Valpak Dining Survey Dishes Out All the Tasty Details About Where People Want to Save Money Now
According to the latest MRI-Simmons USA survey data, 35.7% of U.S. adults dine out at least 2 times per month (20.5% do it once a week or more). More than half (50.3%) also agree they could be convinced to try a new food product because of a coupon.
Our dining / restaurant survey responses build on that data, demonstrating the impact of rising food costs at the counter, in the drive-thru, at the table, at checkout and at the door. We asked consumers where they want to see Valpak coupons baked into their food shopping and dining experiences. This customer feedback delivered valuable insight that may surprise you or—NOT. Click here to jump straight to the infographic.
Dining Survey Key Takeaways
Top 10 Requested Restaurant Chain Coupons
- Chick-fil-A (59.8%)
- Taco Bell (59.3%)
- Wendy’s (59.0%)
- Olive Garden (58.0%)
- McDonald’s (57.1%)
- DQ (56.8%)
- Dunkin (54.9%)
- KFC (54.5%)
- Arby’s (54.4%)
- Panera Bread (53.8%)
Highlights by Category
- Hamburger: Wendy’s, with 59.0%, takes a bigger bite than McDonald’s at 57.1%
- Chicken: Chick-fil-A (59.8%) says “no way” to KFC (54.5%) on the chicken scene
- Sit-Down: Olive Garden’s 58.0% bests the closest contender, Applebee’s (49.4%)
- Pizza: No one outpizzas the Hut at 45.9%, but Domino’s comes closest at 45.3%
- Grocery: Walmart (65.8%) checks out over Aldi’s 53.0% to take top-shelf place
Burger Restaurants: I Burger Your Pardon?
“With inflationary pricing, we go out or order out once a week. We used to go out several times weekly. Not anymore. With coupons, we will visit eateries more often.”
Personal preferences are important (just ask Goldilocks), but when it comes to burger menu items and how it’s made, U.S. consumers don’t mess around. Everything on it? Cheese or no cheese, well-done or medium, pickles or onions, mustard or ketchup, bun or protein style, the list goes on and on to get an individual the burger that is served hot and just right for them. So, grill masters and burger lovers, get ready because here are the top 5 hamburger restaurants people want to receive Valpak coupons from.
Top 5 Requested Burger Chain Coupons
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Chicken Restaurants: The Chicken Or The Bun?
When you’re no longer asking, “Where’s the beef?” It means it’s time to hit the henhouse and get your chicken on. Unlike the hamburger, chicken is about being savory, crunchy good, or if it’s grilled with the right toppings. And what are the right questions to ask: bone-in or bone-out, between bread, wrapped in a tortilla, or fried to goodness? From our customer satisfaction survey, here are the top 5 places where the chicken maestros want their Valpak deals and meals from.
Top 5 Requested Chicken Chain Coupons
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Sandwich Restaurants: Between The Bread
It was 1762, and the Earl of Sandwich wanted to play cards and eat with his hands—and voila, the sandwich was invented, and a whole new genre of food came to life! From well-known spots to local mom-and-pop favorites, online ordering to in-house dining, just about every city in the United States has multiple incredible sandwich shops. Despite places like Subway doing it your way for years now, surprisingly, Arby’s takes the top spot, with 54.4% of respondents wanting Valpak coupons for the food service brand.
Top 5 Requested Sandwich Chain Coupons
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Mexican Restaurants: Yo Quiero, Good!
“Love restaurant coupons… only way I will try new foods.”
Mexican cuisine has so many delicious varieties to choose from, and there are always great local favorites in almost every town that offer an amazing guest experience. However, when it came to our questionnaire, it isn’t too much of a shock that some of the most well-known franchises, Taco Bell, with 59.3%, and Chipotle (41.5%), took the top Mexican restaurant spots where consumers would like Valpak coupons from.
Top 5 Requested Mexican Chain Coupons
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Pizza Restaurants: PIZZA! PIZZA!
You can eat pizza for breakfast, lunch or dinner. There is also something magical about something that, across the U.S., at its core, is sauce, dough and cheese. However, with today’s popular pizza shops, from deep pan to thin crust and from pineapple to sausage, pizza lovers know what they want from their overall experience, and they’re not afraid to have it again and again because it’s just THAT good (and Valpak coupons would be nice, too!)
Top 5 Requested Pizza Chain Coupons
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Coffee & Snack Chains: Where to Go On the Go
“Love having restaurant coupons! Makes it easier to justify a splurge meal.”
A few brands may come to mind when that early morning, midday, or late-night need for coffee & snacks hits (sounds familiar to college students and campus dining). But don’t forget old-fashioned coffee & donuts or the original Frappuccino, a.k.a. the milkshake. DQ took the top spot here with 56.8%; however, close behind and right on its heels, coffee and snacks are good too: Dunkin (54.9%). Again, for this list, it’s ice cream and donuts FTW!
Top 5 Requested Coffee & Snack Chain Coupons
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Sit-Down Restaurants: Pull Up a Seat
“Food costs at restaurants are high. So, coupons will help.”
Beyond baseball and waterslides, few things are more American than the family-oriented sit-down restaurant atmosphere. A good experience, great food, and excellent service hardly ever fall short. Oh, and these places, more often than not, serve alcohol. It’s a great way to start a night or end a night, take a date, dine alone or catch up with old friends. But according to this top 5 America has spoken where they’re looking for a food quality experience with a coupon incentive.
Top 5 Requested Sit-Down Restaurant Coupons
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Grocery Stores: Clean Up on Aisle W
In today’s omnichannel world, consumers want a one-stop shop for all their needs. They want to be able to buy lawn furniture, clothing shop, try samples and get their grocery shopping done all in one place—that’s probably why Walmart cleaned up by beating the next closest grocery brand by over 10 points. But they also want high quality at a lower price Aldi (53.0%). And from the looks of the top 5 stores, consumers want Valpak coupons for groceries too.
Top 5 Requested Grocery Store Coupons
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Meal Kits: Do It Yourself
“I would only want coupons that I can use online, because I get most of my groceries and shopping shipped or delivered and use apps for almost all restaurants. I don’t like to have to remember to bring coupons with me to get dinner and groceries.”
It’s understandable when you want it made and ready right then and there after you order and pay; however, on those days and nights when you desire to relish the moment and enjoy the process, the freshly delivered meal kit might be the go-to. Additionally, with all the pre-measured ingredients, paint-by-number recipes all separated and labeled (dietary restrictions included) might be the healthier option and, sometimes, the tastier one. Besides, there is gratification in preparing, cooking, and eating your meal—as in you are the master chef, i.e., the cook in the kitchen.
Top 5 Requested Meal Kit Coupons
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Some Food for Thought
Very rarely, if ever, does anybody say, “Let’s go somewhere to eat we don’t love.” But, still, it helps for the restaurateur to show love, too, with some coupons because nothing goes better with your favorite meal than a discount. And restaurant businesses that advertise with Valpak reach an audience that spends 28% more at full-service restaurants and 14% more at fast-food joints.
Be it shared direct mail, postcards or combining and boosting your campaign strategy with digital marketing, your local Valpak rep is there to help your food & beverage business capitalize on the channels (like social media ads) that are most suitable for your needs to achieve your advertising goals.
