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For fast casual chains, competition includes usual suspects like casual dining and QSRs as well as c-stores and grocery chains who are ramping up foodservice offerings to capitalize on the trading down trend. Sitting in a pricing sweet spot, FCRs have an opportunity to win share from both QSRs and casual restaurants.
With big-box retailers closing up shop, more than 140 million square feet of desirable retail space has become available, presenting the opportunity for restaurants such as fast-casual concepts to expand their businesses. In more recent years, there's been a wider adoption of fast-casual concepts. Has it evolved?
This trend of using unique glassware to showcase specialty drinks and cocktails is growing in both fine dining and casual establishments across the country. Cut and hand-blown glass for old-school charm, a trend that continues to be popular among fine and casual establishments alike.
Fast food and casual dining are currently seeing higher traffic. When they do eat out, they're often choosing cheaper options. Budget-Friendly Focus : There's a rise in diners seeking out cheaper restaurants, value deals, and discounts.
Building on the company’s 2022 tour, this year’s research included six markets – Tampa, FL; Los Angeles, CA; Austin, TX; Portland, OR; Denver, CO; and New York City, NY – spanning 45 diverse casual dining, polished casual, fine dining, and cocktail bars.
Examples of brands successfully reaching Gen Z include: Chili’s : Everyone’s favorite 90’s casual dining chain is back and better than ever, thanks to smart, targeted marketing efforts, menu streamlining, and a renewed focus on executing the fundamentals of hospitality.
Sales in the segment far exceeded industry trends, boosted by growth brands like Chipotle, Wingstop, Raising Cane's and Jersey Mike's Subs. But some brands were left behind.
“AI should be introduced where it adds the most value—fast food and fast casual restaurants can benefit from kiosks and automated ordering, while full-service restaurants should focus on enhancing hospitality and personal service rather than automation,” said Fink.
Fine dining venues benefit from understated elegance through embroidered logos on professional attire, while fast-casual concepts can leverage more dynamic graphics and color palettes to reflect their energetic atmosphere. Strategic use of color should inform uniform design decisions.
When customers can pay quickly and without friction, it enhances their experience and shortens wait times, leading to improved customer satisfaction—particularly in fast-casual settings where speed is essential. According to Statista , the global online food delivery market size was valued at $151.5
After successfully opening a second location in Kernersville, NC, and planning for a third one, the fast-casual gourmet slider brand has started franchising and plans to grow strategically in the Southeast region. Most recently, he co-founded Sammy's Sliders with chef Sammy Gianopoulos.
based diners who recently ordered from a QSR, fast-food or fast-casual chai also found that value is about more than just price. Guests are significantly pulling back their discretionary spending, which is directly influencing when, how, and what they choose to order at quick-service and fast-casual restaurants.
" While dining out, GLP-1 users skew their dollar spend toward quick-service restaurants, but they shift toward grocery foodservice, casual dining, and midscale restaurants during their first year on the medications, the report found.
Restaurant industry challenges are pushing operators to be more creative and efficient with many opting for more multifunctional spaces – especially in a fast-casual setting. At Maria Empanada, a fast-casual Latin concept the team is working on right now, the to-go boxes are artfully displayed, blending function and branding seamlessly.
For high-volume restaurants, whether it's a fast-casual spot in New York or a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris, automation isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about stability. A well-run kitchen means fewer mistakes, less staff burnout, and better guest experiences.
If you visit a casual dining pizza chain near your office, you expect fast service and a good pizza at a consistent and affordable price. Customers are more likely to justify a higher price that is also higher than the added cost of the extra ingredient.
Over time, I transitioned into the fast casual space, where I now lead Fast Fresh Brands, which includes Bee Healthy Cafe and Nature’s Table. What sets us apart is our commitment to offering healthy, fresh meals in a fast-casual environment that doesn’t feel niche or exclusive.
So much data is generated at every point within a restaurant, whether fast casual or fine dining. – Sarah Moore, CMO of Cracker Barrel Chef Driven Fast Casual Chef driven fast casual restaurants feed consumers’ desires for high quality menu items delivered quickly and on the go and will continue to gain momentum.
There may be many reasons for this, including the fact that QSRs' fast, casual, and affordable nature may appeal to younger generations and individuals whose eating habits have changed post-pandemic. In 2025, QSRs should continue adapting to changing consumer habits, focusing on speed and convenience.
This represents a larger increase than those increasing visits to fast-casual (14 percent) or full-service (11 percent) restaurants and is on par with those visiting QSRs more frequently (24 percent) ( RMS Q1 2025 Dining report ). The 2,000 U.S.
Additionally, he launched Big Chicken, a fast-casual concept that combines his love for comfort food with high-quality ingredients. Shaqs hands-on involvement in branding and expansion has made Big Chicken a rising player in the competitive fast-casual market.
As the fast-casual Dave's moves into its next level of growth with a $1 billion private-equity deal, some see an IPO in its future. But can the chain maintain the magic that brought it this far?
based architecture and design firm / /3877, newly-available real estate offers prime locations and cheaper rent for fast casual restaurants such as taco shops and upscale burger joints. This has led to a growing appeal for unique dining experiences and fast-casual concepts. According to the hospitality experts at Washington D.C.-based
percent) than they do in casual restaurants (16.5 Tipping on fast casual is going strong : In spite of the “tipflation” backlash, diners haven’t stopped tipping in fast casual restaurants, though the median tip size is still hovering under 9 percent—well below the 17.32 percent at fast casual restaurants.
How Design Technology Improves Space and Guest Experience Every square foot counts when redesigning a fast-casual eatery or a fine dining venue. Whether emulating a fine dining experience, refurbishing a fast-casual concept, or adapting to new food trends, 3D modeling empowers you to execute your vision confidently and clearly.
But it wasn’t quite so bad for fast-casual concepts , which outpaced other categories with 9% growth in 2024, according to Technomic. Fast-casual chicken chains, including Dave’s Hot Chicken, saw double-digit sales growth, while fast-casual pizza continued to falter. Segment leader Chipotle Mexican Grill rose to No.
Kiosks Are Coming for Fast Casual Here’s a stat that might surprise you: 62% of brands are using or rolling out kiosks in 2025. While QSRs lead at 80%, fast casual is catching up quickly. The takeaway: “Kiosks are coming to fast casual. But success requires smart kitchen design and careful attention to guest flow.
In cities like New York, you’ll find eateries that mirror the bistro’s casual sophistication, while Tokyo’s intimate wine bars reflect a similar ethos of warmth and simplicity. Similarly, the rise of casual fine dining echoes the bistro’s knack for blending refinement with accessibility.
For casual dining habits at restaurants like Olive Garden: 56 percent said they ate at casual restaurants frequently or occasionally. 29 percent said they rarely ate at casual restaurants. More likely to occasionally eat at casual restaurants. When we asked about fast food: 29 percent said they eat fast food frequently.
Creating pieces that look great in a casual or nightlife setting. For instance: Apparel : T-shirts and hoodies with clean, bold designs that reflect our logo and color palette, while incorporating current and retro pop culture.
A trendy, fast-casual spot will likely need very different content than a fine dining experience. Prioritize Brand Fit The best content creators feel like an extension of your team. Ensure their tone, aesthetic, and values align with your restaurants vibe.
This is especially important to 90 percent of fine dining operators and 87 percent of casual dining operators. The majority of operators say increasing traffic on-site and getting diners back in their seats will be more important to their restaurant's success in 2025.
But the fast casual's CEO Jonathan Neman sees room for 1,000 Sweetgreens domestically, tapping technology that he says will help beat competitors on price. Labor costs are expected to continue to rise across the industry.
Salad is rising as the next drive-thru concept The fast-casual Greenlane is plotting growth across Florida with investor and NFL star Rob Gronkowski working the drive-thru window. But Tampa-based Greenlane is among a growing number of fast-casual concepts making freshly prepared salads a drive-thru option. By Lisa Jennings on Jun.
And for more casual outdoor setups – think outdoor bars, beer gardens, or counter-service patios – QR code ordering is a no-brainer. Fewer mistakes, faster ticket times, and higher check averages. That’s more revenue with less labor, and for restaurants operating on slim margins that’s essential.
A Technomic Ignite Consumer report found a significant increase in average checks at both quick service and fast casual establishments. There was a nearly 8% increase in average check at quick service and a whopping 15% increase at fast casual establishments when kiosks were used for orders rather than employees.
A rendering of Perkins Griddle & Go fast-casual concept. Simultaneously, the company also created a fast-casual version of Perkins called Griddle & Go, another nod to younger, on-the-go customers. News food drink Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains.
At the same time, QSRs and fast casual establishments are turning to technology to improve operations and customer interactions as they continue to increase output. Take fast casual and drive-thru for example. For fast casual and QSRs, is your menu up to date? Technology is one way to make this happen.
Fast casual and casual dining restaurants are in the middle ground, between $83 and $125 of paid CAC. In fast food and fast-casual restaurants, where customer turnover is high, and meals are relatively inexpensive, businesses often aim for a lower CAC, ideally lower than $27.
The fast casual restaurant segment has seen tremendous success and growth in recent years. CREST®, while overall restaurant traffic was down four percent in 2022 compared to 2019, fast casual traffic was up nine percent. Why should fast casuals work on improving with young families? According to Circana, Inc./CREST®,
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