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Among the findings: Eight in 10 (82 percent) plan to increase investments in AI technologies over the next fiscal year, with enhanced customer experience (60 percent), improved restaurant operations (36 percent), and loyaltyprograms (31 percent) cited as the top desired outcomes. Customer experience is the most common use case.
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. Digital Engagement – Loyaltyprograms, mobile ordering, and delivery integrations keep customers engaged and coming back.
Restaurants must now navigate a razor-thin margin between maintaining customer loyalty and managing escalating costs. The chain’s documented emphasis on training shows in its strong performance on service quality and value. At the same time, U.S. chain sales grew just 3.1 percent in 2024 — falling short of the 4.1
Build a Customer LoyaltyProgram Were starting here because a loyaltyprogram is one of the most effective ways to build lasting connections with your customers, and its easier to set up than you might think. For example, the ChowNow Rewards Program makes it incredibly simple for restaurants to offer this experience.
Platforms that consolidate key functions—such as sales, employee management, rewards programs and operations—into one streamlined system are crucial for enhancing operational efficiency across the QSR sector. QSR and fast-casual franchises continue to drive the expansion of the franchising sector.
In this article, you’ll learn: A simple formula to calculate customer lifetime value at your restaurant Why increasing restaurant customer lifetime value leads to more stable business growth How to use CLV insights to build loyalty and strengthen customer retention What Is Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)?
And for more casual outdoor setups – think outdoor bars, beer gardens, or counter-service patios – QR code ordering is a no-brainer. They close the check at the table, apply loyalty rewards, and split payments however the guest wants, all without leaving the patio.
This is where restaurant loyaltyprograms shine. Loyaltyprograms offer dining rewards, creating a bond between customers and your business. These programs encourage repeat visits, boosting both customer satisfaction and restaurant profitability. Restaurant loyaltyprograms reward customers for their repeat visits.
In this article, you will learn: Tactics that increase restaurant check sizes without slowing down service How to boost restaurant sales through your own digital channels Proven ideas for driving repeat business from loyal and casual guests alike 1. You can also train restaurant staff to mention popular pairings in person.
Joe Gale has more than 30 years of sales, operations and account management experience, including 20 years with Coca-Cola North America Foodservice where he worked closely with numerous QSR and fast casual brands. What have been key challenges to Pancheros growth through franchising and how important is training?
The research stems from in-person chef interviews and a nationwide survey of more than 400 restaurant owners and operators spanning 47 states with respondents ranging from fine dining establishments to fast-casual venues, breweries, and caterers. "This Restaurants are also implementing innovative retention strategies.
Consider a large Mexican fast-casual chain that implemented a tuition coverage program for employees pursuing degrees in fields like agriculture, culinary arts, and hospitality. Similarly, a prominent fried chicken QSR recognized the limitations of its existing scholarship program, which primarily benefited traditional students.
We were entering the saturated fast-casual burger space and knew we needed to make an impact. First, You need toensure you’re maintaining brand consistency across multiple locations, and that involves streamlining logistics, sourcing, and staff training to keep quality high across your chain.
Loyaltyprograms offer a rare win-win for restaurant operators and guests alike. 💡 According to the National Restaurant Association , 96% of restaurantgoers say that loyaltyprograms are a way to earn more "bang for their buck." Like most facets of the industry, restaurant loyalty is easier said than done.
Standardized TrainingPrograms: Newbies get uniform training with digital training tools across multiple locations. This approach not only makes it easier to train new staff on familiar machinery but also simplifies maintenance and reduces downtime. Loyaltyprograms connect customers and drive repeat business.
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?
Restaurant type: Whether you run a fine dining, fast casual, or quick service concept plays a big role in potential margins. Cross-train team members to handle multiple roles during slower shifts. An enticing loyaltyprogram can encourage repeat visits and keep your loyal customers coming back without paying high commission fees.
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. percent in November.
You can also train staff to mention sign-ups casually during checkout. You dont need a hard sell here, just a friendly heads-up about your offers or loyaltyprogram. Start growing it intentionally, and youll turn everyday interactions into long-term loyalty.
A restaurant referral program is essential for client acquisition, as 61% of diners trust recommendations from friends, family, and coworkers. Boosts word-of-mouth promotion: Referral programs formalize and reward word-of-mouth marketing, making your most loyal customers even more likely to recommend your restaurant.
Create a direct-only rewards program: Reward repeat customers for skipping third-party apps with a digital punch card or exclusive discounts. Many online ordering platforms allow you to set up loyalty rewards automatically, making it easy to track and redeem.
Cost Savings: Dual pricing eliminates credit card processing fees; low-stock alerts minimize waste; online ordering allows restaurant operators to get rid of pesky third party commissions Customer Engagement: Loyaltyprograms and CRM tools enhance customer retention. All plans come with a risk-free guarantee.
These emails include promotions, menu updates, special events, feedback requests, and loyaltyprogram details, serving as a direct communication line to keep your restaurant prominent in customers’ minds. It Builds Customer Loyalty Regular, personalized email interactions maintain customer engagement.
Celebrate your customers with loyaltyprograms and grow your retention rate. According to Metrobi , Loyaltyprogram members visit restaurants 20% more frequently than non-members. In this article, we look at why rewards matter and how to go about setting a program up. How can you stand out?
Those priorities include increased marketing and sales efforts alongside new benefits and programs to attract and retain staff. As operators look to bolster these two key areas, they’re also closely watching employee training and guest preferences. Franchise 2.0: It turns out they might be heading to their nearest 7-11.
A well-trained team and a smart menu design make a huge impact on success. A well-trained server builds rapport by offering timely suggestions based on what the guest enjoys. Strengthens Customer Loyalty When guests receive personalized service, they return. Understanding Upselling in Restaurants What is Upselling?
How Virtual Reality Is Shaping New Restaurant Technology for Staff Onboarding Training a new hire takes time and patience, whether it’s to be a server, a cashier or cook. Have you wondered about the possibilities of training new hires without the risks and costs of a normal training session? The good news is that now you can.
Its easy to use, making staff training simpler, and supports multiple terminals for $29 per month per additional device. On top of that, its customer relationship management (CRM) tools support personalized loyaltyprograms, helping restaurants connect better with their customers.
If you're a fast-casual place and only offer a couple of alcoholic beverages, then "alcohol" should be enough. Health insurance, retirement plans (401(k)), paid time off (PTO) (vacation, sick leave, holiday pay), workers compensation, and meal discounts Training and onboarding.
Loyalty is a huge factor now as guests desire rewards and perks for sticking with a favorite small business, and repeat customers are keeping many restaurants going. Whether it’s speeding up order times, improving inventory management, or boosting loyaltyprograms, every tool should serve a purpose.
While your competitors chase social media trends, savvy food service operators have discovered their winning strategy: email marketing that transforms casual customers into devoted regulars. ” Train your team to become relationship builders who understand that today’s email signup could become tomorrow’s catering client.
Their financial health often hinges on a strong beverage program and optimized labor. Customer loyalty and promotions are ways to keep COGS in a café within healthy margins. Many coffee shops implement customer loyaltyprograms such as punch cards or points to bring in more revenue.
This process builds a customer database that can be used for loyaltyprograms and remarketing campaigns. Fast Casual: Fast casual restaurants can offer speedier service without downgrading food quality using tableside ordering. Their team assists with installation, training, and integration with your existing POS.
We’ve reimagined our drive-thru model, introduced new kitchen technology to improve throughput, and strengthened our loyaltyprogram to keep customers engaged. Very little brand loyalty or company allegiance existed; it was without a doubt a sellers market and whoever could pay the most per hour was winning. more an hour.
With the rise of digital payment platforms and mobile wallets, restaurants can offer rewards programs, targeted promotions, and personalized experiences that cater to individual customers’ preferences. This fosters customer loyalty and allows restaurants to gather valuable data and insights to inform their business strategies.
Nearly half (47 percent) of diners say they engage with loyaltyprograms at least once a week, up significantly from just 34 percent in 2023. Labor Cost Management : Instead of cutting staff, 68 percent of restaurants have embraced cross-training as the top labor cost management strategy.
For fast-casual or QSR brands, digital tableside ordering is equally beneficial. One example of a restaurant chain leveraging similar tableside technology is the growing chef-driven Mexican fast-casual concept, Tocaya. Integrating loyaltyprogram or CRM so guests are incentivized to seek out and use these channels.
This trend reflects the growing popularity of drive-thru and fast-casual dining, coupled with the demand for digital technologies such as QSR digital signage and QR codes. To tackle this pressing issue effectively, businesses must invest in staff training and development, vital for retaining and upskilling their existing workforce.
Restaurant operators have scrambled to launch loyaltyprograms and subscription services in recent years – capitalizing on new technology to keep that “old” customer, often 16x more valuable than a new one. Be mindful of consumers’ time and patience so that they can reward you with loyalty.
According to Upserve’s 2020 State of the Restaurant Industry Report, the industry will collectively lose $240 billion, with casual dining sales volume down by 60 percent and fast casual down 50 percent. There’s no disputing that the past year has been extremely hard on the restaurant industry overall.
Beyond physical amenities, we trained our staff to welcome solo diners. Simple gestures such as offering menu recommendations or striking up casual conversation can go a long way in putting solo diners at ease, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
As mentioned before, this expands the need for loyaltyprograms, and also demands an agile technology stack that can go where customers are, as well as bring customers in. Loyalty will continue to get more personal and less transactional. Gamification will play a larger role in driving brand loyalty.
The simplest way to collect customer data in a quick-serve or fast-casual restaurant is to have customers supply it on a sheet of paper at the register. Recommended Reading: Simple Restaurant Marketing Plan for 2020 Reward Their Loyalty ?? A customer loyaltyprogram is a surefire way to entice your guests to return, not churn.
This was the top craving identified in the sixth wave of the Consumer Coronavirus Behavior research conducted by TheCustomer, Brand Keys, the New York-based brand loyalty and customer engagement consultancy, and Suzy, the on-demand research software platform. The 31-year-old, fast casual, farm-to-table chain was doing well, prior to COVID-19.
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