Green menu items have potential for success

June 06, 2008
FoodBusinessNews.net    

Environmentally friendly menu offerings have the potential to help boost a restaurant’s bottom line and provide competitive differentiation if marketed aggressively, according to market researcher The NPD Group.

In the report, "Greener Menus: Can Environmentally-Conscious Menus Also Green the Bottom Line?" The NPD Group found about half of consumers said it’s important to them to be environmentally friendly. Consumers also said they are concerned about antibiotics and hormones given to animals and the importance of food to be organically grown and raised.

"The combination of high consumer concern for the environment and low consumer awareness of what is actually being done provides an opportunity for restaurants to differentiate themselves," said Kyle Olund, author of the report. "To fully leverage the opportunity, restaurants will need to invest in an on-going effort to build awareness, a marketing expense that could pay dividends in the long term."

 Read full story