Text 28641, 93 rader
Skriven 2009-09-12 17:53:00 av BOB GEARHART (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av JIM WELLER
Ärende: A & W
=============
 Jim Weller said to Bob Gearhart at 09-11-09  21:30
 Subject: A & W<Jim Weller>

 BG> I dunno about the other places, but I have four of them within bike
 BG> riding distance of me

 JW> That makes sense: the world headquarters is in Michigan.
 
 I didn't know that.  I know the town I live in has the first 
 A&W in Michigan.  At least that is on our cities brag web site
 and this is what it looks like. Somehow it doesn't strike me as
 http://qsabe.com/slides/2008/Island/slides/031.html.
 a world headquarters.   :-)
 
 JW> I finally found the info I was looking for - 360 USA outlets as of
 JW> 2009.

 JW> From: www.brandrepublic.asia
 
 That's an Asia ??????

 JW> Brand Health Check... A&W needs to revamp a tired and dated brand

 JW> Once a thriving chain of drive-in eateries, A&W has suffered decades
 JW> of corporate instability that strangled sales and forced many A&W
 JW> outlets to close. A revolving door of owners and executives took its
 JW> toll. Competition from other aggressive fast-food chains, such as
 JW> McDonald's and KFC, and high operational costs contributed to hefty
 JW> losses.
 
 Around here A&W still serves really good root beer, foot long hot dogs
 from the same menu I looked at from the front seat of my first car. The 
 only change has been in the car hops. Consistency and stability.  I like 
 that in a place.  (Except in the car hops.:)  We got a Sonic Drive-in
 recently.  They have a big menu, girls on roller skates, and the worst
 food ever in my opinion.  But they spent a lot on advertising, so there 
 were ushers out in the parking Meijers lot directing traffic with 45 
 minute waits to order.   I rode my bike over and sat outside to discover
 what the excitement was all about.
 
 I like french fries that are made from potatoes, not reconstituted 
 potato chips that didn't sell last year.  A&W gives me a hot dog with 
 just exactly the right amount of onions, perfect chili for a foot long, 
 and a root beer in a frosted glass.  That makes me happy.
 What more could I ask for.
 
  
 JW> Today, A&W has 360 outlets in the US.


 JW> A&W seems to have been flailing about for years in one of the most
 JW> competitive environments there is. KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonalds,
 JW> Jollibee, Burger King, Wendy's and Carl's Jnr are incredibly focused
 JW> on investment in their brands, brand experiences and innovation.
 JW> This has left A&W a small, dated, sidelined player in the category
 JW> with too few stores, no focused positioning and too much Americana
 JW> baggage.
 
 Maybe that is the Asian opinion, fine by me.  When something gets in 
 their market it is invariably ruined.  Changed to fit their taste.
 Like who would want to eat at a Famous Daves Rib Shack in Saudi Arabia
  
 JW> Two guys decide to go ice-fishing. They find a place with ice and
 JW> start drilling a hole. A loud voice from above says "There's no fish
 JW> here." After moving away from the first hole they start to drill
 JW> another one. The loud voice says "There's no fish there either."
 JW> One of the guys looks up quivering and scared, and says, "Is that
 JW> you, Lord?" "No, I'm the rink manager and I'm telling you there is
 JW> no fish here."

 Funny you should mention that Jim.  I went ice fishing last year.
 Couldn't catch anything.  But there was a kid, a kid mind you, who was
 catching perch left and right.  I'm 73 years old and darned if I'm 
 asking any kid how to fish, so I cut a different hole in the ice.  No 
 fish there, either.  So I cut a new hole.  After a while and many holes
 all around the kid but no fish, I swallowed my pride. 
 
 Walked over nonchalantly and said your doing pretty good.  He nodded 
 his head and mumbled a yea.  It was quiet for a bit and finally I ask 
 him. What are you doing to catch all those fish?  He looked up and mumbled
 something that sounded like mblse worblrse mblewacklig.  I stood there 
 thinking about it, and ask again, and he replied exactly the same way.  
 By now I was starting to get a little worked up, here was this kid 
 fishing and catching like crazy when I had still to put my first fish 
 on ice.  So in a more forceful adult type tone I ask, what are you 
 doing to catch those fish kid.  Putting his hand to his mouth he spat 
 in it, then looked up and told me his secret.  "Ya gotta keep your 
 worms warm."
 
... My wild oats have turned into prunes and All Bran.
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