ChowNow

MARCH 27, 2025

If youre one of the thousands of restaurants that added online food delivery in recent years, you might be wondering: is it actually helping my business grow? The only way to know for sure is by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) that drive business growth.

Delivery

ChowNow

MARCH 27, 2025

Menu pricing isnt just about covering costsits about finding that sweet spot where profitability, customer perception, and operational reality meet. Too high, and youll drive customers away. High-end restaurants can charge more for the experience, leaving wiggle room for a higher food cost percentage.

Pricing

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 31, 2025

In response to rising food costs, 56 percent of respondents said they planned to increase menu prices, down from 61 percent earlier in the year, and 18 percent said they doubled down on inventory and waste tracking, up two percentage points.

2025

Restaurant Business

JUNE 20, 2025

Restaurants less so How the owner of Krystal and Logan's Roadhouse makes it work Financing Olive Garden sales surge on delivery and free take-home meals Same-store sales rose 6.9% Photo: Shutterstock Delivery and a take-home meal deal drove a lot more customers to Olive Garden this spring.

Delivery

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 28, 2024

A bar is a profitable business option if you’re looking to enter the food industry. One key area to focus on is drink sales, with cocktail sales accounting for about 23% of a bar's revenue. Start by tracking all the income your bar generates, including sales from drinks, food, and any additional services.

Point of Sale

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 30, 2025

billion transactions and $67 billion in sales in 2024. Companies saw a sales boost in 2024 as loyalty transactions increased by over 30 percent. 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.

Fast Casual

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

If your business isnt keeping up with the changes, you risk falling behind and not meeting modern customer expectations. For operators, restaurant apps mean higher sales, greater customer retention, and smoother day-to-day operations. Online ordering and delivery apps.

2025

ChowNow

JULY 25, 2025

Every restaurant owner should know their food cost percentage—it’s one of the clearest indicators of whether your restaurant is running effectively or if you’re missing opportunities to optimize your business. Food cost percentage is the percentage of your total food sales that goes toward the cost of the ingredients used to make your dishes.

Food

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 3, 2025

For a deeper dive into brand messaging, strategy, and authenticity, creating unified guest experiences, and the orchestration of physical and experiential touchpoints, Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine reached out to The Plaid Penguin’s Founder and Sir Idea Man Joe Haubenhofer. A strong restaurant brand goes beyond a logo.

Social Media

ChowNow

MARCH 13, 2025

Actionable steps to implement a centralized system without disrupting your business. The Problem: Juggling Multiple Delivery Platforms Is a Nightmare You probably dread seeing your restaurants delivery station on a busy night: a row of tablets, each glowing with incoming orders from different third-party delivery apps.

Delivery

ChowNow

MAY 23, 2025

A spike in food costs, a drop in sales volume, or one slow season can wipe out months of hard work. A spike in food costs, a drop in sales volume, or one slow season can wipe out months of hard work. If your restaurant profit margins arent healthy, it doesnt matter how busy you areyoull always be playing catch-up.

Point of Sale

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 15, 2025

The restaurant industry continued to grow in 2024 with sales forecasted to top $1 trillion for the first time in history, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry report. That’s time many busy restaurateurs just don’t have to spare.

Audits

EATER

MARCH 25, 2025

At this point, theres no denying that Keith Lee is among the countrys most influential food critics. As he travels the country eating at these restaurants, often accompanied by his wife Ronni and other family members, Lees built his own brand of family-run business. Were becoming more business-savvy and financially literate.

Social Media

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

By the time you finish this article, youll know how to approach restaurant marketing the right way and not waste time doing guesswork, crossing your fingers, and then hoping you see new customers walking through the door. Customers have more choices, higher expectations, and countless ways to discover (or overlook) your restaurant.

2025

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 22, 2024

From improving your Google listing to leveraging customer reviews, these tips will show you how to boost your visibility and drive more traffic to your restaurant. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you could be losing out on potential customers. This way, you won’t need to code your site from scratch.

Book

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Email marketing might not be as flashy as social media marketing, but for restaurants, its possibly the most effective way to stay connected with customers. Unlike social media platforms, where the algorithm overlords dictate who will and will not see your posts, emails go straight to your customers inboxeswhich they check daily.

Email Marketing

ChowNow

MAY 2, 2025

Your customer email list is your most valuable marketing asset, giving you an incredible ROI of $42 for every $1 you spend. You own it, it costs very little to maintain, and its a direct link to your customers any time youd like to reach themno complicated algorithms or third-party platforms getting in the way.

Email Marketing

ChowNow

APRIL 15, 2025

Restaurant KPIs are numbers that go beyond basic accounting to help you see how every part of your business is performingfrom your profit margins to your guest experience. Instead of relying on gut feelings and guesswork, they give you clear, measurable data you can track over time to meet your key business objectives.

Operations

The Rail

DECEMBER 2, 2024

By Kateryna Reshetilo, Contributor Are you a restaurant owner looking for ways to keep up with the fast-changing demands of your customers? Today, more than ever, restaurants are turning to custom-built apps to improve convenience, streamline operations, and foster customer loyalty. If so, you’re not alone. from 2023 to 2030.

Delivery

7 Shifts

OCTOBER 22, 2024

When a restaurant participates in local events or partners with local businesses, it becomes part of the neighborhood’s fabric. 72% of American consumers prefer to do business with companies that share their values both in the retail and restaurant industries.

Marketing

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 18, 2024

It is atop the list for restaurants looking to modernize, differentiate, and elevate experiences. So much data is generated at every point within a restaurant, whether fast casual or fine dining. The question now becomes – how to make sense of that data and use it to elevate the dining experience.

2025

ChowNow

MAY 16, 2025

Understanding what customers order, when they order, and how often is an untapped goldmine of information for restaurant operators. Using that data can help you answer questions like: Are we pricing our bestsellers too low or overpricing items customers arent buying? What do repeat orders say about our customer preferences?

Ordering

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

Third-party delivery apps start out as a convenient way to reach new customers, but they always take a significant chunk of your profits. While these platforms do bring in orders, they also come with the price of high commission fees, loss of customer data, and a weaker connection between you and your guests.

Ordering

ChowNow

JUNE 12, 2025

This guide will help you tackle both of these issues, so you can understand the power of small, data-driven adjustments, along with straightforward steps on how to achieve them. Knowing how to cost a dish is one of those “absolutely must-have” skill sets for restaurant owners. It’s just part of the job. Every smart pricing move starts here.

Operations

ChowNow

JULY 11, 2025

On the flip side, a cluttered or confusing category setup can overwhelm guests, slow down ordering, and lead to missed sales opportunities. Why Menu Categories Make Or Break the Customer Experience Most diners don’t read menus top to bottom or word for word—they scan them. It’s called decision fatigue , and it kills conversions.

Menu

Perfect Daily Grind

JUNE 29, 2025

Coffee roasters around the world are struggling to navigate the rising tide of costs without losing loyal customers. While some businesses may choose to absorb these additional expenses, there are limits to how much they can sustain. But an obvious risk is pricing current customers out.”

Pricing

Harbor Touch

MARCH 18, 2025

The next youre racing to keep inventory stocked while customers wait for tables. Whether youre a seasoned owner or just starting out, this advice will help you boost efficiency, keep your team motivated, and turn customers into regulars. Small perks go far too. That keeps customers coming back for more.

Management

The Rail

NOVEMBER 1, 2024

By Lindsay Lawrence, Contributor Relocating a restaurant is no small feat, as it involves managing the transportation of kitchen equipment, reestablishing the space’s atmosphere, and ensuring minimal disruption to your business. These tools make it easier to ensure that equipment will fit properly.

Innovation

Restaurant Business

JUNE 11, 2025

And, like the rest of family dining, they have been losing customers. Systemwide sales fell 5.3% When we spoke to younger customers, we found that Perkins is just not as relevant,” said Ascent CEO James O’Reilly, who joined the company in 2023. That means you can now get boba at Perkins. By Joe Guszkowski on Jun.

Fast Casual

The Rail

JUNE 11, 2025

Look at your financials — steady profits, a loyal customer base , and strong staff retention are all signs of readiness. Consider foot traffic, parking availability, nearby businesses, and zoning regulations. Customers expect the same quality, ambiance, and service they experienced at your first location.

Management

ChowNow

MARCH 20, 2025

In this article, youll learn: How menu management software streamlines menu updates and eliminates manual errors Why outdated or inconsistent menus can impact customer satisfaction and revenue Key features to look for when choosing the right software for your restaurant Lets explore why every restaurant needs menu management software.

Menu

Lavu

APRIL 4, 2025

Choosing the best POS system for bars in 2025 is essential for streamlining operations, enhancing customer experience, and maximizing profits. A modern POS system for bars goes beyond just processing paymentsit helps with inventory management, staff scheduling, and real-time sales tracking.

POS

Lavu

MARCH 21, 2025

Restaurants can now use customer data to enhance restaurant menu design, creating smarter menus that increase profits and improve the dining experience. This approach also helps reduce food waste and maximize customer satisfaction. Spot Best-Sellers : Focus on the 16% of menu items that drive 80% of sales. Keep reading.

Design

Perfect Daily Grind

JULY 20, 2025

From small independent specialty coffee shops to larger chains, the vibrant green tea powder is taking over menus. Many are moving away from high-caffeine beverages and alcohol in favour of functional drinks,” says Alex Centner , the sales director at specialty coffee roaster MoonGoat Coffee and the sales representative at Matcha Bot.

Café

The Restaurant Group

JANUARY 26, 2025

Introduction Running a restaurant isnt just about serving great food; its about keeping customers coming back. Customer retention becomes vital for success. Loyalty programs offer dining rewards, creating a bond between customers and your business. Restaurant loyalty programs reward customers for their repeat visits.

Loyalty Program

Restaurant Clicks

JULY 22, 2025

From small towns to bigger cities, you’ll find spots that have been serving for years alongside newer places gaining attention. 30 – Hog Heaven BBQ Source: Hog Heaven BBQ Hog Heaven BBQ in Laurel is a local go-to for classic Southern-style barbecue, served from a small spot on Ellisville Boulevard.

Back of House

Lavu

JULY 3, 2025

The restaurant industry is evolving rapidly, and outdated point-of-sale systems are no longer enough to stay competitive. Software, as a Service, commonly referred to as SaaS, is a relatively new business model where software is licensed to customers on a subscription-based plan over the internet.

POS