Country Kitchen cooks new marketing strategy

Nation's Restaurant News, March 24, 1986 by Richard Martin

Along with a graphic explanation of theories being used to format the new menu for profit maximization, Grawenmeyer offered some counseling for Country Kitchen operators who sell beer and wine.

Because of consumers' shifting away from hard liquor to "lighter" beverages, "We ought to be thinking about adding wine coolers--they're hot," she remarked.

The franchise company intends to heat up its own growth and expansion this year, with the help of its "Country's Calling You" campaign and franchising momentum from last year.

Projecting an average 4% increase in per-store sales in 1986, Hohman also said CKI expects to notch a 7.5% growth in operating restaurants.

Currently operating in 20 states and two provinces of Canada (65% of the chain is in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa), Country Kitchen will expand to Illinois this year through an area agreement.

Other expansion will come from an agreement with Madison, Wis.-based Dillon Inns, the growing economy-lodging chain that opened its first Country Kitchen unit in January adjacent to its new Denver hotel. The hotel firm is scheduled to open two more of the restaurants this year and a total of 10 over five years.