Wield a Spatula and a Mop

A fast-food outlet can’t compete with a fancy restaurant where the kitchen is concerned. It can, however, have as clean a restroom. And, as a new Maritz Poll makes clear, people care almost as much about the restrooms as they do about the food when forming their opinion of fast-food eateries. (See the chart.) Maybe commercials should stop showing the chains’ food—which often looks ghastly on TV anyway—and showcase their sparkling restrooms instead. The poll found widespread indifference to fast feeders’ value/combo meals (cited as important by 27 percent of respondents), kids’ play areas (17 percent) and promotional giveaways (11 percent).