In the race for satisfying the appetites of Trinidadians (and Tobagonians), one overseas entrant from the Middle East is galloping into local hearts. Gyros are believed to have originated in Greece, but it has found a happy home on Ariapita Avenue and all over T&T. (They’re similar to the döner kebabs of Turkey and shawarma of the Middle East, which are slices of meat, rather than a minced loaf.)
Why have they “stuck” on to the T&T food landscape? Here’s why:
- Great value: for $25tt ($4us) you get tons of protein (some may argue low quality), carbs, vegetables, cheese and other toppings and sauces to ‘create your own’
- The food is ethnic. You feel you are accessing exotic, on the cheap
- It’s everywhere. (Not quite like Coke is “within a breath of desire”, but close enough to where the market needs it to be)
- Gyro’s stands are billboards on steroids. You can spot one from the corner of your eyes
- It’s experiential. The guy serving you has an accent and is normally a generous server (some of them even charming) BTW…How come it’s always a guy? Sometimes they are playing middle-eastern music. The first to add a belly dancer would have to send for more meat loaves
Gyros are doing all the things Mr. Kotler says marketing people should do. They have figured out the secret sauce into local hearts.
