle red
For the past 25 years, White Castle has turned its restaurants into designated Castles of Love to celebrate Valentine's Day, and this year is no exception. The chain is also expanding its love for its communities through a partnership with the American Red Cross, according to a company press release that said the brand will accept donations at all of its restaurants in increments of $1, $3 and $5 to support the Red Cross' disaster relief efforts to help families recover from home fires. Customers who donate can show their support by placing paper Red Crosses on the wall at their local White Castle. All proceeds raised will go to support the Red Cross disaster relief efforts across the nation.
Kids to treat parents to heart-shaped pizzas
Zoom Pizza Factory is helping kids take their parents out for a Valentine's Day date, allowing parents to eat free with the purchase of a kid's pizza and a drink. Kids 16 and under are may "give" their parents a free cheese pizza. Kid's pizza start at $3.75, but kids and parents can add unlimited regular and premium toppings for just a couple dollars more, according to a company press release.
Valentine’s Day diners may also also feast on heart-shaped pizzas available for dine-in, pickup or delivery through Zoom’s mobile app.The special pizzas will be offered in Zoom’s original crust and garnished to their hearts desire with an endless selection of unlimited toppings or made into a Zalata (salad on top of the heart-shaped crust).
Smoothie love
Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies is advocating for a healthier treat this Valentine’s day, offering customers a small, fresh-fruit smoothie with their sweetheart for $2.14 on Feb. 14. With the brand’s average small smoothie price at $3.99, this deal saves sweethearts nearly 50 percent, according to a company press release.
Giving a customized treat
Now through Sunday, Feb. 14, Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip is offering custom-designed Valentine’s Day cookie cakes, as well as Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cookie Cups and Strawberry Shortcake Frappes and Lattes to in celebration of Valentine’s Day, according to a company press release.
"Our cafés are all about baking with love, so we hope everyone that loves Nestlé Toll House cookies — and that’s pretty much everyone — will let us help them add a special touch to their Valentine’s Day this year," said Shawnon Bellah, chief operating officer of Crest Foods, Inc., the franchisor of Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip.
Conversation hearts and teddy bears
Baskin-Robbins has created new frozen treats to help consumers celebrate their loved ones. New offerings include the new February Flavor of the Month — Chocolate Hazelnut — and a new Teddy Bear Cake, according to a company press release.
Also, back by popular demand, Baskin-Robbins' Conversation Heart Cakes feature a special Valentine's Day message such as "Hug Me," or a guest's personalized message to their special someone.
Heart-shaped pizzas
Papa John’s customers can order a heart-shaped pizza now through Feb. 15 for $15. It also comes with a warm Double Chocolate Chip Brownie, according to a company press release.
Open your heart
Boston Pizza is helping Canadians open their hearts with its 24th annual heart-shaped pizza fundraising campaign. On Feb, 14, $1 from every heart-shaped pizza sold across Canada will go to support Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects. which helps make futures bright by connecting kids with role models in their communities.
Heart-shaped pizzas are offered in small and medium size on hand-pressed classic or multigrain dough (excluding thin crust), and can be ordered for dine-in, take-out or delivery. From now until Feb. 14, guests can also make a minimum donation of $2 to BPF Future Prospects and receive a Boston Pizza Peel & Win Heart. Every heart is a winner with prizes such as $2 off dessert, a free Panookie, free Flatbread Pizzatizer or $5 off your next $25 takeout or delivery order.
BPF Future Prospects is committed to connecting kids with role models in their communities to ensure they have the guidance necessary to support theirfutures. With partner organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, JDRF, Kids Help Phone, Live Different, and the Rick Hansen Foundation, proceeds from Boston Pizza's Valentine's Day campaign go toward funding programs and increasing resources for these initiatives, according to a company press release.
Sweet deal for two
California Pizza Kitchen has a special Valentine's Day meal celebration for two, which includes an appetizer, two entrées and a dessert for $32. The Sweet Deal for Two promotion will be available at CPK locations from Feb. 10 through Feb. 14, with the exception of Hawaii, Guam, airports, stadiums, the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas and international locations, according to a company press release.
Getting smashed on VD
Fans who view Smashburger’s Snapchat story Saturday through Monday will have the opportunity to capture a BOGO entrée offer. To take advantage, Snapchat users need to follow "Smash.Snaps."
Going tropical
Guests dining at Pollo Tropica on Feb. 14, may order the “Two Can Dine for $9.99” deal featuring two entrees, including a choice of a small Create Your Own TropiChop or a Quarter-Chicken Platter with rice and beans, along with two regular-sized drinks and a regular-sized side of fried yuca or sweet plantains and a free dessert. Customers may text LOVE2016 to 52198 to receive the Valentine’s Day deal coupon code.
About Cherryh Cansler
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