Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 14, 2025

The report found that loyalty is eroding as brands worked hard to offer new limited time offers, value meals, upgraded loyalty programs, and digital innovations. based diners who recently ordered from a QSR, fast-food or fast-casual chai also found that value is about more than just price. The survey of 1,500 U.S.-based

Loyalty Program

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 17, 2025

There is an opportunity for restaurant operators who want to embrace the GLP-1 movement by focusing on portion sizes and crafting "GLP-1-friendly”menu items, Sally Lyons Wyatt, global executive vice president and chief advisor, Circana, told Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine. "By

Beverage

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 13, 2025

Trend-driven yet deeply value-conscious, they want personalized nutrition, ethical sourcing, and innovative packaging. Restaurants that offer diverse and innovative menu options can attract this group. Gen Z isn’t just eating out; they’re building relationships with brands that reflect who they are.

Social Media

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 9, 2025

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. Technology – and especially AI – is already reshaping how restaurants operate, and that impact is only going to grow.

Loyalty Program

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 30, 2024

In a recent report shared by TouchBistro on the State of the Restaurant Industry for 2025, data provides key insights into a year marked by both significant hurdles and notable resilience for the restaurant franchising industry and quick-service restaurant (QSR) operators.

Loyalty Program

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 31, 2025

The vast majority, 65 percent, of those businesses experiencing rising labor and recruiting cost challenges said their primary response has been operating below full capacity, while 19 percent said they limited operating hours to manage the shortage and increased cost.

2025

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 22, 2025

Furthermore, CAD supports the design-build lifecycle and maintenance, ensuring continuity and precision from the initial concept to the daily operation of the completed restaurant. How Design Technology Improves Space and Guest Experience Every square foot counts when redesigning a fast-casual eatery or a fine dining venue.

Design

Restaurant Business

JULY 25, 2025

Meanwhile, dine-in visits have increased in fast-casual and fast-food restaurants, while takeout and drive-in orders are down. Operators can capitalize on this trend by encouraging add-ons and unique beverages to compete with the growing number of specialty coffee and tea concepts. By Patricia Cobe on Jul.

Mobile Ordering

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 16, 2025

The agency has grown from a one-woman operation to a team of nine with clients across the U.S. So when we develop a brand’s marketing strategy, we take into consideration operational factors.” Operators are maximizing revenue through delivery, private events, ghost kitchens, catering, and branded merchandise.

Marketing

Restaurant Business

JULY 2, 2025

Fast-casual Condado Tacos—which prefers calling itself “next-gen casual”—has long had a bar program with a selection of conventional margaritas and beers to go with its Mexican-style menu and vibe. Joe was like a mad scientist in the innovation lab,” added Sarah Kear, CMO of 52-location Condado Tacos. “We

Fast Casual

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 15, 2025

I came into the food industry after building a strong background in business strategy and operations. 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. I want our brands to be recognized as leaders in healthy, fast-casual dining.

Fast Casual

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 9, 2025

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.

Fine Dining

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 27, 2025

AI investments in customer experience are generating impact with 52 percent of brands and 84 percent of operators surveyed currently seeing high customer experience impact. Deloitte examines what is driving value, perceived challenges, and organizational readiness to scale AI effectively. Regionally, differences arose.

Loyalty Program

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 18, 2024

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked restaurant industry experts for their views on what trends and challenges owners and operators can expect to see in 2025. So much data is generated at every point within a restaurant, whether fast casual or fine dining. For the first part, click here and for the second part, click here.

2025

Restaurant Business

JUNE 13, 2025

Starbucks’ latest gambit to improve operations? Private-equity firm Savory Fund made a major investment in casual-dining chain Hawkers Asian Street Food. By Heather Lalley on Jun. 13, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Upscale soup dumpling chain Din Tai Fung has the industry’s highest average unit volumes.

Operations

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

Independent restaurants are at a pivotal moment, as the industry confronts multiple challenges including inflation, cost volatility, and extreme weather and adapts to an increasingly complex operating environment, according to the findings of the The James Beard Foundation® (JBF) 2025 Independent Restaurant Industry Report.

2024

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

innovative and unique marketing strategies and 3. What are the operational challenges of pursuing international expansion? DG: I believe potential operational challenges could derive from keeping up with the ever evolving global policies and regulations. Strong business model 2. a clear identity.

Franchise

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 14, 2025

But looking back, the decision to launch Ursa was a natural evolution of our belief that creativity, operational excellence, and heartfelt hospitality could transform any space, no matter how humble. Lighting needed to shift the mood from casual to elegant and even the music changed. Our backgrounds are not traditionally culinary.

Fine Dining

Restaurant Business

APRIL 9, 2025

Most restaurant operators consider technology a necessity for running their restaurants today. That number was nearly as low for operators who said technology led to cost savings.Operators are also worried about raising labor costs, and this is a key area where the right technology could benefit restaurants.

Take-out

Restaurant Business

JULY 22, 2025

Then Pat shares her interview with Matt Banton, VP of menu strategy and innovation at Cracker Barrel. He’s been at the chain for less than a year, but hit the ground running, focusing on flavor innovation, building a robust pipeline and making sure the food and drink selection creates memorable guest experiences.

Loyalty Program

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. Segment leader Chipotle Mexican Grill rose to No.

Fast Casual

Restaurant Business

JUNE 27, 2025

But the team build a trademarked system—dubbed Au-Dough-Mation”—that can now manage front- and back-of-house operations. News Emerging Brands franchising Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. She’s on time.

Fast Casual

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 11, 2024

It's not just the merch on the menu that is driving traffic to the brand with a misison to create spaces that blend sports and leisure and offer innovative cocktails, next-level architecture and high-end designer decor with elevated bar bites, retro games, and exclusive event nights.

Merchandise

Restaurant Business

JUNE 11, 2025

The restaurants tend to be community hubs, “a part of life” in the cities and towns where they operate, O’Reilly said. 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. Sign up here.

Fast Casual

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 31, 2025

Connecting with the consumer through loyalty programs and better customer data is a key focus for operators – more than seven in ten restaurant leaders (71 percent) are planning to increase investment in their loyalty or reward programs to keep customers close over the next 12 months. Fast-casual visits overall were down 3.8

Marketing

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 18, 2024

While restaurants that successfully pivot to address this demand for value may grow or maintain their sales, these brands could find themselves making other cost-saving operational changes, like reducing portion sizes, to account for this trend. In this competitive environment, it’s clear that we must innovate to stay ahead.

Operations

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 30, 2025

Growing menu innovation and healthy fast food further drive the growth of the market. introduced "Perkins Griddle Go," a fast-casual concept for quick on-the-go meals, in 2024, with the first store opening in late October. The report analyzed data from more than 30,000 QSR restaurants that generated a total of 4.5

Fast Casual

Qu

JUNE 16, 2025

The restaurant landscape is evolving rapidly, and 2025 promises to be a pivotal year for operators who are ready to embrace change. Enter the “Chief Translation Officer”—the person who bridges IT, operations, and marketing. While QSRs lead at 80%, fast casual is catching up quickly.

Fast Casual

Restaurant Clicks

JULY 28, 2025

The atmosphere is friendly and casual, with staff known for welcoming service and local charm. It is a small, casual spot, but its focus on fresh ingredients and traditional cooking methods helps it stand out. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming, with a focus on friendly service and large portions.

Fast Casual

Restaurant Business

JULY 29, 2025

Our goal was to create made-to-order meals that won’t break the bank but keep the freshness and consistency we’re known for,” said Fred Slater, director of R&D and executive chef of the 102-unit fast casual. She provides in-depth coverage of chefs, trends and menu innovation. Sign up here.

Menu

Restaurant Business

JUNE 25, 2025

Nikka brings a wealth of experience in finance, strategy and operations that will prove invaluable as we create the blueprint to scale and grow Panera for the future.” Fast-casual Panera Bread has been going through significant change over the past two years, with multiple board and leadership changes. By Lisa Jennings on Jun.

Leadership

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

When asked more specifically what type of restaurant they plan to visit for Valentine’s Day, nearly half of respondents indicated they would visit a casual restaurant, followed by fine dining establishments (35 percent). However: 41 percent said they planned to dine at home instead of dining out.

2024

Restaurant Business

JULY 25, 2025

Meanwhile, dine-in visits have increased in fast-casual and fast-food restaurants, while takeout and drive-in orders are down. Operators can capitalize on this trend by encouraging add-ons and unique beverages to compete with the growing number of specialty coffee and tea concepts.

Mobile Ordering

Lavu

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

With features like dual pricing to cut credit card fees, real-time inventory tracking, and integrations with QuickBooks and Uber Eats, Lavu simplifies operations for businesses of all sizes. Reliable Support: 24/7 assistance and 99.99% uptime ensure smooth operations. Alien Taco : 30% reduction in wait times and lower payment costs.

Loyalty Program

Restaurant Business

JULY 9, 2025

We were inspired by our guests requests to create a backyard-style BBQ Whopper, said Zack Young, Burger King’s director of culinary innovation US & Canada. “We She provides in-depth coverage of chefs, trends and menu innovation. View All Articles by This Author Want breaking news at your fingertips?

Leadership

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 31, 2024

This final edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup for 2024 features news of operator challenges and priorities, delivery trends, wages and hourly worker considerations. As operators look to bolster these two key areas, they’re also closely watching employee training and guest preferences.

Franchise

Future Food

NOVEMBER 27, 2024

Innovative trends are emerging, reshaping the industry landscape and offering fresh opportunities for growth. Hospitality businesses that were exposed to reduced consumer discretionary spending, higher operational costs and increased costs of servicing debt were most likely to be at risk.

Hospitality