These guys are out to lunch!

[hamricba]

We have seen an absolute flurry of low-carb products hit the shelves across the country and so many restaurants have gotten involved. Still, a small handful sit on the sidelines and it is very interesting to see if they will REALLY get in the game:

McDonald's- I've heard of some test cases, but all low carb suggestions sound pretty lame (double scrambled eggs? how about some VARIETY).

Burger King- Will soon become Burger Serf if they don't hop on the low-carb revolution. Flame broiled don't mean jack to me if I only got fries or onion rings to eat with it.

Wendy's- As the song goes, "Everyone knows it's Wendy's" (that I avoid like the plague, yeah, as if I want a baked potato!)

Taco Bell- Um, why not "borrow" those low carb wraps they are using at Subway?

Still needed- low carb sides and drinks at fast food joints. Give me some Planters peanuts or a couple slices of cheese. Diet Rite instead of Diet Coke.

The day is quickly coming where we won't have to toss the bun because they will already do it for us. How quickly the world of eating is changing.

I would think by the end of '04 we'll see at least 2 of the 4 players mentioned above make a significant low-carb move.


Brian

[NulloModo]

I think we can actually be pretty darn happy how fast so many places have been implementing low-carb options. With big sit-down chains like Fridays, Ruby Tuesdays, and Don Pablos on board it was only a matter of time before some fast food places took notice. Subway was a no brainer, they have been trying to advertise to the diet and healthy alternative crowd for years.

McDonalds I think we will see make a move very slowly if at all, they are incredibly profitable as it is, and won't move into low-carb until they know it is worth their effort to advertise and develop the menu. Expect to see low-carb options in certain test markets (which some have already reported) and based on the profitability there, it might expand out nationally.

Burger King, Wendys, etc, while not nearly as big as McDonalds, still do well for themselves. Don't expect most places to start carrying Diet Rite soda though, as they have exclusive rights agreements with Coke or Pepsi (Pepsi even owns a couple chains, KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut if I remember correctly). You can still always drink water, or Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi in a pinch.

I've found it is remarkably easy to get a good low-carb meal out of most fast food places even if they don't have a 'low-carb' menu though. Wendy's is one of the best, I eat there a good deal, just get whatever sandwich you want, take off the bun, and instead of fried order a caesar side salad (completely atkins legal). You have a filling meal that is tastier than a burger and fries anyway.

Aside from a few low-carb wraps here and there most places low-carb menus are simply menu items they already had, altered with new side items and a few select ingredients changed or removed. You can build your own low-carb dinner almost anywhere, although some places do seem more willing to substitute than others (f-ing IHOP is a real piece of work for being unwilling to substitute items).

[LoveSong]

I have wondered if we shouldn't try to start an email campaign to Pepsi and/or Coke (don't really care about Coke because I can't stand it anyway :P :laughing ) to get them to use Splenda instead of Aspertame? Not sure how one would go about that--does anyone have any ideas?

~Debbie~LoveSong~

[doghowlett]

Coke is evaluating using Splenda in some of their drinks, but they have the most successful diet drink available, it's unlikely they will change their formula anytime soon.

McDonalds has not had a successful new menu item in over 15 years (I believe Chicken McNuggets was their last success). Any new menu items they add will be very carefully done. Low carbers probably do not make up a significant percentage of their customers for them to develop any items yet.