🍔🍟🍕🎙 David "Rev" Ciancio

Encouraging news south of the border (for a change) on the growing premiumization trend in bars and restaurants as customers trade up to better quality spirits. Premium Spirits Gain Share On-Premise as Consumers Trade Up U.S. bars, clubs, and restaurants are witnessing significant premiumization as consumers increasingly trade up from value and mid-tier spirits, according to CGA by NIQ's latest data. Premium category brands now capture 35.6% of total spirits volume—up 0.4 percentage points year-over-year—while ultra segment brands gained 0.5 percentage points to reach 6.2% share.   The growth comes at the expense of lower-priced options, with value brands dropping 0.2 percentage points to 17.3% and mid-priced products falling 0.5 percentage points to 22%. Nightclubs lead the ultra category expansion with a remarkable 2.2 percentage point share increase, while casual dining and bars gained 0.5 and 0.4 percentage points, respectively. Source: CGA by NIQ On Premise Measurement, Rolling 52 W/E 05/17/2025 vs YA. 

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If your promotions are getting traction but profit isn’t moving, you’re not alone—and you’re not crazy. I recorded a quick, on-the-go reset on 7 casino marketing myths that quietly inflate reinvestment and keep teams busy but not in control. Take it with you and walk away with a cleaner way to think about offers, calendar discipline, and what to measure beyond redemption. #CasinoMarketing #podcast #CasinoOps #DirectMarketing #CRM

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🚨 The 2025 QSR 50 is here. Each year, this data-rich report ranks the top quick-service restaurant chains in the U.S.—but it’s more than a leaderboard. It’s a window into the forces shaping fast food today. This year’s list tells a story of resilience and reinvention. Brands responded to inflation and consumer pullback with creative value plays—from bundled meals to loyalty rewards—and continued to lean hard into digital channels to reach price-conscious guests. Meanwhile, we saw record unit growth, major operational upgrades, and AI creeping further into the kitchen. Menu innovation extended beyond core items, as chains pushed into new categories to stand out in a crowded field. Despite traffic challenges, rising costs, and economic uncertainty, the QSR industry proved once again: it moves fast, and it rarely stands still. 📊 Explore the full report: https://lnkd.in/e3qy7MUA

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This is one of those marketing campaigns that makes you stop scrolling. Wendy's is inviting fans to apply to become its first Chief Tasting Officer, a $100K role focused on tasting menu items, creating content, and sharing opinions about the brand. Beyond the headline, it’s actually a fascinating example of modern marketing strategy. Instead of a traditional campaign, the brand is turning hiring into content, community engagement, and storytelling. Applicants even submit creative videos explaining why they should get the job. It’s a reminder that today’s marketing isn’t just about ads, it’s about creating moments people want to talk about and participate in. https://lnkd.in/ezE2CCK4 #MarketingStrategy #BrandMarketing #ExperientialMarketing #ContentMarketing #DigitalMarketing #MarketingIdeas #SocialMediaStrategy #CinisMarketing

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"Numbers don't lie." But here's the catch - in hospitality, numbers can mislead you if you're looking at the wrong ones. Too often, restaurants, bars, and cafés chase vanity metrics: likes, followers, foot traffic counts. They look good on a dashboard but don’t always tell you what your customers are actually saying. True-to-life data - the kind that reflects real behavior - is where the magic happens. 👉 It's the table that comes back every Thursday. 👉 It's the 20% of customers driving 80% of your sales. 👉 It's the shift where sales drop every time your best bartender’s off. When you start connecting those dots, you stop guessing and start leading. Because confidence doesn’t come from "gut feel." It comes from clarity. Smart marketing. Smarter tech. Built for Hampton Roads Hospitality. #HospitalityGrowth #RestaurantMarketing #HospitalityTech #DataDrivenDecisions #IAmKeithParnell #HamptonRoadsHospitality

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