Company 6: Hoss’s Family Steak & Sea house

Competitive advantage

• Hoss appeared on the American daily meal ranking as one of the best casual steakhouse chains in America. This ranking gives the company a priority with shoppers who conduct online research before buying, thus a competitive edge among other competitors.

Strength

• The company has a good relationship with its clients and employees which can be seen as its strength. Hoss "offer's gift cards which are simply the best, easiest, and tastiest way to show pretty much anybody how much you care. "
• The company's cooked-to-order steaks, chicken, and seafood complemented by their famous soup, salad, bread, and dessert bar also stand as a strength.
• The brand focuses on several menu items, this can make it interesting for customers and visitors looking to new restaurants for different options.

Weakness

• The company's website permits online ordering; however, they do not have live customer support on the site for those who wish to make online orders.
• The company does not offer a 24 /7 robust customer support to its customers.
• The company's pricing system is not transparent which can prevent some customers from purchasing from them.

Revenue

• The company has an estimated revenue of $120.74 million. 

Geographical Footprint

• They operate 35 restaurants in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Company 7: Ponderosa & Bonanza Steakhouse

Competitive advantage

• Ponderosa & Bonanza Steakhouse's competitive advantage revolves around its cafeteria style service. The company's "cafeteria-style service keeps labor costs low, and the use of lower-grade meat tenderized with enzymes helped keep food costs low."

Strengths

• The company has quality service and cleanliness program (QSC) supporting each restaurant, through the program the company is analyzed and employee feedback is sought to ensure efficient operations.

• The company has been in the market for around 54 years, with a focus on selling high-quality food, and this enables them to create authenticity, excellent value, and remarkable experiences for customers.

• The company offers an expansive buffet starring a range of dishes and also offers Gift cards, group dining, coupons, and more.

Weakness

• The company has declined the update of its brand or menu alternatives leading to shut down of some locations

• Ponderosa's parent company Metromedia Steakhouses Co filed for bankruptcy leading to the disappearance of many outlets.

Revenue

• The company has an estimated revenue of $17.7 million. 

Geographical Footprint

• The company is located in Puerto Rico several in Egypt, Qatar, Taiwan, and the UAE.

Texas Roadhouse

Competitive Advantage

• Texas Roadhouse has single digit management turnover, a competitive advantage in the restaurant business.
• Another of the company's competitive advantage is that it uses high quality steaks at reasonable prices.

Strengths

• Texas Roadhouse is a recognizable brand with a great following. Customers return for the large portion sizes and great customer service.
• The chain offers training to all its employees, improving employee retention and improving customer service.
• The company has strong revenue numbers and is in a good position financially.

Weaknesses

• The brand focuses on a few menu items, this can mean boredom to customers and more visitors looking to new restaurants for different options.
• The company's profitability ratio and Net Contribution is below the industry standard.

Revenue

• In 2018, Texas Roadhouse reported revenue of $2.46 billion.

Footprint

• Texas Roadhouse has over 460 locations in all states but Hawaii.
•  Internationally, the company has locations in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Philippines, Mexico, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Logan’s Roadhouse

Competitive Advantage

• Logan's Roadhouse's competitive advantage is its laid back atmosphere and claim that it offers an authentic roadhouse experience.

Strengths

• Logan's Roadhouse is famous for its Wood Grilled Steaks and extensive beverage menu.
• The restaurant provides an authentic and locally influenced decor to create a comfortable environment.
• The company has a good online presence. 

Weaknesses

• The brand does not have many features that differentiate it from its competitors.
• Logan's Roadhouse has struggled with financial issues in the past, filing for bankruptcy in 2016.

Revenue

• Logan's Roadhouse as an estimated revenue of $614.3 million.

Footprint

• Logan's Roadhouse has locations in 22 states, and none internationally. Their largest presence is in Texas.

#1 Outback Steakhouse

•  Outback Steakhouse is a casual chain steakhouse, best known for grilled steaks, chicken and seafood, Saltgrass Steakhouse, Hoss’s Family Steak & Sea house,
• Here is a link to the Outback website.
•  Outback Steakhouse has nearly 1,000 locations, twice as many as Longhorn Steakhouse.
• A Market Force survey listed LongHorn Steakhouse in 6th place among America's favorite chain restaurants and Outback close behind at 14th.
•  Outback offers customers an Australian atmosphere to differentiate themselves.
• In the United States, Outback Steakhouse and LongHorn Steakhouse are among the leading steak-centric restaurant chains.

#2 Texas Roadhouse

•  510 locations in 49 states and 17 international locations in 7 countries.
• Texas Roadhouse make everything from scratch, even the bacon bits, croutons and dressings. All employees are bakers and butchers.
• In 2015, they were voted #1 Steak by Nation’s Restaurant News Consumer Picks survey and in 2018, they were ranked as the #1 full-service restaurant by the American Customer SatisfactionIndex (ACSI).
• The link to their website is here.
• In the United States, Texas Roadhouse and LongHorn Steakhouse are the among leading steak-centric restaurant chains.

#3 Logan’s Roadhouse

• Both Logan's and Longhorn Steakhouse were recognized as 2 of America's most iconic steakhouse chains by fsrmagazine.
• There are about 200 Logan's Roadhouse in 23 US states.
• The steaks at Logan’s are all USDA Choice, wet-aged, and hand-cut on site, then grilled with hickory wood.
•  They offer 12, 16, or 20-ounce ribeye, three sizes of sirloin, moonshine-glazed flat iron steak, a 12-ounce New York strip, filet mignon, and a 12 or 16-ounce prime rib.
• Here is the link to the Logan's Roadhouse website.
• Peanut shells can be thrown onto the floor in the restaurant.

#4 Black Angus Steakhouse

•  Black Angus has 44 locations in the United States.

• The brand focuses on aging. Their cuts are aged at least 21 days.
• Here is the link to their website.
• The chain totals $166 million in annual sales.
• They are uniquely willing to evolve their offerings to keep up with trends, like with their signature bowls.
• Black Angus and Longhorn Steakhouse were both among America's best chain steakhouses according to Fox News.

#5 Saltgrass SteakHouse

•  Saltgrass Steakhouse serves certified Angus Beef-brand steaks, seasoned with Saltgrass-7 steak spice and then fresh garlic butter on top.
• There’s top sirloin, prime rib, ribeye, New York strip, porterhouse, filet, and a 24-ounce cowboy ribeye, with additions like Gulf shrimp, mushrooms and onions, and Oscar topping
• They have 70 US locations including in Texas and the Southwest United States.
• The link to the company's website is here.
• Saltgrass Steakhouse and Longhorn were both among America's best chain steakhouses according to Fox News.

#6 Hoss’s Family Steak & Sea house

• Hoss's and Longhorn Steakhouse were both recognized as 2 of America's best casual steakhouse chains by The Daily Meal.
• Here is the link to their website.
• They operate 35 restaurants in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
• The company donates a dollar to the Muscular Dystrophy Association every time a flat iron steak is ordered.
• Hoss's offers thick-cut sirloin, steak tips, ribeye, filet mignon, and double-thick “cleaver cut” sirloin.
• Customers also have access to an unlimited soup, salad, bread, and dessert bar.

#7 Ponderosa & Bonanza Steakhouse

• This is a link to the Ponderosa & Bonanza Steakhouse website.
• There are 75 locations total; including 19 in Puerto Rico several in Egypt, Qatar, Taiwan, and the UAE.
• There offering include different sirloins, ribeyes, a New York strip, T-bones, sirloin tips, and smothered beef tips.
• They also offer customers a popular buffet that features a variety of vegetables, fruits, soups, salads, appetizers, desserts, chicken, beef, seafood, and pasta.
• Ponderosa Steakhouse and Longhorn Steakhouse were both recognized as 2 of America's best casual steakhouse chains by The Daily Meal.

Research Strategy

New Restaurants in 2019

• On August 30, 2019, Cleveland.Com reported that LongHorn Steakhouse would be opening a new restaurant in Avon on September 17.
• On September 17, 2019, Gainesville Times reported that LongHorn Steakhouse had opened a new restaurant in Braselton.
• On September 30, 2019, The Palm Beach Post reported that LongHorn Steakhouse would be opening a new restaurant in Palm Beach Gardens the following day.
• On October 28, 2019, Times Union reported that LongHorn Steakhouse would be opening a new restaurant in Colonie on November 5.

New Restaurants in 2020

• On August 22, 2019, Delaware Online reported that LongHorn Steakhouse would be opening a new restaurant in Talleyville in spring 2020.
• On August 23, 2019, KLTV reported that LongHorn Steakhouse would be opening a new restaurant in Tyler in early 2020.
• On October 18, 2019, Community Impact Newspaper reported that LongHorn Steakhouse would be opening a new restaurant in Fort Worth in early 2020.
• On October 21, 2019, Citizen Times reported that LongHorn Steakhouse would be opening a new restaurant in Asheville in early 2020.

Other News

• On May 29, 2019, Courier Tribune reported that LongHorn Steakhouse had reopened its Liberty/Kansas City North location nearly five months after a fire broke out at the restaurant.
• On November 6, 2019, ABC 17 reported that LongHorn Steakhouse had been cited with two critical violations and one non-critical violation during an inspection conducted on October 30.