Arby's® Beef's Up Drive-Thru Service, Wins National Accolades

QSR Magazine's annual drive-thru survey of fast-food restaurants has ranked Arby's among its top three finalists. The leading trade publication, along with market research firm Sparagowski & Associates, spearheaded the annual survey based on nearly 16,000 mystery shops of drive-thru's in 49 states. Restaurant drive-thru results were judged on speed, accuracy, menu appearance and speaker clarity.

Arby's "Drive-Thru to Excellence" improved the chain's ranking 10 spots -- from 13th to 3rd -- by emphasizing the FAST concept: Friendly, Accurate, Speedy, and Trusted. In-store kits, which included manuals, videotapes and crew meeting guides, were developed for franchisees and managers. Managers were encouraged to staff veteran employees at the drive-thru window while providing incentives like movie tickets and free meals to employees who successfully embraced and practiced the FAST concept.

Arby's continues to look for ways to improve drive-thru service, including menu board options that speed customers' decisions, as well as developing advanced portable packaging.

Triarc Restaurant Group, a subsidiary of Triarc Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRY), Franchises more than 3,200 single- and co-branded restaurants worldwide, which serve great-tasting, high-quality food in a quick-service environment. System wide sales for 1998 were $2.2 billion.

QSR, the only business journal focused specifically on the quick-service restaurant industry, is read by 14,000 franchisers, franchisees, executive managers, and purchasing personnel across more than 170 quick-service chains nationwide and in Canada.