The ugliest driver of the promotions: Unemployment remains at double digits for fast food's core demographic, 18-to-34-year olds, according to David Ovens, chief marketing officer at Taco Bell. For 16-to-19-year-olds, unemployment was at 26.3% in the fourth quarter, and at 14.9% for 20-to-24-year-olds, [image-nocss] reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "For them," Ovens told the newspaper, "value is even more important now than it was a few years ago."
After the holidays, consumers are short on cash, according to Christopher Muller, dean at Boston University's School of Hospitality. Going out for pricey meals is a stretch, but fast-food deals can lure folks back, often to buy more than planned, Muller told the newspaper. "You can't sell something to someone who isn't in your restaurant."
Many consumers are less eager to eat fast food in the winter months--especially those on diets, said Jeff Davis, president of Sandelman & Associates. That's not stopping the major chains from courting customers with: Two-for-ones. Burger King is touting two-for-one chicken sandwiches (normally $3.79) through Jan. 16. It appeals to customers who don't want to reach "deeper into their wallets," said Jonathan Muhtar, vice president of marketing. Freebies. Wendy's has a "Free Fries For All" promo with a social-media twist. To get the free Natural Cut Sea Salt fries, folks go to Wendy's Facebook app and click on the fry icon. If they share it with friends who also click on it, the friends get the free fries, too, according to Wendy's spokesman Denny Lynch. The promo goes through January. Cheap pizza. Papa John's and Pizza Hut have $10 large pizzas. Domino's has two mediums for $5.99 each. Daily deals. On Mondays, Pizza Hut sells two mediums for $5.99 each. On Tuesdays, it sells two orders of pasta and five breadsticks for $10. On Wednesdays, 50-cent wings. Dollar deals. McDonald's is pushing its Dollar Menu. Wendy's is hyping its 99-cent Value Menu--seven items at 99 cents each. Big deals. Jack in the Box has a $3.99 Jumbo Deal with a burger, two tacos, fries and a drink. Taco Bell this month sells a $5 Buck Box with Beefy Crunch Burrito, Crunchwrap Supreme, Crunchy Taco, Cinnamon Twists and medium drink. Hot deals. KFC is selling 20 Sauceless Hot Wings for $10.
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