In 2011, more than 5,500 restaurants participated in Share Our Strength’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry program, raising $2.4 million to help fight childhood hunger, the organization said Tuesday.
The program encourages both chain and independent restaurants to host in-house promotions of their own design for a week in September where a percentage of sales are donated to Dine Out For No Kid Hungry. The program’s continued success is built upon the passion of participants and patrons, as well as the business potential for restaurants, Shelia Bennett, national program director of Dine Out For No Kid Hungry, said in a statement.
“We had nearly 60 different restaurant brands and more than 300 independents working together to combat hunger, an issue that impacts more than 16 million children,” Bennett said. “These restaurants raised nearly $1 million more in 2011 than the year before, and I truly believe that’s because the restaurants are seeing real business results. Restaurants reported bouceback coupon redemption rates of up to 40 percent, and sales increases as high as 11 percent.”
Restaurant case studies
Ted’s Montana Grill: The Atlanta-based company saw a 5-percent redemption rate on bounceback coupons, which helped triple the funds that it raised for Dine Out For No Kid Hungry in 2011. Pleased with the program’s success, chief executive George McKerrow has pledged to raise $150,000 to support Share Our Strengths’ No Kid Hungry campaign in 2012, which includes September’s Dine Out For No Kid Hungry.
Denny’s: The family-dining chain had the largest number of participating units — 745 locations — among participating restaurants. It raised more than $273,665 through an offer that gave guests who donated $3 or more five $1 coupons to use on their next purchase of $5 or more.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers: The chain gave every customer who made a $1 in-store donation a coupon for a buy-one-get-one combo meal on a return visit within two weeks of the promotion. With employees helping to drive the excitement, the chain raised more than $58,000, quadrupling its 2010 contribution.
Marc Murphy: The restaurateur and TV personality from the Food Network and “Chopped!” donated the full price, $2, of every order of cotton candy sold at his four Landmarc restaurants in New York City during last year’s program. He also donated 50 percent of all s’mores sold at both of his Ditch Plains restaurants, also in New York City.
While official numbers have not been released, Bennett says that goals for 2012 are lofty but achievable, given the increased support and enthusiasm the program has seen each year.
Restaurants looking to participate in 2012 Dine Out For No Kid Hungry, which is scheduled to take place September 16-22, should visit DineOutForNoKidHungry.org, or contact Molly Burke at mburke@strength.org.
EARLIER:
• SOS, industry partner to fight childhood hunger
• Restaurants plan promotions for Dine Out For No Kid Hungry
Nation’s Restaurant News is a promotional partner for Share Our Strength’s Dine Out for No Kid Hungry efforts.
Contact Charlie Duerr at charles.duerr@penton.com.
