• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.179-188
• /
• 2010

In order to aide in the design of an improved menu book, which could play an important role as a marketing tool, the current version of the menu books and managers (subjects) of 295 restaurants in the Incheon area were examined. These were managers of Korean (36.3%), Western (25.8%), Japanese (14.6%), cafeteria (12.5%) and Chinese (10.8%) style restaurants. The level of service (self-evaluation, 3-point scale) was average $2.25{\pm}0.45$. The general colorings of the menu books were green (19.0%), brown (18.6%), black (17.6%), yellow (15.9%), red (13.6%) and blue (13.2%). The material of the menu book cover was mainly leather (35.9%), and the internal material was mainly coated paper (59.7%). Physically, the design was two-panel fold (38.3%), two-panel multi-page (35.6%), die style (10.2%), single panel (8.1%) and tent style (7.8%). The type sizes were unchanged in 49.9% of the menu books and in 61.7% photos were not used. 53.9% of menu books did not explain the menus, and 13.2% did not classify the items into groups. Emphasis of profit-making menus was not done in 66.8%. 51.5% of menu books were irreplaceable in parts. The emphasis of profit-making menus was less among the Korean style restaurants (p<0.001). The possibility of partial replacement of menu books was lower in both Korean and Chinese restaurants (p<0.001). The explanation of the items was lower in the Japanese restaurants (p<0.001). The classification of items into groups was lower in cafeteria (p<0.001). In cases in which there were both seasonal and event menus, the possibility of partial replacements of menu books was higher (p<0.001). Restaurants of which service level was less than ordinary were lower in the differentiation of type sizes (p<0.001), the use of photos (p<0.001), the explanation of menus (p<0.001), the classification of menus by groups (p<0.05), the emphasis of profit-making menus (p<0.001) and the possibility of partial replacement of menu books (p<0.001). If these study findings are applied to the designing of menu books, the role of the menu book as an important tool for marketing could be greatly improved.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.253-265
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the designs of the menu books as an important tool of marketing and then present its improvement strategies. For this, the investigator comparatively examined the current status of menu book designs of the restaurants in Incheon area with 295 managers and then analyzed menu book designs by its designers. Menu book designers were printing houses (42.0%), specialized business (31.9%) and managers/employees (26.1%). 51.5% of menu books were impossible to substitute partially. Even there were seasonal menus or event menus, 27.5% of them were impossible to replace menu books partially; therefore, it was impossible to take a prompt action for seasonal or event menus. The easiness of understanding the terminology in menu books was average $2.74{\pm}0.45$(3-point scale). The harmony of menu book design with restaurants was average $2.46{\pm}0.51$ (3-point scale). Comparing to the menu books designed in specialized business, the menu books designed in printing houses or by managers/employees were uniform in type sizes (p < 0.001), had no menu photos (p < 0.001) and explanations (p < 0.001), and did not classify menus by groups (p < 0.001) in general. In addition, profit-making menus were not properly emphasized (p < 0.001), thus making the design of menu books a little improper. Therefore, it is necessary to educate managers in the restaurants to understand the importance of menu books and thus improve it. In addition, by maintaining close communication with designers of menu books, managers in the restaurants must ensure for their menu books to be designed appropriately, thus making their menu books play the role of an important marketing tool.