An important part of the Buffalo Wild Wings all-you-can-eat wings promotion is the timeframe. It is clearly marketed as being obtainable for a restricted time interval, which differs from the deadly blow sustained by Purple Lobster when implementing the return of its previously common Limitless Shrimp promotion. The administration workforce gambled on making it a everlasting menu merchandise, they usually misplaced, large time. Although foot site visitors significantly elevated in Purple Lobster eating places, the choice is partly credited with driving them out of business, posting an $11 million loss in third quarter 2023, and main the homeowners to search divestiture from their Purple Lobster holdings.
Buffalo Wild Wings and different chains with all-you-can-eat specials, together with Olive Backyard’s occasional By no means Ending Pasta Bowl, have the benefit of garnering publicity and foot site visitors, but with an finish recreation. Nonetheless, trade consultants warning in opposition to undesirable results of even short-lived tremendous offers. The hope is that prospects will spend elsewhere on the menu to compensate for losses, however that is not all the time the case, and a few diners inevitably over-consume.
As well as, high-consumption specials imply prospects will probably linger significantly longer at tables. This may result in restricted desk turnover, longer wait occasions, and fewer ideas for restaurant servers. One other hazard is elevating buyer expectations of decrease costs. So far, Buffalo Wild Wings is holding agency in its dedication to all-you-can-eat wings and fries. It even appeared to take a dig at its failed rival with a tweet: “pls do not bankrupt us.”