After distinguishing itself in the 1990s as a cut above fast food and peaking at 1200 stores, it attempted to compete with those brands by holding its costs down – a move that ultimately led to a reduction in quality.
Grocery stores, too, ate Boston Market’s lunch as they began adding rotisserie chickens to their expanding prepared-meal aisles. Essentially, Boston Market became a victim of its own success. After helping to popularize the roasted, whole chickens – in some cases, introducing the concept to consumers – the chain eventually saw the likes of Costco serve up the same things, for far cheaper leading to its demise in 1998.
