by Ann Withanee — November 29, 2010—A recent Cintas Corporation survey revealed that dirty dishes, unpleasant odor and dirty restrooms are the top reasons consumers would never return to a restaurant.
The survey was conducted by telephone by Harris Interactive among more than 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older.
“Consumers have many dining options and it’s critical for restaurant owners to provide a pleasant atmosphere to attract and retain patrons,” said Brian Garry, Senior Director, Cintas Foodservice. “This research confirms that maintaining a clean environment is mandatory to provide a satisfying dining experience.”
When asked what experiences would make adults likely to never eat at a restaurant again, they reported as follows:
- Unclean Dishware – 86%
- Unpleasant Odors – 85%
- Dirty Restrooms – 75%
- Unclean Tables – 74%
- Poor Service – 74%
- Dirty Floors – 68%
- Poor Staff Appearance – 65%
- Dirty Glass and Windows – 51%
- Unpleasant Odors – 85%
In addition, the survey discovered that 86 percent of U.S. adults equate the cleanliness of a restaurant’s restroom with the cleanliness of its kitchen. Even the most pristine kitchens can be negatively perceived if a restaurant does not have a proper restroom maintenance program in place.
For more information visit the Cintas Web site.
