Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 7, 2021

Despite the lagging global pandemic, the organic fast-casual brand is surging forward with record-breaking sales, franchise development growth, and new guest acquisition and satisfaction. This could translate to an additional 500 to 1,500 metric tons of paper waste eliminated annually across the U.S.

Franchise 433

Franchise Franchising Sustainability Fast Casual 433

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 22, 2025

How Design Technology Improves Space and Guest Experience Every square foot counts when redesigning a fast-casual eatery or a fine dining venue. Another big reason for restaurant renovations is sustainability since some restaurants now use eco-friendly designs, recycled materials, and energy-efficient appliances.

Design 221

Design Technology Fine Dining Fast Casual 221

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 3, 2025

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. How does it dovetail with sustainability goals? Litle Owl What are the advantages of having a smaller, more effective layout and footprint?

Fast Casual 251

Fast Casual 2025 Design Customer Experience 251

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 6, 2024

It’s no great surprise to say QSR and fast casual restaurants can be considered among the most energy-intensive commercial building types making it increasingly challenging for operators to balance the goals of efficiency, profitability and sustainability. The myth that sustainable practices cost more is just that—a myth.

Sustainability 275

Sustainability Customer Service Fast Casual Technology 275

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 24, 2024

Read any article enumerating the current or emerging trends in restaurants and retail and you will see ideas of health and wellness, environmental sustainability, and brand authenticity coming to the fore. Green Restaurant and Slow Food were others we considered. But it was the pivots in the pandemic that pointed us toward B.

Certification 221

Certification Fast Casual Front of House Government 221

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 28, 2021

From full service to fast-casual to legacy fast-food brands, the one constant was disruption. This level of uncertainty is obviously making restaurant owners and fast-casual franchise owners nervous at the prospect of the industry going through a fundamental change, and what was considered standard practices may become unrecognizable.

Franchise 492

Franchise Franchising 2022 Fast Casual 492

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 18, 2024

Experiential dining, plant-based menus and sustainability were hot topics in the Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) 2023 Trends Report. Among the findings: Casual experiential dining appeals on many fronts to consumers of varying ages in different parts of the country looking for affordable culinary experiences.

2024 474

2024 Food Truck Fast Casual Allergens 474

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 2, 2024

With products now cleared for consumer sale in both the United States and Singapore, the cultivated meat industry is moving from proof of concept and early-stage R&D to a focus on demonstrating scalability, sustainable unit economics, and consumer and customer demand. How was the food sourced or produced?

2024 493

2024 Fast Casual Food Safety Insurance 493

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 30, 2024

This recovery was largely supported by strong takeout and delivery sales, which played a crucial role in sustaining revenue streams. QSR and fast-casual franchises continue to drive the expansion of the franchising sector. Despite ongoing economic challenges, QSRs remain on a steady path of growth.

Loyalty Program 251

Loyalty Program Franchise Franchising 2025 251

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 18, 2024

So much data is generated at every point within a restaurant, whether fast casual or fine dining. Expect 2025 to see a renewed fight for the survival and growth of local markets, driven by both consumers and restaurateurs who value authenticity, sustainability, and the vital social role these markets play.

2025 419

2025 Loyalty Program Social Media Fast Casual 419

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 1, 2022

Key figures on the restaurant workforce include: Roughly 50 percent of restaurant operators in the fullservice, quickservice, and fast-casual segments expect recruiting and retaining employees to be their top challenge in 2022. Streamlined Menus with More Plant-Based Options and Sustainable Packaging.

2022 518

2022 2030 Food Supply Recruiting 518

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 1, 2024

” The survey's insights offer a glimmer of hope for an industry in search of sustainable growth strategies. While singles cut back, 20 percent of families had more fast-casual visits this month and 18 percent dined full-service, in stark contrast to 9 percent and 7 percent, respectively, among households without kids.

Catering 486

Catering Fast Casual 2024 Customer Service 486

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 16, 2021

Tableside ordering via tablets, tableside payment, POS systems designed with mobility and flexibility in mind have dominated the market growing out of the fast casual. We’re also seeing many of our clients find new ways to be more sustainable in sourcing their food products. Think paper straws versus plastic.

Fast Casual 390

Fast Casual Front of House Fine Dining Mobile Ordering 390

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

” Their answers touched on a variety of subjects including AI, virtual reality, virtual kitchens, staffing and retention, social media marketing, sustainability and third-party delivery. In the short term, it’s QSR that will experience labor improvement, then fast-casual. Restaurants will become increasingly casual.

Mobile Ordering 539

Mobile Ordering Front of House Customer Service Customer Experience 539

EATER

MAY 16, 2023

The company currently offers five sustainably farmed, low-intervention wines that Olszewski has chosen to be widely pleasing. I got a full-ride scholarship to UMass Amherst, where I majored in sustainable agriculture and gender studies and minored in English literature. “Only 30 percent of glass bottles are recycled in the U.S.,

Sustainability 241

Sustainability Back of House Front of House Agriculture 241

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

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

2024 251

2024 2023 2025 Loyalty Program 251

ChowNow

MARCH 21, 2025

Values: Are they eco-conscious, looking for sustainable and local ingredients? Lifestyle Choices: Do they prefer fast, casual meals or long, social dining experiences? Seasonal & Local Adjustments: If sustainability or local sourcing matters to your diners, promote seasonal specials featuring local ingredients.

Marketing 195

Marketing Social Media Email Marketing Loyalty Program 195

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 9, 2020

Since 2006, Tender Greens had established its presence as a go-to fine-casual restaurant that offers more than a meal. Looking to continue on the tangent of delivering a unique fine-casual dining experience to its customers, Tender Greens aimed to double its physical footprint and grow its revenue to reach $100 million.

Innovation 469

Innovation Management Management Fine Dining 469

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 11, 2023

Who among us hasn’t ordered food through a convenient mobile application, with menu choices ranging from not just quick-serve or fast-casual restaurants, but convenience stores as well? The company is catering to changing customer needs and preferences and positioning itself as socially responsible and sustainable.

Customer Service 474

Customer Service Fast Casual Sustainability Customer Experience 474

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 28, 2024

By focusing on these organic customer acquisition strategies, you can build a sustainable customer base that costs less to acquire over time. Fast casual and casual dining restaurants are in the middle ground, between $83 and $125 of paid CAC. For the restaurant industry, the CAC can range between $27 to $180.

Loyalty Program 195

Loyalty Program Fast Casual Social Media Email Marketing 195

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 18, 2024

Instead of engaging in this “value war,” fast casual restaurant concepts should focus on excellence in restaurant operations to increase store traffic and maintain strong margins. In this competitive environment, it’s clear that we must innovate to stay ahead. After polling more than 1,000 U.S.-based

Operations 221

Operations Loyalty Program Fast Casual 2024 221

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 12, 2021

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.

Fast Casual 411

Fast Casual Food Safety Loyalty Program Customer Experience 411

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 29, 2021

“We are seeing sign-on bonuses at fast food and fast casual locations, something never seen before in the industry. Fast casual will continue to push out full-service brands because they can assemble food in front of you and get food to the customer more quickly.

Fast Casual 553

Fast Casual Hiring Online Ordering Front of House 553

ChowNow

MAY 23, 2025

To make sustainable changes, you need to first establish a strong starting point. Restaurant type: Whether you run a fine dining, fast casual, or quick service concept plays a big role in potential margins. The reality is that most operators are working within razor-thin profit margins. Whats the Average Profit Margin for a Restaurant?

Point of Sale 195

Point of Sale Insurance Fast Casual Customer Service 195

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 22, 2022

Many are at a point where they feel they can’t raise prices higher—fast casual doesn’t have the pricing band that a fine dining restaurant will have, for example—which means looking for more efficiencies in the business and service. . Why do you feel restaurant owners are optimistic for 2023?

Food Supply 473

Food Supply 2023 Fine Dining Fast Casual 473

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 30, 2021

“As many companies look to create a new normal for employees, Church’s has chartered a course that focuses on sustaining our team members and securing the continuity of our business,” said Karen Viera, Chief People Officer for Church’s Chicken. ” Curry Up Now Adds Incentives LTO.

Franchise 508

Franchise Franchising Fast Casual Point of Sale 508

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 30, 2025

introduced "Perkins Griddle Go," a fast-casual concept for quick on-the-go meals, in 2024, with the first store opening in late October. Increased costs of sustainable packaging and adherence to government regulations contribute to financial burdens. percent MoM Casual Dining Hit Hardest April saw a -6.4 in the U.S.

Fast Casual 251

Fast Casual Food Point of Sale Mobile Ordering 251

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 14, 2021

As seen first with many fast casual chains, we expect more differentiated benefits packages to continue to emerge as a way for restaurants to fill much needed open positions. Differentiated benefits packages that include greater flexibility, career paths and training benefits, and enhanced company culture will also be important.

2022 508

2022 Employee Relations Outdoor Fast Casual 508

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 21, 2022

Those who traditionally favor casual dining chains with full service may trade down to fast casual while those who typically dine in fast casual may dip into lower price points at fast food. Fast casual will continue to shine as it has since the pandemic generating the highest asking prices in the marketplace.

2023 419

2023 Loyalty Program Fast Casual Customer Experience 419

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 10, 2020

Is your brand quirky and casual? Serve up furniture made from sustainable materials along with your seasonal fare. To get the atmosphere right choose furniture that reflects your brand’s personality. Then choose playful furniture to reflect that. Is your restaurant earthy and organic?

2020 555

2020 Uniforms Online Ordering Design 555

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 15, 2020

Limited-service restaurants (those in quick service and fast casual) had a sharp acceleration in their guest check growth, as consumers likely shifted to larger off-premise orders to feed multiple people at home. Fine dining and upscale casual were the worst performing segments during March based on same-store sales growth.

2020 491

2020 Point of Sale Fast Casual Online Ordering 491

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

QSRs are also addressing sustainability and health concerns. Fast Casual Dining Navigating a delicate balance between convenience and culinary craft, the fast-casual dining sector shines as the industry's hybrid powerhouse, marrying quick service with gourmet cuisine.

Fast Casual 294

Fast Casual Fine Dining Customer Service Customer Experience 294

ChowNow

APRIL 25, 2025

For example, if one of your core values is sustainability, that should show up in your sourcing, packaging, and messaging. Are you casual and playful? Focused on sustainability? What kind of customer base do we want to attract and keep? Whatever it is, name it. Think of it as your restaurants personality in words.

Mobile Ordering 195

Mobile Ordering Social Media Email Marketing Customer Experience 195

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 21, 2020

The new wave of restaurateurs will learn from the recent crisis and will focus on sustainability of operations by leaning hard into delivery, take-home, curbside pick-up, contactless payment, and other enabling technology. Chains will increase unit growth to fill the void left by closed restaurant locations. Marketing Strategy Will Adapt.

2021 478

2021 Online Ordering Email Marketing Advertising 478

Restaurant Business

JUNE 5, 2025

On Thursday, the casual-dining chain promoted Lyle Tick, its president and chief concept officer, to the top job. “I News casual_dining Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. By Joe Guszkowski on Jun. Houdek had been with the chain since 2019. Sign up here.

Leadership 162

Leadership 2025 Fast Casual Franchise 162

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 22, 2020

Thanks to the arrival of food delivery applications, the casual diner can now satisfy his or her cravings whenever he or she pleases. To allow them to live a sustainable lifestyle, you can help them minimize their carbon footprint by creating a zero-waste kitchen.

Customer Service 440

Customer Service 2020 Social Media Mobile Ordering 440

ChowNow

MAY 23, 2025

Diners comments, even casual ones, give you clues about customer preferences and what holes you might need to fill with new dishes. This approach helps reduce food waste, improves inventory management, and ensures your menu engineering efforts stay sustainable long-term. A profitable menu isnt built overnight.

Menu 195

Menu Seasonal Menu Point of Sale Online Ordering 195