Italy isn't a huge country in terms of size, but the same simply cannot be said for its culinary offerings. Few other countries can match the flavors and textures that have been created from Italy's history.

Campania. Sure it's known as the birthplace of the Neapolitan pizza, but this popular culinary area in Italy creates some of the most delicious veggies in all of Italy - and some may argue that the vegetable dishes that come from this region compete on the world stage. Add in some delectable seafood that's always caught locally (think squid, cuttlefish, mussels and clams) and we're talking about a culinary destination that has to be seen, or tasted, to be believed.

It’s safe to say that restaurants have been around far longer than TV commercials to promote them. But TV has played a major role in the success of many restaurants. Big, international chains as well as smaller local brands know the importance of exposure and are turning to TV (and now YouTube and other media channels) to promote their brands with the goal of increased revenue.

Setting all the extraneous internal marketing aside, we’re going to focus this post on the part where a restaurant brand (or its marketing agency) reaches out to production companies with a brief in order to get proposals.

Ok, jumping right in…

Sometimes, certain marketing promotions pay off big-time for QSR and fast-casual restaurant operators. This kind of success can make it tempting to re-use those same promotions or marketing tactics. But there comes a point where this strategy may backfire - in a big way.

Take Burger King, for example. With same-store sales slumping (down 0.5%) across the USA and Canada leadership at the brand need only look to one place in particular:

Cheetos Chicken Fries.

While the predecessors to the Cheetos Chicken Fries (Chicken Fries and Mac ‘n Cheetos) made a relatively decent splash in the market, the latest iteration of the fries fell flat. Very flat, in fact.

For decades, Dairy Queen has been known for its quality desserts. The brand’s soft-serve ice cream has been a staple in the United States for decades and is a beloved treat on hot summer days (and even on winter days if you live in the right climate.) But as with most companies, Dairy Queen has seen a tremendous opportunity for growth by adding to their menu in a way that makes them more versatile.