Dine-in, Fast Casual and Retail - Restaurateur Connection

‘Repurposed Spaces Offer Three Key Advantages for a Fast-Casual Brand: Cost, Time, and Customers.’

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 25, 2025

With big-box retailers closing up shop, more than 140 million square feet of desirable retail space has become available, presenting the opportunity for restaurants such as fast-casual concepts to expand their businesses. In more recent years, there's been a wider adoption of fast-casual concepts.

Fast Casual

Fast Casual Casual Retail Food Supply

Check, Please… or Just Check Out? How Grocery and Convenience Stores Are Eating Into Restaurant Market Share

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 12, 2025

The restaurant industry's competitive landscape for mealtime dollars is changing fast, and it's no longer brand against brand. The Rise of the Retail Meal When asked about their primary motivation for increasing their purchases, respondents reported value for the money and ease. The 2,000 U.S.

Retail

Retail Marketing Fast Casual Customer Service

Fast-Casual Academia, Climatarian Menu and Ice Auction

Modern Restaurant Management

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

The Hospitality Recovery Coalition includes DISCUS, the American Distilled Spirits Alliance (ADSA), the Council of State Restaurant Associations (CSRA), the National Restaurant Association and TIPs. “Without assistance at all levels of government, many of these businesses will be forced to close their doors. .”

Fast Casual

Fast Casual Casual Menu Mobile Ordering

Waffle House lifts 50-cent egg surcharge as prices fall

Restaurant Business

JULY 2, 2025

As of last week, wholesale prices were down 67% from their peak of about $8 for a dozen eggs, and retail prices were down 27%, according to the USDA. News prices commodities Breakfast Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. Thanks for understanding!” Sign up here.

Pricing

Pricing Back of House Fast Casual 2025

MRM Research Roundup: AI Investment Heating Up and Summer Dining Dos and Don’ts

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 27, 2025

With households increasingly treating dining out as a luxury, every menu item and service interaction becomes a potential make-or-break moment. Additionally, customer satisfaction with full-service restaurants varies significantly depending on the type of purchase experience (dine in, carry out, or delivery). At the same time, U.S.

Loyalty Program

Loyalty Program Customer Experience 2025 Customer Service

2025 Outlook: Experts Weigh In on Restaurant Trends and Challenges, Part Three

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 18, 2024

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. For the first part, click here and for the second part, click here. Data, Data, Data. As of 2024, over half of U.S.

2025

2025 Loyalty Program Social Media Fast Casual

‘A Smaller Footprint Isn’t a Limitation – It’s an Invitation to Get Creative’

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. Among her design tips: Form Must Follow Function, Go Big in Little Ways and Design to Grow. What are some restaurant design trends you are seeing for 2025?

Fast Casual

Fast Casual 2025 Design Customer Experience

MRM Research Roundup: Destination Dining, Voice Commerce, and the Force of Fast Food

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 30, 2025

This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup features delivery data, tariff troubles, summer dining trends, and Beer Serves America. Additional findings indicate that 44 percent favor a balance of human staff and some technology, while 41 percent prefer no AI use at all in their dining experience.

Fast Casual

Fast Casual Food Point of Sale Mobile Ordering

C-stores are stealing fast-food tactics. And fast-food customers

Restaurant Business

JUNE 17, 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. Sounds like the hallmarks of any solid fast-food restaurant. By Heather Lalley on Jun.

Food

Food Fast Casual Leadership Loyalty Program

MRM Research Roundup: End-of-April 2021 Edition

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 5, 2021

Casual Dining velocity has grown by 158 percent over the same period, suggesting many of the Casual Dining business models were able to maintain sales to some degree through pandemic restrictions. The Value of Trust. The impact of COVID-19 on customer behavior was experienced swiftly f by all industries.

2021

2021 Coupons Loyalty Program Consumer Goods

MRM Research Roundup: Experimentation, Valentine’s Vibe Shift, and Wine Cork Market

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 31, 2025

Year of Experimentation Square released early insights from its forthcoming annual Future of Commerce report, providing a unique look at the restaurant, retail and beauty industries across the US, Canada, UK, and Australia. ” A Year of Challenges U.S. ” A Year of Challenges U.S.

Marketing

Marketing Loyalty Program 2024 2025

The Cost of B-ing Good

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. I have been fortunate to work with Sleepy Bee Cafe since its founding in 2013. Green Restaurant and Slow Food were others we considered.

Certification

Certification Fast Casual Government Front of House

MRM EXCLUSIVE: Five CX Strategies Restaurants Can Use to Gain a Competitive Edge During Challenging Times

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. And during the current climate, it has become more important than ever.

Fast Casual

Fast Casual Food Safety Loyalty Program Customer Experience

MRM Research Roundup: Mid-January 2021 Edition

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 15, 2021

This edition of MRM Research Roundup features restaurant industry year-end totals, how restaurant labor is evolving, fast-food brand intimacy and top cities for locavores. An Unpopular Year. In April, the segment’s customer transactions declined by -70 percent compared to year ago, and improved its declines to -30 percent in December.

2021

2021 Fast Casual Fine Dining Point of Sale

Effectively Targeting and Marketing to Gen Z

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Marketing trends, mobile data insights show that Gen Z has a considerable appetite for restaurants, clean eating, fast-casual, and exciting twists on healthy dining options. Wendy’s and Burger King are two masters in the genre, sparking lots of interest and engagement that’s helping to drive fast-food growth.

Marketing

Marketing Social Media Fast Casual Influencer

MRM Research Roundup: Mid-August 2020 Edition

Modern Restaurant Management

AUGUST 17, 2020

This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup features consumers' dining desires, the power of personalization and the untapped opportunity in localized marketing. COVID-19 Consumer Dining Trends. Mixed take-out bag. Mixed take-out bag.

2020

2020 Mobile Ordering Loyalty Program Food Safety

DoorDash acquires tech firm Symbiosys to supercharge its advertising business

Restaurant Business

JUNE 11, 2025

Launched in 2022, it is the fastest-growing retail media network in history, according to the company. Founded in 2022 by former Google and Microsoft executive Bashar Kachachi, Symbiosys uses retailers’ data to buy and target digital ads. By Joe Guszkowski on Jun. These ads will direct back to a restaurants’ DoorDash ordering page.

Advertising

Advertising Fast Casual Social Media Leadership

MRM Research Roundup: Holiday Spending, Franchise Optimism, and Pickle Energy

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 31, 2024

For shifting consumer preferences, 34 percent expect more takeout and delivery in 2025, 28 percent expect greater demand for healthier options, and 24 percent expect less frequent dine-in visits. Those priorities include increased marketing and sales efforts alongside new benefits and programs to attract and retain staff.

Franchising

Franchising Franchise 2024 Mobile Ordering

MRM Research Roundup: End-of-April 2020-COVID-19 Effects Edition

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 1, 2020

Other businesses have seen a surge of consumer interest, including chicken-wing joints (+84 percent), pizzerias (+71 percent) and fast-food restaurants (+55 percent). frequent users who dined out five or more times per week pre-COVID (35 percent of respondents) indicated minimal decline in takeout and drive-thru. In the U.K.

2020

2020 Food Safety Fast Casual Guest Recovery

MRM EXCLUSIVE: Fast Food Has Become a Hi-Tech Job

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 23, 2022

Consumers visit a fast food or quick serve restaurant (QSR) with a goal in mind: secure a tasty meal incredibly quickly. Once upon a time, a frontline employee at a fast food restaurant did not necessarily need technological skills to apply for the job. Fast forward to 2022. Who makes the magic happen?

Food

Food Food Safety Front of House Fast Casual

Decade of Disruption: Restaurant Insiders Dish What’s on the Plate

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Elo’s Sonal Apte, vice president of retail and hospitality. Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked restaurant industry movers and shakers: "What do you feel is going to cause disruption in the restaurant industry over the next decade?” Christopher Baron of RedBaron Consulting.

Mobile Ordering

Mobile Ordering Front of House Customer Service Customer Experience

Stop Prepping Veggies – Strategy in Post-Pandemic Recovery

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 9, 2021

On the produce side of things, supply drastically shifted away from foodservice to retail. This was painfully evident when a couple of my coworkers and myself went to eat at a fast casual chain and waited over a half hour for food. As restaurants are now bouncing back strongly, the supply chain is adjusting.

Kitchen Safety

Kitchen Safety Food Supply Fast Casual Food Safety

From acqui-hire to vaporware: The new restaurant tech ABCs

Restaurant Business

JUNE 23, 2025

By Joe Guszkowski on Jun. 23, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn The restaurant tech vocabulary keeps expanding. Image by Nico Heins/Midjourney Want to sound smart at the next restaurant tech cocktail party? . Image by Nico Heins/Midjourney Want to sound smart at the next restaurant tech cocktail party? Add these six terms to your vocabulary.

Hiring

Hiring Mobile Ordering Advertising Leadership

Four Factors Likely to Drive Global Mobile Wallet Market Expansion

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 24, 2022

With increasing restrictions on public movement and offline retail operations, the growing demand for online shopping amid the COVID-19 pandemic is propelling global mobile wallet industry growth. As per a recent report by Global Market Insights, mobile wallet market size is projected to exceed USD 700 billion by 2027.

Marketing

Marketing Loyalty Program Coupons Fast Casual

2023 Outlook: Trends and Challenges Restaurants Will See, Part One

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 21, 2022

From grocery to retail; offering an opportunity for consumers to linger or pop in to pick up a meal not only adds revenue opportunities but also foot traffic and consumer preference data. Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked experts for their thoughts on trends and challenges that will affect the restaurant industry in 2023.

2023

2023 Loyalty Program Fast Casual Customer Experience

2024 Outlook: Restaurant Trends and Challenges, Part One

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 2, 2024

And while automation and robotics can help streamline some elements of operations, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there's a newfound appreciation for human connection and dining experiences. We've reached a point where we're recognizing the value and limits of these technologies.

2024

2024 Fast Casual Food Safety Insurance

MRM Research Roundup: Mid-April 2020 Edition

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

2020 Point of Sale Fast Casual Online Ordering

MRM Research Roundup: Mid-February 2021 Edition

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 17, 2021

This edition of MRM Research Roundup features news of restaurant resiliency, dining trends in Canada, restaurant salaries across the U.S. Restaurant Resiliency. Throughout one of the most challenging years for U.S. Throughout one of the most challenging years for U.S. Carry-out ended 2020 holding 46 percent of off-premises order share.

2021

2021 Mobile Ordering Download Loyalty Program

Four Industry Trends to Boost Your Restaurant Business

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

This might mean weaving elements of fast-casual dining into your design. Dining out is becoming a shareable experience. On top of that, retail sales of plant-based foods that directly replace animal products grew by 17% from August 2017 through August 2018. Remodeling. Service Expansion.

Fast Casual

Fast Casual Equipment Small Business Mobile Ordering

MRM Franchise Feed: Arby’s ‘Beefs’ Up and SONIC Swag

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 26, 2021

Flynn now owns and operates a combined total of 2,355 quick-service, fast casual and casual dining restaurants, generating $3.5 Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Franchise Feed offers a glimpse at what's new in the restaurant franchise and MUFSO environment. Flynn Acquires Hefty Portfolio.

Franchising

Franchising Franchise Fast Casual Loyalty Program

Factors Likely to Drive Global Mobile Wallet Market Expansion

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 24, 2022

With increasing restrictions on public movement and offline retail operations, the growing demand for online shopping amid the COVID-19 pandemic is propelling global mobile wallet industry growth. As per a recent report by Global Market Insights, mobile wallet market size is projected to exceed USD 700 billion by 2027.

Marketing

Marketing Loyalty Program Coupons Fast Casual

2024 Outlook: Restaurant Trends and Challenges, Part Three

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 8, 2024

QSRs Shift Focus from Slow-Paced Dining to Swift, Transactional Experiences Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) are reimagining their dining spaces to prioritize speed, convenience, and personalization over traditional, slow-paced dining experiences. Read the first part, here. For the second part, click here.

2024

2024 Loyalty Program Cash Management Customer Experience

Digital du Jour

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 18, 2021

Menus are shifting quickly to digital screens, promising operational efficiency and a consistent brand experience from dine-in to drive-thru. While there are clear benefits to an all-digital menu system, to get the most out them, you must first take a step back to re-examine what your menu means to you. Here’s just a bit of what we saw.

Back of House

Back of House Seasonal Menu Customer Experience Fast Casual

More Mocktails on the Menu

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 3, 2024

Adults 18+ specific questions about non-alcoholic beverages to help inform restaurants, retailers, event planners, and food and beverage firms with business strategies. Dining Out Habits of Mocktail Enthusiasts Mocktail enthusiasts are much more likely to eat out frequently and more likely to go to a chain restaurant rather than local.

Menu

Menu Fast Casual Beverage Social Media

MRM Research Roundup: End-of-February 2020 Edition

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 27, 2020

This edition of Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Research Roundup features the National Restaurant Association's State of the Indusrty Report, food industry pressures, foodservice opportunities, influencer marketing, foot traffic analysis and the dining-out dollar. 2020 State of the Restaurant Industry.

2020

2020 Influencer Point of Sale Food Safety

State of the Industry and More Restaurant Research

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 3, 2023

" Pandemic Pivots Become Permanent The temporary "pivots" developed during the pandemic — expanded delivery services, outdoor dining options, to-go alcohol offerings, and investments in technology — are the foundation of the industry's "new normal." million by the end of 2023.

2023

2023 2022 Consumer Goods Point of Sale

MRM Research Roundup: Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day 2024 Edition

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Pizza Ordering Predictions HungerRush released the results of a national dining survey on 2024 pizza ordering predictions for The Big Game (February 11) and National Pizza Day (February 9). In this edition of MRM Research Roundup, we feature pizza predictions, Valentine's Day menu trends and lots about loyalty. million times per month.

2024

2024 Loyalty Program Food Order 2030

2023 Reflections: The Year That Was in Restaurants, Part Two

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 20, 2023

Many dining establishments found ways to use AI to track and flag stock quantities, automate schedule-making for staff, implement customer service chatbots and process online orders. Each year, Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asks experts for their views on the state of the industry. Here are some of their insights.

2023

2023 Loyalty Program Mobile Ordering Consumer Goods

What Are Crytpo Restaurants Serving Up?

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 5, 2022

The coffeehouse chain will become one of Bakkt's flagship retailers and embrace crypto through its payment app. Piya has no confirmed locations, but it will have a private omakase dining room and a fast-casual area where NFT holders can access exclusive events. Application of Blockchain in the Food Industry.

Serving

Serving Loyalty Program Food Supply Point of Sale

MRM Franchise Feed: Kitchen of the Future, Restaurant Sherpas and Dunkin’ Hirin’

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 12, 2020

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine's Franchise Feed offers a glimpse at what's new in the restaurant franchise and MUFSO environment. Send news to Barbara Castiglia at bcastiglia@modernrestaurantmanagement.com. The safety of Dunkin’ franchisees, their restaurant employees, and guests remains a top priority.

Franchising

Franchising Franchise Food Safety Kitchen Safety

Navigating the Supply Chain in the Restaurant Industry

Goliath Consulting

JUNE 15, 2021

We saw customers stockpiling on groceries and supplies in homes instead of going out to eat, raising retail sales by 29 percent over the previous year (1). Meanwhile, sales at cafes, fast-food restaurants, coffee shops, and casual-dining establishments fell by 27 percent. Shortage of workers is one reason.

Supplies

Supplies Food Supply Front of House Fast Casual

MRM Research Roundup: End-of-May 2020 Edition

Modern Restaurant Management

JUNE 1, 2020

In New York, California and Illinois, even as the on-premise space remains closed (for in-outlet dining/drinking), sales velocity continues to improve week-over-week, as both the market and consumers continue to adapt to the new trading style. Consumer demand is strong in states that have started reopening to dine-in.

2020

2020 Food Safety Online Ordering Point of Sale

Roadmap to Sustainability

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 4, 2024

That’s much more money than I ever had to spend on marketing but a drop in the bucket compared to what other fast casual brands spend for much less impactful results. There is not one simple thing a company can do to be more sustainable–there are dozens that need to done every day, but they are doable.

Sustainability

Sustainability Book Food Supply Waste

MRM Franchise Feed: Wing Zone Revitalization and Real Food BK

Modern Restaurant Management

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021

Ike’s Love & Sandwiches is ranked #12 on Fast Casual’s Movers and Shakers 2021 list. “We owed this rebrand to our fan-base of customers, franchisees and budding investors to experience our brand in an optimized and energized way.” ” Ike's Loves Bangin' Buns.

Franchising

Franchising Franchise Food Fast Casual

‘Repurposed Spaces Offer Three Key Advantages for a Fast-Casual Brand: Cost, Time, and Customers.’

Check, Please… or Just Check Out? How Grocery and Convenience Stores Are Eating Into Restaurant Market Share

Trending Sources

Fast-Casual Academia, Climatarian Menu and Ice Auction

Waffle House lifts 50-cent egg surcharge as prices fall

MRM Research Roundup: AI Investment Heating Up and Summer Dining Dos and Don’ts

2025 Outlook: Experts Weigh In on Restaurant Trends and Challenges, Part Three

‘A Smaller Footprint Isn’t a Limitation – It’s an Invitation to Get Creative’

MRM Research Roundup: Destination Dining, Voice Commerce, and the Force of Fast Food

C-stores are stealing fast-food tactics. And fast-food customers

MRM Research Roundup: End-of-April 2021 Edition

MRM Research Roundup: Experimentation, Valentine’s Vibe Shift, and Wine Cork Market

The Cost of B-ing Good

MRM EXCLUSIVE: Five CX Strategies Restaurants Can Use to Gain a Competitive Edge During Challenging Times

MRM Research Roundup: Mid-January 2021 Edition

Effectively Targeting and Marketing to Gen Z

MRM Research Roundup: Mid-August 2020 Edition

DoorDash acquires tech firm Symbiosys to supercharge its advertising business

MRM Research Roundup: Holiday Spending, Franchise Optimism, and Pickle Energy

MRM Research Roundup: End-of-April 2020-COVID-19 Effects Edition

MRM EXCLUSIVE: Fast Food Has Become a Hi-Tech Job

Decade of Disruption: Restaurant Insiders Dish What’s on the Plate

Stop Prepping Veggies – Strategy in Post-Pandemic Recovery

From acqui-hire to vaporware: The new restaurant tech ABCs

Four Factors Likely to Drive Global Mobile Wallet Market Expansion

2023 Outlook: Trends and Challenges Restaurants Will See, Part One

2024 Outlook: Restaurant Trends and Challenges, Part One

MRM Research Roundup: Mid-April 2020 Edition

MRM Research Roundup: Mid-February 2021 Edition

Four Industry Trends to Boost Your Restaurant Business

MRM Franchise Feed: Arby’s ‘Beefs’ Up and SONIC Swag

Factors Likely to Drive Global Mobile Wallet Market Expansion

2024 Outlook: Restaurant Trends and Challenges, Part Three

Digital du Jour

More Mocktails on the Menu

MRM Research Roundup: End-of-February 2020 Edition

State of the Industry and More Restaurant Research

MRM Research Roundup: Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day 2024 Edition

2023 Reflections: The Year That Was in Restaurants, Part Two

What Are Crytpo Restaurants Serving Up?

MRM Franchise Feed: Kitchen of the Future, Restaurant Sherpas and Dunkin’ Hirin’

Navigating the Supply Chain in the Restaurant Industry

MRM Research Roundup: End-of-May 2020 Edition

Roadmap to Sustainability

MRM Franchise Feed: Wing Zone Revitalization and Real Food BK

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