Gyudon is what we do

A footnote to the news on the US beef import ban; Yoshinoya's various gyudon alternatives (pork curry, fish, chicken, etc.) are hitting its outlets now, but the company is also emphasizing that these are a stopgap and that it will take them off the menu when the beef supply resumes.

Interesting that rather than take the opportunity to explore broadening their repertoire a bit (is gyudon not a commodity product by now?), they are opting to stick to their guns. After all, if customers think that the new dishes are just temporary and have been cobbled together, they'll surely avoid them and opt for gyudon instead, meaning that a strategy aimed at prolonging existing beef stocks could backfire noisily.

[Via the Nikkei Shimbun]