09-18-2018, 01:15 PM
A niche player for sure. Always has been. I really enjoy CBRL but not everyone likes biscuits and gravy, cornbread and turnip greens like I do. Most of their stores are located where they are for a reason. And it's not fast food anyway. I dine at MCD when I have no other option. That said I don't know too many kids below the age of 12 that don't love MCD and that drives family dining decisions. That is much of their secret sauce IMO. I was researching MCD recently for their overseas expansion plans. Saw they were a complete bust in Viet Nam while KFC thrives. MCD does fine in many other Asian countries. That is news that would never be obvious to me in advance. Restaurant chains are tougher to grow once the new is worn off and you already have 1,000 stores. I believe CBRL has been fairly big for 25 years now. Maybe the expansion and growth days are over.