To survive this onslaught, RFG should cut the crappy brands and consolidate their domestic brands into 3-5. 1 coffee brand, 1 cakery, 1 donut shop and 1 pizza etc. The coffee brands are competing with other competition as well as each other.
My observation of RFG brands:
Donut King = not a lot of menu changed in 20 years. Don't understand how they can pay the shopping center rent and also pay RFG premium by selling few donuts. Beand is well known.
Brumby’s Bakery = almost gone with the wind. Consider this brand almost non-existent now.
Michel’s Patisserie = store numbers decreasing, has a pretty tough competition from more boutique cake stores. Also, the cakes are not better than Costsco's mega cakes but twice more expensive per gram. Steep competition.
bb’s Café = have not seen or noticed there is such a brand.
Esquires = don't even know what this brand is.
Gloria Jean’s Coffees = store numbers gone down, no longer has the following it used enjoy back in early 2000's. A large cup of coffee costs almost as much as lunch, similar to starbucks. Macdonald's coffee tastes more consistent and I rather drink McAfe coffee ove GJ's. Used to be GJ customer but no longer. Seen many domestic stores closing down.
It’s A Grind = seen a couple of stores, had a taste and coffee tasted pretty disgusting. Never gone back for the second cup.
The Coffee Guy = mediocre brand. Think heard of the brand. Never tried.
Café2U = tyes seen a couple of vans going around, used to come to my work and saturday house auctions, sub-Macdonald quality coffee. If given a free cup at auction, it is OK to drink.
Pizza Capers = heard of the brand, have not heard anyone I know talking about such Pizza. I didn't know about this brand until I found RFG last year when the sp was $4+. Another mediocre brand.
Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar = tried once and never going back. Paid $17.50 for a baby size pizza. Tasted just OK, nothing special. Local Italian pizza shop pizzas tastes better and twice as big as Crust's pizzas. Also, Dominos gives two pizzas at this price. Local store is still opened but business is not great. Another brand slowly sinking by competition.
All my observation and this is in my opinion, if your observation is different then that's ok. Please share your views.
