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Better food safety has never been more in reach, thanks to advancements in traceability standards and technology. FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Rule 204 approaching, restaurant operators stand to gain improved confidence in the safety and quality of the food they serve.
With cashless transactions and delivery services becoming the norm, diners are enjoying faster, more streamlined dining journeys. In 2025 and beyond, restaurant executives should be on the lookout for increasing point-of-sale (POS) systems attacks, AI-powered social engineering tactics, and greater supply chain cyber vulnerabilities.
Recent outbreaks have highlighted vulnerabilities in food safety systems. How restaurants can leverage technology to avoid spreading foodborne illness and protect their team members and customers? How restaurants can leverage technology to avoid spreading foodborne illness and protect their team members and customers?
“This enduring customer loyalty drives the restaurant industry forward, creating clear opportunities for restaurants to enhance the dining experience through strategic limited time offers, efficient delivery and exceptional in-person service," said Samir Zabaneh, CEO of TouchBistro.
Just like a well-crafted mission statement will help guide your business decisions, identifying and understanding your target customers and competitors through restaurant market research will give your business a competitive edge. Let’s take the guesswork out of starting your food business and set your establishment up for success.
Steady Online Ordering Brings Food Waste, Donations to the Forefront of Priorities Ordering food online increases restaurant sales, but it also can potentially increase wasted food if proactive measures aren’t taken – for both the business and consumers at home.
Scaling an artisan food business is no easy feat. Many small food businesses reach a critical point where they must decide whether to remain small and exclusive or expand into wholesale, manufacturing, and broader distribution. Within five years, I had opened three scoop shops and was still struggling to keep up.
Jennifer Ashcraft admits the first thing that attracted her about Capriotti’s was its name, but it was the food that has made her stay and become the first franchisee in Alabama. Once I found the name and liked the concept, we planned to try the food on an upcoming trip to NYC. I believe in being present in my store.
While the cost of food waste isn’t a secret , you probably overlook it, considering it a part of doing business in this industry. It can help you fix discrepancies in ordering and inventory management , minimizing food shrink. The consumer price index for restaurant food costs increased by 7.7% What else can it do for you?
The restaurant industry is fast-paced and demanding, with constant pressures to deliver excellent service while managing operations smoothly. Balancing staff needs, customer expectations, and resource constraints can quickly overwhelm staff and management alike. Even a few minutes to step outside or hydrate can make a difference.
The restaurant experience isnt just about great service and ambianceits deeply tied to ingredient sourcing and food costs. These policies, which will affect a wide range of imported goods, could ripple across the food and beverage industry in the form of higher prices, tighter margins, and evolving menus. With new U.S.
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.
More than half (54 percent) of independent restaurant owners report making half as much or less than this same time last year, according to a report from Alignable with 51 percent saying customer spending is “much lower” than 2024. Tariffs, attracting new customers, and inflation top the list of concerns.
Everyone in the food industry is feeling the pinch of the economy with reduced consumer patronage in restaurants and even a reduction of produce consumption in the winter months. There are many areas where we have seen foodservice operators benefit! This makes business tight causing a hard look at any extra costs.
After all, it’s not just the quality of your food that can keep customers coming back — 73% of diners base their satisfaction on the quality of service they receive. How do you handle customer complaints and turn negative experiences into positive ones? Hiring the right people can make or break your business.
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. The data revealed that 60 percent of consumers surveyed prefer human staff versus AI-managed customer support, despite the potential for increased service efficiency.
Photo: Shutterstock Waffle House customers no longer have to pay extra for eggs. Photo: Shutterstock Waffle House customers no longer have to pay extra for eggs. But supply has bounced back in recent months, bringing prices back down to earth. But not all breakfast chains chose to pass egg costs on to customers.
“Most agencies can offer marketing services, but very few truly understand what it’s like to be in the weeds on a Friday night, when a chef didn’t show up and ticket times are running at 40 minutes,” said Beechner. The service industry truly saved my life. Service industry people are my tribe.
There is an opportunity for restaurants that can modernize in a way that meets the needs of the diner while simultaneously overcoming food, labor, and technological challenges to run more predictable and profitable businesses. Consistency for the customer also means clarity for operations.
From elevated comfort food to trending global flavors, operators are using Philly in inventive ways that bring signature flavor and premium texture to the menu. Philly ensures a silky, no-crack bake, so operators can easily serve up an on-trend dessert that excites customers and keeps prep simple. Or even on a pizza!
With food and overall costs climbing, owners and managers are finding creative ways to reduce expenses and manage their spending more efficiently. A new report highlights the need to assess this spending, with operators spending 34 percent more on food than last year. Restaurants nationwide are facing growing uncertainty.
By mid-2024, 82 percent of food and beverage operators were still actively recruiting, with chefs and cooks comprising 30 percent of open roles. Outsourcing high-risk services, such as delivery, can alleviate exposure to rising auto insurance costs, which are projected to climb in 2025.
Continue to Site >>> Menu C-stores are stealing fast-food tactics. Not quite yet An easy way to bring bold Korean flavors to modern menus From BBQ to beverages, menus are seeing a lot of action Food C-stores are stealing fast-food tactics. Photo: Shutterstock Made-to-order food, value offerings, loyalty programs.
This is not the normal amount of angst that has been present for decades fickle customer tastes, rising cost of goods, changing demographics, or escalating rents; there are far deeper concerns that make everyone scratch their heads in wonder. How do we keep the business of food from becoming more and more transactional?
A spike in food costs, a drop in sales volume, or one slow season can wipe out months of hard work. They tell you how much money your restaurant keeps after paying for everything from food costs to labor expenses to utilities and rent. There are two kinds of margins you need to know. Why are restaurant profit margins so thin?
The customer's needs always come first, even though my prices continue to rise. Self-ordering kiosks, QR codes, mobile apps and loyalty reward cards have created more personalized experiences, which increase the likelihood customers will return. Technology has redefined service models, but great hospitality remains irreplaceable.
Photo: Shutterstock Delivery and a take-home meal deal drove a lot more customers to Olive Garden this spring. The offer allowed customers to buy an in-store meal starting at $14.99 Olive Garden parent Darden Restaurants had long resisted third-party delivery, preferring to serve customers in its restaurants and control the experience.
Every day, youre juggling staff, food quality, inventory, customerservice, purchasing, and moreall while trying to cultivate a dining experience that wows your customers enough to keep them coming back. Its tough, and cant be done passively. Success isnt just about passionits about structure.
"These tariffs could deeply affect the foodservice and hospitality industries on both sides of the border," Alex Thalassinos, President of Silverware POS, one of the first tech providers dedicated to Canada’s hospitality industry, told Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine. AI is also boosting staff productivity.
This doesnt mean cutting corners and sacrificing the customer experience; its about knowing where your money is going, spotting leaks early, and fine-tuning whats already working. For most restaurants, the ideal food cost falls between 30% and 40% , though that number can vary depending on your concept and location.
We like to say waffles “drip with success” for foodservice operators, and it's because of four key factors: profitability, versatility, consumer experience and operational efficiency. “Waffle-omics” is a term we use at Golden Waffles. It’s a favorite of ours and pretty straightforward.
The most accurate measure of land or CO2 “saved” by ordering a PLNT Burger is only attained if every purchase were originally intended to be for a fast-food beef burger instead. Climate messaging can’t work if customers are too put off to walk through the door once, let alone habitually. These numbers are largely hypothetical.
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. Somewhere in between is the number that makes sense for your food costs, your market, and your restaurants unique position.
A bar is a profitable business option if you’re looking to enter the food industry. Start by tracking all the income your bar generates, including sales from drinks, food, and any additional services. Analyze your product mix Review the drinks and food items you sell the most and least.
What was once a gradual process turned into a rapid transformation, permanently reshaping how restaurants operate and interact with customers. Customers have now fully embraced the benefits of using restaurant technology, and to keep up with guests evolving expectations, the tech industry is growing at an incredible rate.
23, 2025 Photograph: RATIONAL Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Maintaining clean and hygienic equipment is one of the most important tasks in foodservice — and also one of the most despised. Most of all, it’s not nearly as much fun as preparing food and serving customers, the reason most people love working in foodservice.
They play a big role in overseeing your inventory and attending to customer complaints. How do you make sure staff adhere to responsible alcohol service standards? Was there a time when you had to adapt to last-minute changes, such as staff illness or unexpected supply shortages? what did you do?
Your waiters and waitresses are the face of your establishment, shaping the customer experience and directly impacting revenue. What does excellent customerservice mean to you? Tell us about a time you dealt with a difficult customer. How do you handle a situation where a customer complains about the wait time?
This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup features news of dramatic Valentine's Day shift, best food scenes, and the evolution of c-store foodservice. As they grapple with rising costs across their supply chain, 71 percent of restaurants plan to increase prices this year.
With cloud-based software and platforms like Microsoft Teams, restaurants can standardize processes across multiple locations and speed up supply management. Consistent Equipment Across Locations : Using standardized equipment across all locations, such as commercial deep fryers , ensures consistency in food preparation and quality.
In these moments, quick-service restaurants become more than just places to grab a quick meal – they transform into familiar landmarks, instilling hope and reassurance during the recovery process. It's not just about selling food anymore – it's about being there when communities need a sense of stability.
At the same time, Kahn was working on revamping the simple syrups, developing them in house and creating flavors like habanero, ginger and lavender to add complexity and more customization to the margarita lineup. Condado Tacos also carries about 80 tequilas so customers can spike a drink with their favorite brand.
How can we stay in business when customers have no interest in leaving their homes? Do you remember how challenging it was (and continues to be) to attract employees and customers once the pandemic seemed to settle down? The supply chain is fragile and now with imposed tariffs this may become an even greater concern.
By Indiana Lee, Contributor Guests want to know where their food comes from, how it was raised, and whether it aligns with their values. According to a study from Delierect , 43% of restaurant diners say they are willing to pay more for sustainable dishes, and 68% believe restaurants should take active steps to reduce food waste.
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