BBQ and Branding Done Right

BBQ restaurants are a dime a dozen. However ones that get it right...I mean the sort of place that you will go out of your way for, again, again and again...deserve special mention. But when you consider that they get the whole Branding thing too...well, that calls for a post on my blog.

Moes's Original BBQ, www.moesoriginalbbq.com, located in Colorado and Alabama, features a menu of down home hospitality and rich flavor. They serve up a unique, all things Southern, BBQ experience.

What separates them from most BBQ establishments is that they smoke all meats daily. Not stopping there, they also prepare numerous Southern side dishes, rotating daily to add to the experience. Believe me, this is the real deal. Southern cooking at its best; I swear Mama is in the kitchen cooking up the banana pudding. Creating a unique menu, atmosphere and taste, Moe’s offers a relaxed, spontaneous, soulful and civilized (sometimes) environment.

Here's where I applaud Moe's. The three owners know what their brand is, understand what makes them unique AND, most importantly, how to deliver on that promise to customers. A brand message and experience must ring true with consumers and be consistently delivered upon to stay strong.

From the time you walk in the door til the time you finish the last bite of the pulled pork sandwich, the Alabama BBQ experience comes through. The food is always the same great taste and quality. Second, no matter if the location is Vail or Birmingham, the casual, warm Southern hospitality shines through. The three owners make sure that the brand personality is represented in all aspects from the company's website and restaurant decor to the menu and customer experience.

Moe's is the real deal. Mike Fernandez, Ben Gilbert and Jeff Kennedy met at the University of Alabama. Originating in Tuscaloosa, AL in 1988, the seeds for Moe’s Original Bar-B-Que were planted when Mike hooked up with Moses Day and began learning the process of fire roasting meats. Using fruitwood and hitting the meat with two different sauces, the trio knew they were onto something special. This distinct BBQ flavor later became the foundation for which Moe’s Alabama recipe is built upon.

From humble beginnings, catering out of a small fire pit and selling roadside BBQ out of a concession trailer, big things were about to come. Sharing a common love for the mountains, Fernandez, Gilbert and Kennedy eventually landed in Vail, further refining the Moe’s style. Soon after arriving in CO, the three opened a carry out restaurant in Lionshead Village at the base of Vail Mountain.

Since the carry out location in Lionshead, Moe's has expanded to Eagle, CO, Orange Beach and Birmingham, AL, all the while making sure the Moe's BBQ brand is carried out to the high standards up held at the mountain locations.

The strong brand created by Moe's is helping them grow. This month they open their first restaurant in Denver. From 3295 S. Broadway, just a few doors down from the Gothic Theatre, Moe’s will be open for lunch, dinner and catering.

For those of you in Denver, I encourage you to not only come down for some fantastic BBQ, but also a lesson in creating a strong brand. If you're not in the Mile High City, check out this clip and see for yourself; branding done right. http://vail.plumtv.com/videos/local_flavor_jason_frequents_moes



Learn how we can build your brand and create buzz for your company at www.create-buzz.com.