These restaurant marketing strategies show different ways casual dining establishments are promoting themselves, whether through interactive initiatives, promotional packaging or other advertising avenues.
Mobile apps for the smartphone are an easy way to reach consumers, especially brand loyalists. Honoring frequent guests can be as simple as an incentives program or launching a line-skipping service like Chili's.
In addition to popular channels such as creative packaging design or entertaining commercials, interactive restaurant marketing strategies are another way to engage audiences. This includes contests, from digital burger giveaway campaigns to fantasy football contests. While one is more broad, the other appeals to a more segmented or niche area within the customer base companies are trying to reach and retain.
Rebranding efforts are a way to make old things new, bringing in new people while also keeping things fresh for others.
15 Casual Restaurant Marketing Strategies
15
Dynamic Food Packaging
Prime Star's Healthy Food Branding is Quirky and Active
14
Vibrant Vintage Brewpub Branding
The Freehouse's Contemporary Brand Identity Gets It Just Right
13
Active Vegetarian Packaging
This Restaurant Branding Design Blends Healthy Food & Activity
12
Picturesque Ice Cream Branding
The SPIN! Gelato Design Uses a Cute Frame for Details
11
Smartphone Pancake Spoofs
Denny's Created an Advertisement to Spoof the iPhone 5S Gold
10
Re-Branded Fast Food Franchises
Denny's 'The Den' Restaurant Targets a Millennial Demographic
9
Bottomless Pasta Passes
Olive Garden's All You Can Eat Pasta Pass Will Feed You Through the Fall
8
Digital Burger Giveaway Campaigns
TGI Fridays is Boosting Business Through Shareable Discounts
7
Line-Skipping Dining Apps
The Chili's Waitlisting App Will Launch in Summer 2015
6
Bottomless Appetizer Promotions
TGI Fridays' $10 Endless Appetizers Runs Throughout the Summer
5
Christmas Kissing Drones
TGI Fridays UK Gets Couples to Kiss Under the Mistletoe
4
Incentivized Loyalty Apps
Hooters' HootClub Customer Loyalty App Gives Frequent Diners Big Prizes
3
Informal Grillhouse Rebranding
Bo's Steak & Grill Gets a New Identity as 'Cole's Backyard Grill'
2
Aspirational Lifestyle Ads
This Panera Spot is Part of an New Manifesto-Driven Campaign
1
Fantasy Football Contests
These Buffalo Wild Wings Promotions Consist of Three Different Games
Related Ideas
Experiential Convenience Stores
FamilyMart Announced IP-Centered Store Experiences in Japan
Pristine Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's All Flavour, No Mess Spotlights a Tidy Snack
Connected Beverage Platforms
Coca-Cola Uses Freestyle Data to Create New Drinks Faster
Modern Fast-Casual Concepts
KFC Introduces Open House Prototype
Next-Gen Jelly Bean Campaigns
Jelly Belly Bean Appétit Entices a New Generation of Fans
Fashion-Inspired Food Marketing
Magnum Blends Beauty, Music and Luxury Culture into Its Brand
Mobile Cafe Pop-Ups
Coach Introduced a Vibrant Coffee Truck in Gotemba, Japan
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
Gamified Condiment Experiences
HEINZ’s Ketchup Blast Turns Meals Interactive
Supermarket Tourism Campaigns
K-Supermarket's Tripadvisor Listings Share a Taste of Food Culture
AI Merchant Onboarding Tools
DoorDash Launches Its AI Merchant Tools
Hockey Playoff Restaurant Campaigns
Boston Pizza Launched Its Hockey Playoff Campaign in Canada
Real-Food Entrée Giveaways
The Chipotle Realest 30 Will Share a Text-to-Claim Code on Game Day
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Experiential Fast Food Collaborations
Popeyes Turned Chicken Tenders Into a Music Venue Experience
Experiential Brand Cafés
Nutella Reimagines Its Chicago Café with Digital Ordering and a New Menu
Experiential Brand Stores
New Era Creates Interactive Retail Space With Custom Cap Design
Girl Dinner Experiences
Waverly Kitchen + Bar Curates Shareable Comfort Food Plates
K-Pop Menu Collaborations
Bb.q Chicken Launches Felix-Selected Feel Crunch Chicken Across the U.S.
Future-Facing QSR Business Strategies
McDonald's Next Details Future Menu, Service and Tech
Sauce-Focused Fried Chicken Menus
McDonald's Caesar Menu is Based on the McCrispy Platform
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
Personalized Fast-Casual Branding
FUSIAN Rebrands Around Customization and Bold Visual Identity
Basketball Championship-Themed Convenience Promotions
7-Eleven is Offering Deals for March Madness
Workplace Meal Culture
ezCater Shows Employee Food Programs Driving Office Engagement
Nostalgic Summer Snacks
Entenmann's Launches Childhood-Inspired Seasonal Treats
Automated Marketing Agents
Toast Launches Its Toast IQ Grow To Automate Restaurant Campaigns
Gamified Snack Packaging
Hershey’s Released Pokémon Chocolates with 151 Collectible Foil Designs
Urban Food Hubs
M&S Expands City Stores with Bakery, Coffee, Sushi, and Fresh Food
Weekday Value Dining
KFC Expanded Its $10 Chicken Deals Into Daily Meal Offers
Approachable Modern Cleaning Products
Oven Pride Debuted Three Products with Refreshed Branding
Themed Beverage Universes
Dutch Bros Launches Planet Dutch with Cosmic Drink Creations
Culture-Driven Product Launches
Church’s Texas Chicken launches Churchie Sauce with a local event
Mobile Retail Experiences
Duluth Trading Brings Apparel Shopping to Events with a Mobile Showroom
Coordinated Convenience-Focused Promotional Campaigns
7-Eleven Runs Promotions for Two Events
World Cup Hospitality Experiences
Stella Artois Turns Bars into Immersive FIFA Viewing Locations
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Play-Based Family Campaigns
Pirate's Booty Encourages Screen-Free Family Adventures
Reimagined Pizza Loyalty Programs
Pizza Hut Reels in Customers with Hut Rewards
Mediterranean Street Food Expansion
Nick the Greek grows demand for authentic fast-casual gyros
Photocopied Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's Office Delivery Ads Scanned Popular Menu Items
Lightweight Restaurant Apps
Curate Boosts Restaurant Loyalty with No-Download Apple App Clips
Regional Culinary Identity-Inspired Menus
Culver's Reveals a "Forward-Looking Menu Strategy"
Autonomous Menu Systems
Deliverect AI Optimizes Restaurant Menus in Real Time
Gas Station Meal Expansions
7-Eleven Enters Fast-Food Territory with Chicken Items
Wellness Dining Experiences
CRISP & GREEN Combines Fitness Events With Healthy Meals
Mobile Brand Experiences
M&M's Brings an Interactive Caravan to the Tour De France
Inviting Seafood Restaurant Redesigns
This Red Lobster Restaurant Refresh Program is Launching Now
Signature Food Giveaways
Craveworthy Brands' Bet on the Bite Shares Free, Fan-Fave Menu Items
Gamified Soccer-Tied Pizza Promotions
Domino's Launches an In-App Game Called Soccer Shoutout
Anti-Shrinkflation Restaurant Campaigns
The Back to Maggiano's Campaign Focuses on Large Portions
Culinary Tradition Food Campaigns
The Merchant Gourmet 'Yes Chef!' Campaign is Running Now
Seasonal Peach Beverages
Whataburger Launches a Peach Refresher and Peaches & Cream Shake
Ingredient-First Meal Planning
Kitchen2MyTable Helps Cooks Use Existing Ingredients
Customized Restaurant Campaign Platforms
OpenTable Has Launched OpenTable Media
Region-Specific Pizza Campaigns
Emmy Squared Pizza Launches Regionally Inspired Pizzas in the US
Limited-Edition Beer Campaigns
San Miguel launches a Limited-Edition Beer Campaign for Summer
Nutrition Ecosystem Restaurants
Fork to Fit Kitchen links meals, fitness, and wellness tracking
Fandom Retail Experiences
TOUS les JOURS Transforms Bakery Cafés into BTS Fan Destinations
Free Food Refreshment Campaigns
This Liquid Death Sparkling Energy Campaign Offers Chicken Wings
Localized Retail Media Platforms
Snappy Shopper Launches Connect, a Retail Media Network
Regional Delivery Partnerships
GoTo Foods Expands Five Brands Through Favor Across Texas
Airport Restaurant Expansion
Chili's Returns to Seattle After 10 Years at Sea-Tac Airport
Regionally Inspired Restaurant Menus
P.F. Chang's Summer in Tokyo Campaign is Here for Summer
Athlete-Branded Outdoor Appliances
Ninja Launched a New Campaign For Upgraded Backyard Cooking
Branded App Takeovers
TikTok Introduces Logo Takeover Ads That Dominate the App’s Opening Screen
Limited-Time Asian BBQ Pizzas
Happy's Pizza Launches an Asian BBQ Menu
Post-Game Breakfast Campaigns
McDonald's Flipped Its Ads Sideways for Super Bowl Recovery
Restaurant-Supporting Loyalty Platforms
inKind Boasts Its Successes on Its 10-Year Anniversary
Menu Discovery Challenges
Original ChopShop's Feel Good Foodie Challenge Rewards Menu Exploration
Gamified Destination Tourism
Connecticut Launches Rewards Platform for Local Exploration
Weekly Diner Restaurant Rewards
Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom Make It or Break It is Rewarding
Community-Centered Bakery Cafés
Paris Baguette expands through neighborhood café experiences
Simplified Food Campaigns
gusto! Relaunched its Feel Good Flavor Mission
Destination-Branded Transportation
Themed Taxis Promote Scottish Travel During Major Soccer Events
Gamified Discount Events
Build-A-Bear Uses Mystery Offers to Drive Engagement
Donation-Based Menu Deals
Domino’s Turns Pizza Purchases into Donations for Kids with Illnesses
Greek-Inspired Bakery Packagings
The Daily Greek Packaging Rebranded by A.S. Strategy
Franchise Commerce Marketing
poppi Connects Retail Products with Love Island Experiences
Spicy Spread Campaigns
Philadelphia Mexican Style Launched with Creator-Led Marketing
AI Menu Optimization
Doordash Uses AI to Improve Menu Descriptions and Food Visuals
Regional Discovery Dining
Wine Bar Highlights Lesser-Known Regions Through Monthly Tastings
Participatory Brand Platforms
Crown Royal Builds a Community-Driven Cultural Platform
Clinical Retail Media
PatientPoint Bridges Healthcare and Commerce
Discovery-Driven Beverage Programs
Dog Haus Expands Drinks Into a Menu Exploration Platform
Intimate Social Dinner Concepts
Dinner With Friends NYC Features Low-Pressure Communal Dinners
Ad-Friendly Vertical Video Feeds
Instacart Debuts the Immersive Feed Feature on Its Platform
Experiential Wine Campaigns
Avaline Partners with Proper Hotels for a Summer Music Series
Social-to-Outdoor Campaigns
Tribesigns Extends TikTok's Super Wish Campaign to Times Square
Unified Restaurant Commerce
Bahama Buck's adopts Qu's Intelligent Commerce Platform
Pet-Inclusive Dining
BarkHaven Expands Food and Entertainment for Dogs and Owners
Seasonal Value Campaigns
Huey Magoo's Combines Value Meals with Collectible Cups
Convenience Dining Growth
Checkers & Rally’s Grows Through Travel Centers and Convenience Stores
Nostalgia-Powered Retail
Zellers Revives a Canadian Favorite With New Ontario Stores
Retail Beverage Experiences
The Paper Store Uses Custom Drink Stations to Boost Engagement
Nostalgic Dessert Mashups
Wendy’s Combines Cookie Dough and Brownie Batter in Frosty Treats
Digital Platform Pizzeria Partnerships
Hungry Howie's and DoorDash Partnered for a Digital Revamp
Omnichannel Retail Media Networks
Target's Roundel Expands Advertising Across Streaming and Stores
Phygital Loyalty Experiences
Lush Links App Rewards to In-Store Events and Services
Video-Based Mystery Shopping Technologies
Blaze Pizza Partners with Reality Based Group
Digital Dining Platforms
Menu Restaurant Combines Online Ordering And Real Time Invoice Tracking
Restaurant Leadership Academies
American Express and Resy Launch Restaurant Leadership Program
In-Store Retail Media Networks
Raley's Expands Shopper Advertising Through Grocery TV
Community-Driven Loyalty Programs
Salad House Turned Guest Spending Into Local Donations
Restaurant Opening Lead Service
Flhip.com Offers Ready-to-Use Restaurant Opening Leads
In-Store Ad Networks
ISM Powers Programmatic Advertising Across Retail Locations
Practical Hospitality-Focused Podcasts
Bielat Santore & Company Debuts New Restaurant Owners' Edge
Dining Concept-Forward Campaigns
Pappas Restaurants Announces Pappas Restaurant Weeks
Community-Centric Fast Casual
The Stand Expands Community-Focused Restaurants Across California
Food Delivery Solutions
'Food Delivery App Development Solutions' Help Businesses Launch Apps
Marketing Jargon Games
Marketing Bingo Turns Buzzwords Into A Fun Client Meeting Game
Seasonal Discovery Dining
Kura Sushi launches summer menu items and seasonal sushi selections
Interactive Fast-Casual Dining
Pepper Lunch Expands Its Sizzling DIY Dining Concept
Food Image Enhancement Tools
AI Menu Photo Turns Food Images Into Professional Marketing Visuals
Valentine's Day Dining Research
OpenTable Compiles Data on Valentine's Day Dining Trends
Pizza Chain Evolution Strategies
Donatos Pizza Has Outlined a Series of Strategic Developments
QSR Brand Identity Strategies
Bob's Your Uncle Overhauled Popeyes Canada's Brand Identity
Dual-Format Dining
The Granola Bar Opens Dine-In and Takeaway Concepts in New Yotk
Access-Based Dining Rewards
OpenTable Gives Gold Members Access to In-Demand Tables
Restaurant Menu Platforms
Create Menus Lets Restaurants Design And Host Digital Menus Quickly
Commission-Free Food Marketplaces
Lunchbox & OPA! Deliver Alternative to Third-Party Marketplaces
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
Startup Marketing Resources
The Marketing Playbook For Startups Breaks Down 80+ Growth Tactics
Cultural All-Inclusive Resorts
Mondrian Cancun Blends Local Culture, Dining and Social Events
Family Restaurant App Redesigns
TGI Fridays Overhauls Its Digital Guest Interface
Restaurant Anniversary Promotions
The Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom Cinco Cero Tour Marks 50 Years
Purpose-Led Emerging Brands Initiatives
7-Eleven Taps 27 Brands for Its 2026 Brands with Heart™
Resolution-Inspired Pizza Promotions
Marco's Pizza Explores Healthier Eating and Value Incentives
Regional Authenticity Dining
Marco’s Pizza Introduced a New York–Style Pizza Experience
Unified QSR Platforms
Taco John’s Streamlines Operations with Cloud-Based Systems
Meal Delivery Brand Advantages
Clean Eatz Kitchen Signals to Its Advantages in the Market
Promotional Soccer Pizza Campaigns
The California Pizza Kitchen SEE PK Campaign is World Cup-Ready
Food Delivery Platforms
Food Devilery App Development Builds Smart Secure Food Ordering Platforms
Promotional Partnership Promotions
Savvy Sliders Teams With Girl Scouts For Cookie Discount
Event-Driven Instant Retail
JD Sports Delivers England Shirts Through Uber Eats Before Kick-Off
Elevated Diner Franchises
Billy’s Downtown Diner expands its modern diner concept in the midwest
Itallian Restaurant Prototypes
Johnny Carino's Strives to Modernize the Dining Experience
Retail Conversation Marketing Campaigns
Tesco Launches 'Need Anything From Tesco' Platform
Destination-Driven Luxury Dining
Seabourn Introduced Alaska-Inspired Culinary Cruise Experiences
Limited-Time Value Menus
Krystal Launches a New $3 Menu And Krush'd Soda Upgrade