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Fast food and casual dining are currently seeing higher traffic. With dining out becoming more of an occasional treat, it's very important that guests have a great experience – whether that's at an upmarket restaurant or a fast food outlet. Menu consolidation will be important if these trends continue.
For fastcasual chains, competition includes usual suspects like casual dining and QSRs as well as c-stores and grocery chains who are ramping up foodservice offerings to capitalize on the trading down trend. Sitting in a pricing sweet spot, FCRs have an opportunity to win share from both QSRs and casual restaurants.
While there was a brief dip in consumer awareness of menu price increases in late 2024, the spring of 2025 has seen a moderate rise, affecting dining habits and consumer perceptions of value. ” Restaurants should focus on tech that adds real value, not just innovation for innovation’s sake, Fink noted.
” The majority of SALIDO's employees joined NAB following the acquisition to continue innovating the Restaurant OS. From screen to plate, the menu is expected to feature signature dishes and recipes that have been prepared on the show. ” DIY Meal Kits Made Easy.
Smart QSR and fastcasual chains like Chipotle and Shake Shack reconfigured their strategies to lean heavily into delivery apps, digital ordering, and loyalty programs. So, what can marketers of fastcasuals do to bring people back to their brick-and-mortar locations? But the platform is where the real winners shook out.
Fast-casual Condado Tacos—which prefers calling itself “next-gen casual”—has long had a bar program with a selection of conventional margaritas and beers to go with its Mexican-style menu and vibe. But those same margaritas had been on the menu since 2014 when the bar, so to speak, was set a bit lower.
So much data is generated at every point within a restaurant, whether fastcasual or fine dining. Foot traffic or heat mapping, menu item engagement, or consumer demographics by time of day. For us, menuinnovation is more than adding dishes—it’s about offering something guests can’t find anywhere else.
From salted egg yolks and chili crunch fusions to mushroom-infused teas and freeze-dried fruit powder garnishes, Kimpton’s in-house experts share the standout ingredients, menu items and techniques that will come to the table in 2025. That’s where the NEXT Flavor Report comes in.
The owner of Delicious Raw, a healthy fastcasual concept launched in 2013, is looking to grow the brand and create a one-stop-shop for healthy consumables for a broad audience. We are also constantly working on ways to expand our menu, developing new recipes to offer innovative and delicious new options.
But such is the world of giant quick-service and fast-casual business : Find interesting, “trendy,” flavorful ideas from any culture, dilute them into their most mass-marketable forms, and reap monetary gain without acknowledging the sources. To light the way , a new wave of fastcasuals is actively changing the status quo.
If you’re involved in any aspect of the FastCasual category, you don’t need me to tell you that labor and distribution issues are real. has worked to secure secondary suppliers for critical menu ingredients. Maintaining continuity in your core menu is vital to your brand’s concept. Aloha Poke Co.
According to a study conducted by Technavio , the fastcasual restaurant industry will witness a compound annual growth rate of over 12 percent from now until 2026. I believe that fastcasual continues to be a great place for savvy multi-unit restaurant franchisees to diversify. Here are three reasons why.
The report found that loyalty is eroding as brands worked hard to offer new limited time offers, value meals, upgraded loyalty programs, and digital innovations. based diners who recently ordered from a QSR, fast-food or fast-casual chai also found that value is about more than just price. The survey of 1,500 U.S.-based
Recognizing this shift, Freshii , a fast-casual franchise with hundreds of locations globally, created a corporate partnership that enables companies to offer meal kits and market baskets at a discount to their employees. Strategies like those employed by Prairie keeps the supply chain moving, costs constant, and food waste limited.
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. Most recently, he co-founded Sammy's Sliders with chef Sammy Gianopoulos.
For Cody Pepper, CEO of Fast Fresh Brands, iit led him on a mission to make healthy eating accessible to everyone. This experience ignited a fire in him, leading him to leave a successful career in nonprofit and consulting to helm Fast Fresh, parent company of Bee Healthy Cafe and Nature's Table.
percent menu-price inflation rate. With households increasingly treating dining out as a luxury, every menu item and service interaction becomes a potential make-or-break moment. Red Robin climbs 3 percent to 78 thanks in large part to its focus on menu and food. At the same time, U.S. chain sales grew just 3.1
The fast-casual chain is working on its value perception in a way that spotlights menuinnovation and avoids discounts. Is the chain given enough credit for its more-affordable offerings?
Fast-casual Panera Bread has been going through significant change over the past two years, with multiple board and leadership changes. Last year, the bakery-café chain began a comprehensive menu overhaul. By Lisa Jennings on Jun. 25, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Panera CEO Paul Carbone is promising a three-year turnaround.
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 Revenue growth in 2024 was largely driven by menu price adjustments.
Technology innovations offer the potential to bridge the gap between the need to keep their business running and deliver quality products and experiences to their guests. For fast-casual or QSR brands, digital tableside ordering is equally beneficial. It relieves cashiers and reduces long lines.
The of-the-moment menu updates are part of sweeping rebrands at the two chains under owner Ascent Hospitality Management. With the new identity set, Ascent then turned to the chain’s menu. Alongside the new menu, the chain has developed a new restaurant design that will serve as a blueprint for future openings.
The pandemic was in full swing, and we got really busy, like 300-400 DMs whenever we dropped a menu,” he said. There are a few sweet treats on the menu, and there’s a whole coffee program. The families became fast friends. Jeff had nailed bagel making by then, and started selling his bagels online, using social media. “The
The fast-food franchisor is asking a federal court to sign off on its decision to terminate Paradigm Investment Group’s franchise agreement. Private-equity firm Savory Fund made a major investment in casual-dining chain Hawkers Asian Street Food. million last year, that’s more than double the next closest chain.
The state of the industry report found that 30% of restaurants planned to devote resources to kiosks, which can assist with inventory, employee trainings, menu control, and so much more. A Technomic Ignite Consumer report found a significant increase in average checks at both quick service and fastcasual establishments.
Bank of America suggests that technological innovation is the real game-changer , and it could have a big impact on the overall bottom line for restaurants in 2024. Moving to Interactive Menu Boards Speaking of dining being back – it’s back to being… different. So, what’s the solution?
The New Jersey-based fast-casual chain has been acquired by private-equity firm Thompson Street Capital Partners, the company announced Wednesday. Thompson Street managing partner Bob Dunn described the 130-unit Bubbakoo’s as an “innovative and compelling brand that resonate with a broad and growing customer base.” Sign up here.
Fast Food and QSR Value The United States Fast Food & Quick Service Restaurant Market size was valued at US$ 248.8 billion by 2033, according to The "United States Fast Food and Quick Services Restaurants Market Size and Share Analysis – Growth Trends and Forecast Report 2025-2033" from ResearchAndMarkets.com.
When we asked about fast food: 29 percent said they eat fast food frequently. 46 percent said they occasionally dine at a fast-food restaurant. Only five percent said they never eat fast food. 29 percent said they rarely ate at casual restaurants. 29 percent said they rarely ate at casual restaurants.
People will increasingly choose innovative products not only because they align with their values, but because they taste and perform better or otherwise meet personal preferences or needs. This shift will position cultivated meat as a long-term venture with the potential for far-reaching positive impacts on future generations.
But it wasn’t quite so bad for fast-casual concepts , which outpaced other categories with 9% growth in 2024, according to Technomic. Fast-casual chicken chains, including Dave’s Hot Chicken, saw double-digit sales growth, while fast-casual pizza continued to falter. By Heather Lalley on Jun.
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. Chef driven fastcasual restaurants feed consumers’ desires for high quality menu items delivered quickly and on the go.
This is where, especially for restaurants, we’re leading the charge and innovating,” he said. “To News marketing delivery technology Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. The capability is a first for the restaurant industry, Samolis said. Sign up here.
Continue to Site >>> Menu Former Red Robin CEO G.J. Emerging is a company founded by Mathew Focht that describes itself as investing “at the intersection of restaurant innovation, technology and experiential entertainment.” Hart, the former CEO of Red Robin, has joined the firm Emerging as managing partner, the company said Tuesday.
“We are seeing sign-on bonuses at fast food and fastcasual locations, something never seen before in the industry. Fastcasual 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. This is what has been working for me.”
The brand is scalable because the menu is easy to execute and everyone loves fries. innovative and unique marketing strategies and 3. Plus, the tourism and social media scene in Miami helps new brands grow fast. I believe as far as ourniche in casual dining experiences we’re at the top of the food chain.
The NCR Voyix 2024 Digital Commerce Index revealed nearly half (48 percent) of consumers dine out less than they used to because inflation is top of the menu. Thirty-one percent said they get faster overall service, 25 percent cited shorter lines and 23 percent liked exploring the menu at their own pace. The top reasons?
The convenience-retailing giant on Wednesday announced a Craveables Value Menu, pitting it in head-to-head competition with fast-food chains also looking to win consumers over with low prices. Photo: Shutterstock 7-Eleven is ready to do battle in the summer value wars.
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. Your menu: Part love letter, part manifesto, instructions for use and a bill of goods, all rolled into one. Should your menu move to the cloud?
To combat this, many chains are engaging in a “ value war ,” by discounting menu items or offering bundled meal deals. Instead of engaging in this “value war,” fastcasual restaurant concepts should focus on excellence in restaurant operations to increase store traffic and maintain strong margins.
And fast-food customers Chef Jonathon Sawyer discusses his Chicago restaurant, Kindling, and his latest TV appearance Are we reaching peak chicken tender saturation on menus? Since the menu at this fast-casual chain is rooted in Mediterranean flavors, this dessert is not a big culinary stretch.
Nowadays, vegan food is becoming normal in restaurants and fast food joints. Plant-based eating was previously limited to some selected restaurants and casual cafes. However, restaurants have begun experimenting with vegan menus, elevating what was once a niche dietary option into a genuine culinary trend.
Kiosks Are Coming for FastCasual Here’s a stat that might surprise you: 62% of brands are using or rolling out kiosks in 2025. While QSRs lead at 80%, fastcasual is catching up quickly. The takeaway: “Kiosks are coming to fastcasual. Done wrong, kiosks create bottlenecks instead of efficiency.
But there are also some areas where innovation is needed. This might mean weaving elements of fast-casual dining into your design. Menu Upgrades. Farm-to-table offerings and internationally-diverse menus are becoming the new normal. There is real potential on the horizon for restaurant owners. Service Expansion.
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