Five Better Burger creations feature new ingredients top to bottom, inside and out
SPARTANBURG, S.C., Oct 12, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Denny's (NASDAQ:DENN) is calling on all Americans to try its Better Burger that's too good to eat on the run. Denny's dispatched its chefs to discover the best of the best and built a thicker, juicier Better Burger, featuring new ingredients top to bottom, inside and out. The made-fresh-for you, hand-pattied Better Burger with cheese is available now in five varieties served with new wavy-cut fries and a Coke for a tempting starting price of $6.99.
Denny's knows America is hot and hungry for burgers so the company turned up the heat with a passion to slam the country's cravings again. Research shows that 21 percent of consumers claim they are eating more burgers.[1] The burger is by far the nation's favorite menu item chosen by 84 percent of those dining out[2]and is credited with more than 40 percent of all restaurant sandwiches consumed.[3] Even fine dining establishments and top chefs are following the trend creating upscale burgers to satisfy the desires and palates of their clientele leading to 30 percent growth in the segment over the past three years.[4]
"Burgers are a force to be reckoned with," said Nelson Marchioli, Denny's chief executive officer. "Just like Denny's, they are quintessentially American...the burger unites us, comforts us and is accessible to all of us. Denny's built a better burger that will be irreplaceable in the hearts, minds and bellies of American consumers...a burger that consumers will want to wrap their hands around and savor sitting down."
Denny's chefs tasted, tested and built a burger top to bottom, inside and out, never a heat lamp or single paper-wrapped patty in sight. Denny's Better Burger masterfully features the following ingredients: 100 percent seasoned beef, hand-pressed and grilled to juicy perfection, layered with the ideal amount of melted cheese, topped off with crisp shredded lettuce, crunchy, thick-cut pickles, fresh tomatoes and sliced red onion all cradled in a specially baked, just-right-size, toasted bun.
Better Bun: Perfectly sized*, perfectly toasted, perfectly delicious sesame seed bun replaces, less fitted sesame seed bun spread with margarine and toasted
*Burger to bun ratio 33 percent/66 percent replaces 25 percent/75 percent
Better Burger: 100 percent seasoned ground beef (.5 percent salt); hand-pattied with a flavor all its own replaces highly flavored ground beef with a mixture of five seasonings
Better Cheese: Thicker, creamier, perfectly melted slice replaces single thin slice
Better toppings: Cool, crisp, fresh shredded iceberg lettuce to improve texture and color replaces leaf lettuce, and is accompanied by crunchy, thick-cut pickles, fresh tomatoes and sliced red onion
"The burger is Denny's second most popular menu selection behind its hearty Grand Slam breakfasts and now we have rebuilt it to make an even better burger," said Mark Chmiel, Denny's chief marketing officer. "It's a burger that tastes way too good to eat on the run ... it deserves to be served, and it's easy on the pocketbook."
For those who prefer the convenience of take out, the Better Burger is available in customized Denny's Dome packaging which keeps food hot and fresh for up to 30 minutes providing the same table service-quality food for customers on the go.
Tangy steak sauce drizzled over onion crispers and melted Swiss cheese. Served with lettuce, tomato and red onions.
Two beef patties and two slices of cheese. Served with lettuce, tomato, pickles and red onions.
Choice of American, Swiss, cheddar, or pepper jack cheese. Served with lettuce, tomato, pickles and red onions.
Topped with melted Swiss cheese and mushrooms sautéed in garlic and herbs. Served with lettuce, tomato, pickles and red onions.
A classic burger topped with crisp bacon and cheddar cheese. Served with lettuce, tomato, pickles and red onions.
Denny's is America's largest full-service family restaurant chain, with more than 1,500 locations. For more than 50 years, Denny's has been serving up real breakfast 24/7. Home of the famous Grand Slam(R) breakfasts, Denny's provides a variety of flavorful food and beverage choices.
Top to bottom, inside and out Denny's new Better Burger is
Built better than ever
New Better Burger Retired Burger
100% seasoned beef (.5% salt) Flavored with a mixture of five seasonings resulting in an unnatural
A better burger experience taste
Hand-pressed on the grill Grilled from pre-formed patties resulting in a tighter, tougher
Natural, homemade texture, better flavor texture and significantly reduced juiciness
Customized press for perfect thickness
Thicker, creamier cheese Thin slices of cheese resulted in inconsistent melt and lack of
Better quality, better melt with increased presence and richer discernable cheese presence and mouthfeel
mouthfeel
Cool, crisp, fresh shredded iceberg lettuce Green leaf lettuce
Improved texture, color Wilts and turns black under heat
Holds up better to heat Lacks texture and crispness once heated
Adds loft to the build
Perfectly sized, perfectly toasted Spread with margarine and grilled
sesame seed bun Burger to bun ratio 25 percent/75 percent
Reduced calories (no margarine) Margarine caused the buns to become soggy
Better fit - burger to bun ratio
33 percent/66 percent
Dry-toasting results in a pleasant textural contrast while
preventing the bun from becoming soggy
SOURCE: Denny's