Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

Faced with rising labor costs and increasingly price-sensitive customers, restaurant brands are exploring new ways to balance profitability with consumer expectations. Perception : Anticipating price variability made consumers feel less fairly treated. Reframe the consumer perspective from loss to gain.

Pricing

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 31, 2025

With increased sales as the top priority, more than 40 percent of operators plan to increase their budgets for promotions and marketing, particularly for off-premise dining, which remains one of the most significant shifts in consumer preferences post-pandemic. Baked Goods and N/A Beverages saw growth in 2025. percent on July 12.

2025

Restaurant Business

JUNE 27, 2025

She’s a former New Yorker and he’s originally from New Jersey, and there just weren’t a lot of good bagel shops near their home in Central Florida. Jeff would make bagel runs to find one good enough for his wife, often driving a great distance, he said. Finally, his wife said, “Why don’t you learn how to make bagels?”

Fast Casual

SpotOn

DECEMBER 11, 2024

Fast casual restaurants are popping up faster than you can say "build your own grain bowl." " They're somewhere between a full-service casual dining restaurant and a quick-service restaurant or fast food chain. Looking for tips on starting your fast casual restaurant?

Fast Casual

Restaurant Business

AUGUST 11, 2025

Ruben Perez’s father was a chef from Cuba, and he was a good one. I thought, let’s do a fast-casual version of what I’ve done, from the Cuban restaurant, to the bakery to the coffee shop. And I love really good coffee. He said Zaza taps into the trends of today’s consumer. By Lisa Jennings on Aug. He opened a bakery.

Fast Casual

Restaurant Business

JUNE 6, 2025

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. By Heather Lalley on Jun. The firm has taken a 5.2%

Fast Casual

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 30, 2025

Additionally, consumers continue to favor delivery transactions, which are up by 383 percent since 2020. In recent years, consumer behaviors have drastically changed to now preferring delivery services and an increased willingness to pay a premium for a seamless experience. billion in 2024 and is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 3.74

Fast Casual

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Consumer behavior is constantly evolving. A casual brunch spot in a college town will attract a different crowd than a high-end steakhouse in a business district. Consumer insights: Beyond the basics, think about why people dine at your restaurant. Diners dont choose restaurants the way they used to. Study your competition.

2025

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 24, 2024

These trends are driven by Millennial and Gen Z consumers, who are more willing to pay a premium for sustainable products; those consumers also tend to be more online and acutely aware of the impact of business practices on the lives of people and the future of the planet. Is It Worth It?

Certification

Restaurant Business

JUNE 17, 2025

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.

Fast Casual

Restaurant Business

JUNE 11, 2025

The Atlanta-based company is hoping that more modern food and restaurants will help its brands break through with younger consumers. 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.

Fast Casual

Restaurant Business

AUGUST 8, 2025

We’re really feeling good about the core business and we just launched more innovation.” Papa Pairings menu, helped drive sales among higher-spending and value consumers. Papa Johns introduced a new Cheddar Crust in the quarter. That, plus a $6.99 Penegor took over as CEO last year and wants to shift more marketing back to local.

Fast Casual

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 31, 2025

The research found that businesses worldwide – particularly restaurants – intend to experiment more in 2025, especially with customer retention programs like loyalty, as they face the triple challenge of sustained high inflation, shrinking consumer wallets and the need to raise prices across the board.

Marketing

ChowNow

APRIL 11, 2025

Online reviews have become one of the most influential factors in how consumers choose where to eat, especially for independent restaurants. Its not just about good food anymoreits about trust, reputation, and visibility. This data highlights the significant impact of online reviews on consumer behavior and restaurant success.

Online Ordering

Restaurant Business

AUGUST 5, 2025

That’s good news for restaurants, said Cindy Klein Roche, chief growth officer for ezCater, a platform that connects workplaces with dining concepts. Hint: The menu matters a lot. By Patricia Cobe and Bret Thorn on Aug. 05, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn The average workplace catering order size is up 12% to about $420.

Catering

Restaurant Business

JUNE 17, 2025

17, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Convenience-store pizza edged out chain pizza in a survey of consumer taste preferences. What’s more, 72% of consumers said they now see convenience stores as a “real alternative” to quick-service restaurants, up from 56% last year and 45% in 2022, Intouch Insight said. By Heather Lalley on Jun.

Food

Future Food

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Despite the challenges posed by rising living costs and shifting consumer spending patterns, the food and hospitality sector continues to adapt to meet the needs and wants of consumers in Australia. From the rise of AI to the increasing popularity of experiential dining, businesses are adapting creatively to meet new consumer demands.

Hospitality

Restaurant Business

JULY 29, 2025

29, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn The Farmstand Fresh & Affordable Menu offers six Dipping Boxes, starting at $9.99 | Photos courtesy of Farmer Boys Combo meals are a dime a dozen these days, as chains strive to deliver the value cash-strapped consumers are demanding. By Patricia Cobe on Jul.

Menu

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Deploying training to enhance operators and guest experience is key, especially as restaurant operators expect continued shifts in consumer preferences and employee turnover challenges, with 39 percent of those surveyed seeing turnover in the 11 percent to 25 percent range. and $18.67

Franchise

Restaurant Business

JULY 16, 2025

Photos courtesy of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill With nine locations in Florida, fast-casual Lime Fresh Mexican Grill is David to Taco Bell’s Goliath. “My In the first week, Lime Fresh sold over 300 pizzas with no marketing, “which is pretty good for a taco stand,” said Pavano. By Patricia Cobe on Jul.

Menu

Restaurant Business

JUNE 13, 2025

Private-equity firm Savory Fund made a major investment in casual-dining chain Hawkers Asian Street Food. Consumers still want great in-store experiences, even if they don’t always use them. Starbucks’ latest gambit to improve operations? Giving store managers ownership over testing early-stage ideas and sharing the results systemwide.

Operations

Restaurant Business

JUNE 24, 2025

Probably not The Bottom Line: The fast-casual Mexican chain remains a shockingly good value and its first-quarter sales slowdown was not out of the ordinary. Among fast-casual chains, the slowdown was more pronounced. None of this isn’t to say that there aren’t potential issues with the fast-casual chain.

Fast Casual

Restaurant Business

JULY 25, 2025

Photo: Shutterstock Value, convenience and food quality are the three big drivers that will draw consumers into a restaurant for breakfast. . Photo: Shutterstock Value, convenience and food quality are the three big drivers that will draw consumers into a restaurant for breakfast. By Patricia Cobe on Jul.

Mobile Ordering

The Rail

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

By Sierra Powell, Contributor Running a profitable restaurant calls for much more than just presenting good cuisine. A good impression will also come from making sure the restaurant is kept in good condition with spotless tables, flooring, and restrooms. Special events can make an average eating experience remarkable.

Customer Service

Restaurant Business

JUNE 25, 2025

Fast-casual Panera Bread has been going through significant change over the past two years, with multiple board and leadership changes. News leadership Fast_Casual Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. Sign up here.

Leadership

Lavu

JUNE 20, 2025

Below, we share some of the best, most useful restaurant technologies to improve sales and streamline time-consuming tasks (like recording temperature). The good news is that now you can. That’s not the only good thing about a digital ordering system. Honeygrow is the first company to try this technology with restaurants.

Technology

ChowNow

JUNE 27, 2025

Google gives priority to listings with more visuals Ask happy diners to leave reviews and respond to every one , good or bad—it shows you’re active and paying attention Use Google Posts to highlight events, seasonal items, or limited-time offers Make sure your categories are accurate (e.g., Add high-quality photos.

Website Management

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

.” According to a 2024 global survey by Lightspeed, 45 percent of consumers are taking part in solo sit-down meals, and a further 34 percent categorize the experience as a form of self care – citing the peace and quiet of the meal and the opportunity to partake in people-watching as top priorities to get out of the experience.

Customer Experience

Restaurant Business

JULY 15, 2025

Chris Tomasso, CEO of First Watch, and Barry McGowan, CEO of Fogo de Chao, are both joining a new board for Hawkers Asian Street Food, the casual-dining chain Savory acquired last month. It’s such a good business,” Smith said in an interview last month. “It By Jonathan Maze on Jul. Photo courtesy of Hawkers Asian Street Food.

Leadership

Black Box Intelligence

JULY 16, 2025

Comp Traffic In This Issue: The Big Picture: Sales and Traffic Trends Segment Focus: Fine Dining Best vs Worst: Region, Segment, and Cuisine Staffing Turnover Review: Full Service June 2025 Restaurant Industry Trends The Big Picture: Sales and Traffic Trends Consumers grew more optimistic in June, breaking a five-month streak of declining sentiment.

2025

Restaurant Business

JULY 22, 2025

It’s good to provide data. The good news for Crumbl, however, is that the company’s profitability did improve in 2024, and by quite a bit. For instance, in 2023 the median store generated a net profit of $114,549, compared with the $122,955 average. But at least pick a representative store. Or publish the actual median.

Franchise

Restaurant Business

JUNE 6, 2025

The eight-unit fast-casual concept Off The Hook Restaurants is beefing up its executive team as it plans growth in Louisiana. Have consumers moved on? She also led a turnaround at Jamba as vice president of operations, and spent 14 years with Starbucks, rising to director of business operations. Blaze is now based in Atlanta.

Fast Casual

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 11, 2025

. – Jackie Abril-Carlile, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Culinary Instructo r and Executive chef and general manager at North Mountain Brewing Everything Has Changed At the onset of COVID, most fast casual restaurants went from primarily dine-in business to mostly takeout and delivery models.

Loyalty Program

Lavu

JUNE 26, 2025

70% of consumers would rather order from a custom app than a third-party app, via Hospitality Tech. 25% of consumers spend more on off-premise orders. To ensure good information is online, it is important to ‘claim your business’ and update the profile. It’s good for customers, and it’s good for business.

Mobile Ordering

Future Food

MARCH 6, 2025

So where are consumers spending on food and hospitality? The good news is that wont be felt by all, not uniformly across all the categories and individual F&B operators. However, as the cost-of-living crisis deepened, consumer spending patterns shifted. What about the bulk of the market in the middle?

Fast Casual

Black Box Intelligence

MAY 21, 2025

Out of the Box: April 2025 In This Issue: The Big Picture: Sales and Traffic Trends April 2025 Restaurant Industry Performance Trends In Detail Segment Focus Fast Casual: Current Performance Trends 1.1% So a tough economic environment – not just for restaurants but the majority of consumer-focused businesses. Comp Sales -1.5%

2025

Paper Chase Accountancy

JULY 25, 2025

Restaurants and Food Service: Including fine dining, fast casual, QSRs, cafes, and catering. COGS Tracking and Vendor Payment Cycles For restaurants and many other hospitality businesses, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) is a major expense. Spoilage and waste management: Identifying and minimizing losses from perishable goods.

Hospitality