Bruegger's: Guests Choose Healthier Options in Summer

DALLAS, June 27, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This month, Bruegger's got the skinny on summer eating after launching its new Under 500 Calorie Menu, which provides guests with over 100 flavorful combinations of breakfast and lunch options with an emphasis on cutting calories without skimping on taste and quality.

Over a two-week period the bagel leader, with 300 locations across the U.S., polled more than 300,000 bagel fans through email and Facebook and found that 52 percent of respondents eat healthier in the summer while 43 percent always try to eat healthy.

In addition to questions about general eating habits, Bruegger's asked for guest feedback on some of the items featured on its new Under 500 Calorie Menu – including the Café Salad and Skinny Bagels. Bruegger's guests were pleased with the many choices offered by the new menu; nearly 40 percent of respondents like to make their own Café Salad from the many fresh ingredients available, while 27 percent were happy to have a lower calorie lunch option. The lower price was also favored by seven percent of respondents.

Bruegger's findings line up with a recent survey by the NPD Group, in which the respected market research group found that respondents would feel more satisfied after restaurant visits if they had more healthful options available at the same prices as less healthful options, including on the value menu. (Consumers Define Healthy Eating When They Go Out To Eat).

When asked about their favorite under 500-calorie breakfast option, the greatest percentage of Bruegger's customers chose the Classic Breakfast Bagel Sandwich – now available on a skinny bagel. For lunch, guests preferred the Skinny Herby Turkey – also a Bruegger's longtime favorite now available on a skinny bagel. Twelve percent of respondents like breakfast for lunch!

"The survey confirmed that our guests desire healthy meal alternatives that don't sacrifice taste and offer great value," said Scott Colwell, Bruegger's Chief Marketing Officer. "While our core product – America's best bagel – continues to be a favorite, we are always seeking to offer new and innovative choices for our guests.

Bruegger's developed their Skinny Menu program by studying the current marketplace, trends in nutritional labeling and guest preferences. With many choices under $5, Bruegger's meets consumer demand for healthier choices offered at a fair price, while maintaining the variety and great taste that separates its bakeries from the rest of the pack.

Tracy Aiello, tracy@spmcommunications.com
Kathryn Calley, kathryn@spmcommunications.com
Laurie Cates, laurie@spmcommunications.com
SPM Communications
214-379-7000

Bruegger's Enterprises, Inc. (BEI), a leader in the fast casual restaurant segment, operates 300 Bruegger's bakeries in North America.   Renowned for its award winning bagels, Bruegger's offers a wide variety of freshly prepared breakfast and lunch options made with high quality simple ingredients served with its unique brand of hospitality.  Bruegger's is dedicated to the communities it serves and supports charitable causes locally and nationally.  Through a wholly owned subsidiary, Threecaf Brands Canada Inc., BEI also operates 137 Timothy's World Coffee, mmmuffins and Michel's Bakery Cafés. BEI's parent company, Groupe Le Duff, SA, is the world's second largest company in the café-bakery sector. Founded in 1983, BEI is headquartered in Burlington, Vermont and was a recent winner of Nation's Restaurant News' Golden Chain Award.  For more information, please visit www.brueggers.com or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/brueggers.

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