Too Many Choices Hurts a Restaurant

McDonald's is checking the number of items twice for Christmas as they're testing fewer items on the menu.  And this is long overdue.

Too many items on the menu worries the consumer.  If you see dozens of items on the menu, you immediately wonder:  is there enough turnover on the meal I'm ordering?  No one wants food poisoning.

If you ever watch those restaurant makeover shows, the chefs tell the restaurant owners over and over again to offer a tight menu of a few items.  It builds confidence in the consumer and reliability grows for those food items.

What McDonald's is doing in testing a limited, more focused menu should be adopted by restaurant owners who are confusing their patrons.  I've seen menus that go on for pages and pages.  It's confusing and worrisome.

The bottom line is building consumer confidence while increasing profits.  Without profit, there is no business.