Technomic and C3 Form Strategic Alliance To Shed New Light on Family-Dining Occasions

Chicago, May 15, 2009 –Technomic and C3 have joined forces to provide expanded services to their clients, beginning with a new Family Attitudes and Motivations (FAM) Dining Program which brings together the respective strengths of these two organizations to provide rich, actionable insights to chain restaurants and their suppliers.

If capturing family dining-out occasions has always been important to restaurant operators, then today's economic climate makes it downright essential to seize these opportunities. Meals ordered by children accounted for 1.3 billion restaurant orders in 2008 and $5.6 billion in sales. Research has found that 20 percent of all dinner occasions that are not alone include kids ages 11 and under.

The new FAM Dining Program focuses on family dining occasions at both casual dining and quick service restaurants, with consumer-based research that targets both Moms (1,500 interviews) and kids between the ages of 6 and 12 (1,200 interviews). Drilling down into key decision-making influencers within and outside the family unit, the study assigns weight to each family member in restaurant selection. Specific types of family dining occasions are defined and assessed, including special versus every-day occasions. Family guest experiences are evaluated, but also contrasted with the experiences of children, to identify where those differences lie and how restaurant operators can address them.

"This program offers both restaurant operators and their suppliers a unique way to look at the family demographic and develop targeted solutions that meet their needs," say Randy Jordan, C3 President. Both firms expressed enthusiasm over the opportunity to share their expertise and resources, in order to deliver a superior research product. "We are continually focused on ways to take our research to the next level and are thrilled to announce this partnership with C3," said Darren Tristano, Technomic EVP.

The FAM Dining Program is scheduled to launch at the end of May, with comprehensive findings delivered to sponsoring clients by mid-July. For more information on this research, please contact Patrick Noone, Director of Business Development at 312-506-3853 or pnoone@technomic.com.

About Technomic
Technomic provides clients with the facts, insights and consulting support they need to enhance their business strategies, decisions and results. Its services include numerous publications and digital products, as well as proprietary studies and ongoing research on all aspects of the food industry.

About C3
Creative Consumer Concepts (C3) is one of the largest kid-smart, brand marketing agencies in the U.S. serving the restaurant industry. The company provides research-based recommendations and award-winning products to its clients. C3 was founded on six centers of excellence: kids, design, toys, promotions, distribution and charity.

Source: Technomic, Inc.
Press Contact: Chris Urban, 312-506-3929 or curban@technomic.com