Pigging Out in the Recession

Whitbread has a new restaurant format - Taybarns - that is doing incredibly well in the recession…

Actually, I’m not quite sure whether to call this format a restaurant. It seems closer to a family canteen or the chaotic scenes you witness at an all-inclusive hotel in Crete or Spain during the summer.

The all-you-can eat formula seems to be proving a big hit with customers according to this BBC video report.

There is certainly something about the product offer of all-you-can-eat which some people seem to take as a challenge.

Not sure which pudding to choose? Never mind - have one of each.

Can’t decide between the Chilli Con Carne or the Roast Beef & Yorkshires? Don’t worry - take a plate of both.

I’m a bit concerned that a rapid growth of all-you-can-eat (Whitbread are said to be planning a further 30 outlets) is going to lead to further market failure in the form of additional child and adult obesity. This BBC Magazine piece raises that issue too.

The marketing mix used for Taybarns is clearly proving effective though. The two links above provide plenty of information for students to be able to draw up a marketing mix summary for the concept.