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QSRs roll out sweet treats for Valentine's Day
January 27, 2010
A number of quick-service restaurants have introduced limited-time product offerings and marketing promotions to appeal to customer's sweet tooth and/or plans for romance on Valentine's Day. Some of the promotions include:
Dairy Queen is featuring its signature heart-shaped DQ cakes. During February, the chain's typically round ice-cream cakes become heart-shaped custom-made creations. The cakes include a layer of chocolate soft serve topped with crunchy chocolate cookie pieces and then layered with vanilla soft serve and decorated with creamy icing.February's blizzard of the month, Midnight Truffle Blizzard. The Midnight Truffle Blizzard Treat is a mix of chocolate truffle pieces blended with rich, dark cocoa fudge and creamy vanilla DQ soft serve. The Blizzard can be custom made into a cake as an added Valentine's treat.The items are vailable at all Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill locations nationwide throughout February. MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery has expanded its line of super-premium ice cream products to include a new Pink Champagne sorbet and Dream Cakes for Two. The Pink Champagne sorbet transforms the traditional celebratory beverage in a treat customers can use to toast Valetine's Day as well as other occasions. The petite Dream Cake for Two features the brand's award-winning Strawberry ice cream drizzled with chocolate ganache, and topped with a chocolate-covered strawberry.
MaggieMoo's is managed by NexCen Franchise Management Inc., a subsidiary of NexCen Brands Inc.
"Since Valentine's Day is about caring and sharing, we also wanted to offer our customers a product that they could enjoy together," said Jenn Johnston, senior vice president of brand marketing for NexCen Franchise Management. "The new Dream Cake for Two features our award-winning ice cream and is the ideal sized treat to share with a friend, family-member or loved one."
All ice cream cakes, including Dream Cakes for Two and ice cream cupcakes, are available for online ordering at participating stores.
Great American Cookies, another brand managed by NexCen Franchise Management, is offering customers a number of new and unique gift options this Valentine's Day, including:
- Heart-shaped cookie cakes — As part of its 2010 "Express Yourself!" promotion, the company will add several new romantic designs to their current lineup of heart-shaped Cookie Cake creations.
- Heart-shaped gift tins — The special tins can be filled with any assortment of the company's cookie flavors.
- New heart-shaped specialty cookies — Just for 2010, the company has developed a new specialty cookie decorated with festive red and white icing, which can be purchased individually or in multiples.
Cookie Cakes are ready in minutes and can be ordered online or at the store with pick up from Great American Cookies locations nationwide. Gift cards and cookie gift tins are also available at participating Great American Cookies stores.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts has brought back its popular Heart-shaped creations as well as the company's newest decadent chocolate temptations.Now through Feb. 14, Krispy Kreme LTOs include:
- Triple Chocolate doughnut, featuring chocolate Kreme filling and topped with chocolate icing and brownie crumbles
- Chocolate-Iced ring with Valentine's Day sprinkles
- Chocolate-Iced Heart doughnut with a delicious red drizzle
- Heart doughnut, topped with white icing and decorated with red, white and pink sprinkles
And on Valentine's Day only, participating U.S. Krispy Kreme locations will again offer "Hot Hearts," which are Heart-shaped "Hot Now" Original Glazed doughnuts.
To make the season of love even more memorable, Krispy Kreme is giving customers 12 free "Share the Love" Valentine's Day cards with each dozen doughnuts purchased. Each of the one-of-a-kind cards includes a coupon for one free doughnut.
The Valentine's Day assortment is available now and will remain in participating U.S. Krispy Kreme retail stores through Feb. 14. Product offerings will vary by markets.
Romance at White Castle
A QSR burger restaurant may not be top on the list of romantic settings, but regional chain White Castle has been making a special evening out of Valentine's Day for the almost 20 years. Participating stores offer a candlelit dinner complete with special menus, tableside service and themed decorations. Hours vary by location, and reservations fill up quickly.
"Since we first offered reserved Valentine's Day seating in 1991, this has become an annual tradition for many couples," said Jamie Richardson, vice president of corporate relations. "It's been a huge hit because a lot of our loyal customers — fondly known as ‘Cravers' — either met in a White Castle Restaurant or have other enjoyable memories they like to celebrate here."
This year, White Castle is adding a special feature by snapping a complimentary digital photo of each couple that can be viewed later from the White Castle Web site.
Also watch White Castle: Valentine's Tradition.
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