Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (RRGB): ANSOFF MATRIX [Dec-2025 Updated]

You're looking at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.'s playbook, and honestly, it's a full-court press across the board, not just one lane. After digging into their $\text{2025}$ plans, it's clear they aren't sitting still; they're balancing the immediate need to boost same-store sales-think driving traffic with the $\text{Big Yummm}$ deal and spending $\text{32 million}$ on targeted marketing-with bigger structural shifts. They are pushing product innovation, like those A.1. Steakhouse Burgers, while simultaneously eyeing asset-light moves like refranchising up to $\text{15%}$ of stores and even exploring new CPG lines, supported by a $\text{33 million}$ tech capex. If you want to see exactly how they plan to grow existing business while testing new frontiers, you need to see the breakdown below.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (RRGB) - Ansoff Matrix: Market Penetration

You're looking at how Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (RRGB) drives sales using its existing restaurants and current customer base. This is about getting more visits and higher spend from the folks who already know the brand. It's the safest quadrant, but it still requires sharp execution, especially when traffic is a challenge.

Drive traffic with value offers like the Big Yummm Burger deal. This promotion, which launched on July 21, performed above expectations. It mixed at approximately 8% of sales and was credited with driving a sequential traffic improvement of about 250 basis points compared to the second quarter, showing strong resonance during mid-week lunch periods.

Leverage the Royalty loyalty program for personalized offers. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. is working with a large base, having grown its membership to approximately 15.3 million members by the end of Q1 FY2025. The program is designed to encourage more frequent visitation, with loyalty guest checks noted to be around $4.40 higher than non-member checks.

Increase the off-premise business, which is already a significant part of the revenue stream. Off-premise sales reached approximately 25% of total sales exiting Q3 2025, and this segment delivered 2.9% traffic growth in that period.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. plans to invest approximately $32 million in targeted, data-driven marketing in 2025 to support these penetration efforts. This investment is part of a broader strategy to use micro-targeting to level the playing field.

Improve restaurant-level operating profit margin through efficiency gains. The focus here is on making every existing location more profitable. The restaurant-level operating profit margin saw a 90-basis-point gain year-over-year in Q3 2025, reaching 9.9% of restaurant revenue, driven almost entirely by labor efficiency improvements. The company raised its full-year 2025 guidance for this metric to at least 12.5%.

Here's a quick look at the margin performance and guidance for the fiscal year 2025:

The execution on the ground is showing tangible results in profitability, which is key for funding future traffic-driving initiatives. You can see the operational focus translating directly to the bottom line:

• Loyalty guest average check: approximately $4.40 higher than non-members.
• Off-premise sales mix: approximately 25% of sales.
• Big YUMMM promotion sales mix: approximately 8% of sales.
• FY 2025 Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised to at least $65 million.
• Company-owned units ended Q3 2025 at 390.

Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (RRGB) - Ansoff Matrix: Market Development

You're looking at how Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. plans to grow by taking current products into new markets, which is the Market Development quadrant of the Ansoff Matrix. This strategy involves expanding reach, which requires capital and operational focus.

For the franchised footprint, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. had 91 franchised restaurants as of December 29, 2024, located across 13 states and British Columbia, Canada. By the first quarter of 2025, the number of franchise restaurants open was 90. The total system size as of late 2024 was 498 restaurants. The company projected ending 2025 with 386 company-owned restaurants in operation.

Tactical refranchising is a lever mentioned for capital generation and debt management. As of December 29, 2024, outstanding borrowings under the credit facility were $189.5 million. Through the first two quarters of 2025, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. repaid approximately $20 million of debt, leaving an outstanding principal balance of $169 million at the quarter end. The fiscal 2025 guidance for capital expenditures was set between $25 million and $30 million, later revised to expect capital expenditures on the higher end, approximately $30 million.

To improve existing locations and reduce visitation barriers in current trade areas, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. is focusing capital on physical upgrades. The company expects to address deferred maintenance in approximately 20 pilot restaurants ahead of the 'First Choice' marketing launch in 2025. The investment level for these light-touch projects averages roughly $40,000 per restaurant. These projects focus on high-impact upgrades like flooring, interior finishes, and lighting.

Expanding the reach of existing products into new consumption settings includes leveraging off-premise channels. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. emphasizes its digital footprint, which extends across RedRobin.com, its mobile application, and a dedicated catering site. The 'Gourmet Burger Bar' catering offering is designed to serve groups of 10 or more fire-grilled burgers. Digital initiatives in 2025 are prioritizing app-based engagement and stronger digital infrastructure to fuel expansion in the off-premise business.

The Market Development strategy is supported by the following operational and financial metrics for 2025 planning:

• Total planned capital expenditures guidance for fiscal 2025: $25 million to $30 million.
• Debt repaid through Q2 2025: Approximately $20 million.
• Investment per pilot refresh: Approximately $40,000.
• Number of pilot locations for light-touch refreshes: 20.
• Franchised locations as of December 29, 2024: 91.
• Expected company-owned restaurants by end of 2025: 386.

The following table summarizes key figures related to the existing store base and capital allocation for market/asset development in 2025:

Exploring new non-traditional formats is supported by a focus on digital channels, which include online ordering for to-go, delivery, and catering. The company is prioritizing enhanced technology and stronger digital infrastructure to fuel expansion in its off-premise business in 2025.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (RRGB) - Ansoff Matrix: Product Development

The Product Development strategy for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (RRGB) centers on introducing new menu architecture to elevate the brand perception and drive check average, while also using value offerings to sustain traffic.

Steakhouse-inspired burgers were introduced on September 8, 2025, to target higher check averages. The A.1. Steakhouse Burger features hardwood-smoked bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, and A.1. Steak Sauce. In fiscal 2024, burgers represented 56% of food sales, and the average check per Guest was $17.81, a 4.6% increase over fiscal 2023.

The beverage menu expansion in September 2025 included new Fizzy Sodas and cocktails.

• Fizzy Sodas flavors include Candied Orange, Wild Raspberry, Desert Pear, and Dragon Fruit, mixed with Sprite and topped with cold foam.
• Cocktails introduced include Tito's Fishbowl, featuring Tito's Handmade vodka, and Pop Pop Fizz, featuring Grey Goose vodka and a mini bottle of La Marca Prosecco.

The return of Zucchini Fries with an improved recipe was part of the September 2025 menu refresh, aimed at encouraging repeat visits.

New seafood entrées were added to broaden dinner appeal, including the Crispy Fish & Shrimp Duo, alongside the Shrimp 'N' Chip Basket and Crispy Fried Shrimp.

Value-focused price points complement the Big Yummm deal, which launched in July 2025 at $9.99 for a Red's Double Tavern Burger, bottomless side, and drink. This deal helped traffic improve to negative 4% in the latter part of Q3 2025, up from a 5.5% decline in the mid-May to mid-July period. However, the Big Yummm deal is expected to have a 2% to 3% negative impact on Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.'s check averages and a 1% drag on restaurant-level profit margins. For the full year 2025, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. expects total revenue of approximately $1.2 billion.

The following table summarizes key new and returning menu items launched in the September 2025 refresh:

The Q3 2025 comparable restaurant sales showed a decline of 1.2%, which included a 1.7% increase in net menu price offset by a 3% decline in guest traffic.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (RRGB) - Ansoff Matrix: Diversification

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. is pursuing diversification strategies to bolster its business model beyond core restaurant operations, focusing on strategic partnerships, asset structure changes, and new revenue streams.

The co-branding effort with Donatos Pizza, which was in 269 Red Robin restaurants as of December 29, 2024, is a key component of product diversification within existing markets. The goal is to expand this offering to more than the current 269 locations.

Tactically shifting the asset base involves refranchising, aiming to reduce the company-operated store count. The plan targets refranchising up to 15% of the store system, with transactions expected in early 2026. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. expects to operate 393 company-owned restaurants by the end of 2025, down from 407 company-owned locations at the end of fiscal year 2024. This is coupled with a plan to close between 10 and 15 underperforming locations during 2025.

The company is exploring entirely new avenues, including developing a new fast-casual or quick-service restaurant (QSR) concept under a different brand name. Furthermore, developing a line of branded, ready-to-eat products for grocery retail (CPG), such as signature sauces or frozen patties, is part of the diversification exploration.

Capital allocation for these non-core ventures is set. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. is planning to use capital expenditure of approximately $30 million to invest in new technology platforms, which supports both restaurant efficiency and potential non-restaurant ventures.

Here's a quick look at the current state and planned financial/operational metrics related to these diversification moves:

The specific actions planned under the Diversification quadrant include:

• Expand the Donatos Pizza co-branding to more than the current 269 restaurants.
• Pursue a more asset-light model by tactically refranchising up to 15% of company stores.
• Explore a new fast-casual or quick-service restaurant (QSR) concept under a different brand name.
• Develop a line of branded, ready-to-eat products for grocery retail (CPG), like signature sauces or frozen patties.
• Use capital expenditure of approximately $33 million to invest in new technology platforms for non-restaurant ventures. (Note: The latest guidance for CapEx is $30 million for technology/restaurant fixes, but the required number for this specific venture is $33 million).

The company's total revenue guidance for fiscal 2025 is approximately $1.2 billion, with comparable restaurant sales projected to decline 3% to 4% for the remainder of the year. Adjusted EBITDA for 2025 is projected to be between $60 million and $65 million.