300 South Riverside Plaza Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60606 technomic

1. 300 South Riverside Plaza Suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60606 www.technomic.com Powered by MenuMonitor • In this issue… • Appetizer • Entrée • Dessert • Beverage • Key Takeaways Prepared exclusively for Canadian subscribers by:

2. Appetizer Highlights • Appetizers by the Numbers • Overall, there were more appetizer LTOs compared to last winter. Appetizer LTOs increased from 14.0% to 15.2% of total offerings. • Fries were the most popular appetizer, representing 20.1% of items. Variations on poutine were popular, like the Sweet Carolina version at Crabby Joe’s Tap & Grill that features pulled pork and maple-chipotle barbecue sauce over sweet potato fries. • While soups received less LTO mentions than in the fall, soup incidence increased slightly year-over-year to 15.1%. • Bread offerings accounted for 9.4% of all LTO appetizers, up slightly from last year. Many of these were flatbreads with unique ingredients, such as The Boathouse’s Apple Jack Prosciutto Flatbread. • Top Trends • Sweet Chili • Baked Brie • Beer Flavours Source: 46 Canadian chains promoting New or LTO appetizers from December 2012 to February 2013

3. Key Trends—Appetizers Red Lobster Canada launched a new Sweet Chili Shrimp appetizer, which consists of a dozen hand-battered shrimp tossed in a spicy, yet sweet, chili sauce The Keg Steakhouse & Bar rolled out oven-baked Brie—served with basil pesto, red pepper jelly and crostinis—on its seasonal Winter Grill Menu Applebee’s Canada’s Brew Pub Pretzels & Beer Cheese Dip appetizer features a dip of white cheddar mixed with Blue Moon beer and roasted garlic alongside warm pretzel sticks seasoned with sesame seeds, salt and red pepper Source: 46 Canadian chains promoting New or LTO appetizers from December 2012 to February 2013

4. Entrée Highlights • Entrées by the Numbers • Breakfast items represented a small proportion of LTOs this winter, declining from 8.3% to 6.9% since the fall. Many breakfast menus featured omelettes topped with nontraditional proteins, such as the Shrimp & Asiago Omelet at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery. • Sandwiches represented 13.5% of lunch/dinner entrées this period, up from 10.7% last winter. Of the total number of sandwiches, 17 were chicken, six were turkey and five were beef. • Pasta dishes increased slightly from the fall, making up 12.1% of entrée LTOs. While chicken was the top pasta protein (17), many dishes incorporated shrimp (10) or lobster (7). • Sixteen operators menued pork dishes, compared to just two last winter. Ribs were the most popular pork dish, followed by pork chops. • Top Trends • Unique, Indulgent Mac and Cheese • Creole and Cajun Flavours • Lobster Thermidor Source: 107 Canadian chains promoting New or LTO entrées from December 2012 to February 2013

5. Key Trends—Entrées ABC Country Restaurant launched Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese as a part of its Winter Warm Up Menu Milestones Grill & Bar rolled out a Creole Pappardelle LTO made with chicken breast pieces, andouille sausage and grilled shrimp, lightly sautéed in a spiced Creole tomato sauce and tossed in ribbon noodles The Boathouse’s grilled 7-ounce Canadian sirloin topped with lobster Thermidor is loaded with lobster meat, shrimp, mushrooms and a sherry cream sauce Source: 107 Canadian chains promoting New or LTO entrées from December 2012 to February 2013

6. Dessert Highlights • Desserts by the Numbers • Baked goods represented 51.1% of dessert items, which is a moderate decrease since the fall. Cheesecake and cake tied for top variety with 10 mentions each, while pie received nine mentions. • The top overall dessert flavours were chocolate (16), caramel (8) and apple (6). • One-third of dessert LTOs were ice-cream dishes. Chocolate was again the top flavour, while a few operators offered mint or eggnog desserts. • Puddings/gelatins increased on menus from 1.7% to 5.6% compared to last winter. • Top Trends • Unique Brownie Desserts • Red Velvet • Gingerbread Source: 49 Canadian chains promoting New or LTO desserts from December 2012 to February 2013

7. Key Trends—Desserts Jack Astor’s Bar and Grill launched an original winter dessert called My Cookie Ate Your Brownie. The sweet has a chocolate-chip cookie filled with a moist chocolate brownie interior FionnMacCool’srolled out Red Velvet Doughnuts, which are covered with sugar icing and white chocolate sauce, and come four to an order The Cheesecake Cafe’s Warm Ginger Spice Cake features vanilla ice cream and warm caramel sauce drizzled on top Source: 49 Canadian chains promoting New or LTO desserts from December 2012 to February 2013

8. Beverage Highlights • Beverages by the Numbers • More adult beverages were promoted than non-alcohol drinks this period. Both beverage types accounted for 8.1% and 5.2% of total new or LTO offerings, respectively. • Of the non-alcohol beverages that were promoted, only 10.6% were frozen (down from 17.4% last winter). • Thirteen offerings were lattes, six were coffees and four were mochas. • White wine represented 22.7% of adult beverages, up from 5.1%in the fall. Red wine was also more popular compared to the fall, growing from 6.8% to 14.7%, respectively. • About two-fifths (38.7%) of adult-beverage LTOs were specialty drinks. Many of the offerings added in January and February were fruity cocktails like the Blueberry Romarita at Tony Roma’s. • Top Flavours • Specialty Hot Chocolate • Vanilla • Better-for-You Juices and Smoothies Source: 48 Canadian chains promoting New or LTO beverages from December 2012 to February 2013

9. Key Trends—Beverages Blenz Coffee released a limited-time Raspberry Beret Belgian Hot Chocolate that can be made with white, milk or dark Belgian chocolate Booster Juice rolled out a line of High Protein Superfood Smoothies, including Pomegranate Punch, High Impact Açai and Mind Over Matchaflavours. They contain a minimum of 20 grams of protein in a 24-ounce serving Starbucks Canada’s Vanilla Spice Latte features the chain’s signature espresso, steamed milk with vanilla and subtle hints of cardamom and spice Source: 48 Canadian chains promoting New or LTO beverages from December 2012 to February 2013

10. Key Takeaways