Carhops' comeback

That old-school, fun-loving feeling is coming back to a Sonic near you. The drive-in's latest ads have hyped up the comeback of their famous roller-skating carhops.

It was common to see these skating servers in the 60s and 70s but Sonic ditched them in the 80s. Now they're going back to their roots in hopes of gaining a competitive edge.

It's a point of distinction "with a nostalgic twist," Annika Stensson, spokeswoman for the

National Restaurant Association, tells USA Today.

With so many choices and such a competitve market, having something to set you apart in the fast-food industry is vital. This reinvention may be just what Sonic needs to bring the fun and exciting spirit back to its image.


It will also bring in the dough. The average Sonic with skaters pulls in $50,000 more in annual sales vs. one without, CEO J. Clifford Hudson says. Customers are happier and spend more money when there are skaters.


Seems like Sonic should've stuck to its strengths. I think the carhops are what set it apart and make Sonic an experience instead of just dinner.

Go here to see some pics of carhops of the past and present.

A breadless sandwich?

KFC has a new twist on your typical chicken sandwich--and it's breadless. A sandwich with no bread? What? Can you even call that a sandwich?

Well, KFC calls it the Double Down, and it's coming to a KFC near you April 12. The $5 sodium-filled, fatty fest sandwich replaces a bun with two chicken patties. It is then filled with two pieces of bacon and two pieces of cheese smothered in sauce. Whoa.

This meat-on-meat sandwich not only contains 60 percent of our recommended daily sodium consumption, but also about 50 percent of our daily supply of saturated fat, according to USA Today.

This may sound outrageous to some but to others it may be a dream come true. KFC is hoping the new menu item will appeal to its heaviest users--guys age 18 to 24. This new concept may be just the thing to create some buzz and draw traffic; both new and old.

"We had people driving across state lines to try the product," says Javier Benito, executive vice president of marketing and food innovation at KFC.

Regardless of its nutritional value, I think the Double Down will deliver just what KFC wants, and more.