Great Example of How to Create Your Own Value Menu

Jamba Juice offers oatmeal for value price of $1 through March.

By Jenny Brooks

It might cost you more than $1 to sell it, but will it drive more traffic and allow you to upsell? Does it give you an edge over your competition, yet still tie in nicely to your target audience’s desires?

Jamba Juice, a familiar smoothie company, is giving coupons to customers for a $1 oatmeal. Click here for the story from Nation’s Restaurant News.

It’s fascinating to me because technically this company is a fast casual restaurant, not a fast food establishment. But they’re tapping into the value market anyway and competing with another category. Plus they’re going head to head with Starbucks’ plans to launch their value menu – and they beat them to the punch. It’s a limited time offer, but the timing is great and so is the offer.

It’s a great example of something you might be able to do to drive traffic to your independent restaurant. The online coupon is a great measurement tool, allowing you to track the hits and interest, as well as get picked up by local news media.

Just an idea – you don’t have to offer oatmeal for $1, but what can you do along these same lines and meet the needs of your target audience?

Jenny Brooks is a public relations professional providing expert and strategic solutions for businesses trying to increase awareness about themselves and their products. She is also the editor of SMART Systems Insider, a monthly newsletter from Restaurant Expert David Scott Peters. Questions about PR and how she can help your restaurant? Email her.