Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 18, 2025

Restaurant operators are dealing with shrinking margins, labor shortages, and higher guest expectations than ever before. It’s about taking friction out of operations—so staff can spend more time focused on hospitality, not paperwork. This isn’t about replacing people with machines.

Airlines 434

Airlines Hospitality Waste Fast Casual 434

Restaurant Business

JUNE 13, 2025

The fast-food franchisor is asking a federal court to sign off on its decision to terminate Paradigm Investment Group’s franchise agreement. Starbucks’ latest gambit to improve operations? Private-equity firm Savory Fund made a major investment in casual-dining chain Hawkers Asian Street Food. Sign up here.

Operations 216

Operations Leadership 2025 Fast Casual 216

Modern Restaurant Management

JULY 18, 2022

If you’re involved in any aspect of the Fast Casual category, you don’t need me to tell you that labor and distribution issues are real. We all also know that there is no silver bullet that will course-correct the struggles faced by owners and operators. They are absolutely your most valuable resource.

Fast Casual 493

Fast Casual Supplies Casual Franchise 493

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 19, 2024

In the restaurant industry, advances in payment processing and payment technology are driving significant changes, influencing everything from customer experience and operational efficiency to revenue generation and security. According to Statista , the global online food delivery market size was valued at $151.5

2025 447

2025 Loyalty Program Mobile Ordering Online Ordering 447

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

Although dynamic pricing is a staple in industries like travel and hospitality, its application in fast food is uncharted territory. Recent experiments with pricing strategies, such as summer value promotions, yielded lukewarm results, leaving operators questioning the best approach to menu pricing.

Pricing 446

Pricing Food Point of Sale Fast Casual 446

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 findings reinforce a key truth: value and convenience drive decisions and restaurant operators must respond or risk losing ground. That's a red flag for operators. The 2,000 U.S.

Retail 354

Retail Marketing Fast Casual Customer Service 354

ChowNow

JUNE 12, 2025

A lot of operators still might not do it, though, either because they underestimated how important it really is, or they felt overwhelmed by the math it takes to get accurate numbers. This gives you a more complete picture of your operational costs. Fast casual might push lower to protect volume margins.

Operations 195

Operations Food Supply Seasonal Menu Pricing 195

Modern Restaurant Management

APRIL 9, 2025

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. What are some ways you suggest operators utilize tech tools to be more efficient and profitable?

Loyalty Program 251

Loyalty Program Franchise Franchising Fast Casual 251

Restaurant Business

MAY 14, 2025

Burrito-and-bowl chains Chipotle and Qdoba have long led the fast-casual category. Here are the rising taco-focused brands that saw growth last year.

Fast Casual 211

Fast Casual Casual Operations 211

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 18, 2024

Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked restaurant industry experts for their views on what trends and challenges owners and operators can expect to see in 2025. So much data is generated at every point within a restaurant, whether fast casual or fine dining. Data, Data, Data.

2025 419

2025 Loyalty Program Social Media Fast Casual 419

Modern Restaurant Management

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

Long after the restaurant industry felt the most significant impacts of the pandemic, echoes still reverberate in the form of workforce realities and operational challenges. ” Perhaps unsurprisingly then, many restaurant operators cited a lack of qualified and committed applicants as a significant obstacle.

2025 474

2025 2024 Recruiting Employee Relations 474

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. Operators are thinking beyond the immediate space, considering how design elements can evolve and become recognizable brand signatures.

Fast Casual 251

Fast Casual 2025 Design Customer Experience 251

Modern Restaurant Management

OCTOBER 18, 2024

While restaurants that successfully pivot to address this demand for value may grow or maintain their sales, these brands could find themselves making other cost-saving operational changes, like reducing portion sizes, to account for this trend. In this competitive environment, it’s clear that we must innovate to stay ahead.

Operations 221

Operations Fast Casual Loyalty Program 2024 221

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 15, 2025

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.

Fast Casual 221

Fast Casual Food Franchise Franchising 221

ChowNow

JANUARY 23, 2025

The 5 Must-Have Restaurant Customer Retention Strategies for 2025 These are the absolute must-have retention strategies every restaurant operator should use if they want to grow their customer base this year. Servers or managers can casually inquire, How was everything today? or Is there anything we can do better?

2025 195

2025 Loyalty Program Operations Email Marketing 195

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Fast Food Flavor Report Fast food brands and restaurants are scratching their heads trying to figure out what flavors are a bonafide trend and which are just a fleeting fad. In 2025, operators can offer elevated foodservice experiences at more affordable prices through emphasizing value in LTOs to drive sales.

Beverage 450

Beverage 2025 Fine Dining Guest Recovery 450

ChowNow

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

The industry is evolving fast, and simply relying on word-of-mouth or foot traffic isnt going to cut it. Whether youre an independent operator or part of a small chain, visibility is everything. A casual brunch spot in a college town will attract a different crowd than a high-end steakhouse in a business district.

2025 195

2025 Marketing Email Marketing Operations 195

Goliath Consulting

FEBRUARY 8, 2025

He owns several fast-food franchises, including Krispy Kreme and Papa Johns, where he also serves on the board of directors. Additionally, he launched Big Chicken, a fast-casual concept that combines his love for comfort food with high-quality ingredients. Operational Excellence Efficiency at scale drives profitability.

Fast Casual 221

Fast Casual Franchise Franchising Sports 221

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 30, 2024

In a recent report shared by TouchBistro on the State of the Restaurant Industry for 2025, data provides key insights into a year marked by both significant hurdles and notable resilience for the restaurant franchising industry and quick-service restaurant (QSR) operators.

Loyalty Program 251

Loyalty Program Franchise Franchising 2025 251

Modern Restaurant Management

JANUARY 22, 2025

Furthermore, CAD supports the design-build lifecycle and maintenance, ensuring continuity and precision from the initial concept to the daily operation of the completed restaurant. How Design Technology Improves Space and Guest Experience Every square foot counts when redesigning a fast-casual eatery or a fine dining venue.

Design 221

Design Technology Fine Dining Fast Casual 221

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 9, 2025

To learn more about how restaurant operators can best set themselves up for the upcoming summer season, Modern Restaurant Management IMRM) magazine reached out Kevin Bryla, Chief Marketing Officer, SpotOn. What details should operators pay attention to when setting up a patio for dining? The result?

Outdoor 251

Outdoor Mobile Ordering Loyalty Program Fast Casual 251

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

based architecture and design firm / /3877, newly-available real estate offers prime locations and cheaper rent for fast casual restaurants such as taco shops and upscale burger joints. Even with the closure of some chain restaurants, fast food and convenience will always be a prevalent part of the industry landscape.

Fast Casual 221

Fast Casual Customer Experience Design Casual 221

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 30, 2025

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.

Fast Casual 251

Fast Casual Food Point of Sale Mobile Ordering 251

Restaurant Business

JUNE 2, 2025

Sales in the segment far exceeded industry trends, boosted by growth brands like Chipotle, Wingstop, Raising Cane's and Jersey Mike's Subs. But some brands were left behind.

Fast Casual 175

Fast Casual Casual 2024 Operations 175

Modern Restaurant Management

MAY 22, 2025

The uniforms worn by staff, from kitchen to counter, represent your brand in every customer interaction, making apparel a strategic business decision rather than merely an operational requirement. Functional Design Elements While aesthetic considerations remain important, functional design elements directly impact operational efficiency.

Uniforms 221

Uniforms Loyalty Program Front of House Customer Experience 221

Restaurant Business

JUNE 11, 2025

The restaurants tend to be community hubs, “a part of life” in the cities and towns where they operate, O’Reilly said. A rendering of Perkins Griddle & Go fast-casual concept. Simultaneously, the company also created a fast-casual version of Perkins called Griddle & Go, another nod to younger, on-the-go customers.

Fast Casual 185

Fast Casual Front of House Back of House Leadership 185

Restaurant Business

JUNE 6, 2025

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. 7 among the Top 10 restaurant brands.

Fast Casual 147

Fast Casual Leadership 2025 2024 147

Modern Restaurant Management

DECEMBER 28, 2021

From full service to fast-casual to legacy fast-food brands, the one constant was disruption. Many brands were able to turn a profit from the lockdowns and social distancing orders by shifting operations toward drive-thru, delivery, pick-up, and curbside models. Just as one issue seemed fixed, another presents itself.

Franchise 492

Franchise Franchising 2022 Fast Casual 492

Modern Restaurant Management

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

Independent restaurants are at a pivotal moment, as the industry confronts multiple challenges including inflation, cost volatility, and extreme weather and adapts to an increasingly complex operating environment, according to the findings of the The James Beard Foundation® (JBF) 2025 Independent Restaurant Industry Report.

2024 251

2024 2023 2025 Loyalty Program 251

Restaurant Business

APRIL 9, 2025

Most restaurant operators consider technology a necessity for running their restaurants today. That number was nearly as low for operators who said technology led to cost savings.Operators are also worried about raising labor costs, and this is a key area where the right technology could benefit restaurants.

Take-out 199

Take-out Technology Fast Casual Inventory 199

Modern Restaurant Management

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Whether fine-dining or fast casual, great service now revolves around the customer experience you bring to every interaction. Brands that were positioned with the right technology, such as pizza delivery and other fast and casual outlets have thrived during the pandemic.

Customer Experience 598

Customer Experience Customer Service Fast Casual Mobile Ordering 598

Goliath Consulting

MAY 26, 2025

A trendy, fast-casual spot will likely need very different content than a fine dining experience. You want someone who can both capture your brand visually and drive results. Prioritize Brand Fit The best content creators feel like an extension of your team. Ensure their tone, aesthetic, and values align with your restaurants vibe.

Hiring 221

Hiring Social Media Fast Casual Email Marketing 221

Restaurant Business

APRIL 16, 2024

Chang's is operating in a suburban New York shopping mall. It's the chain's third crack at a fast-casual spinoff. A Pagoda by P.F.

Fast Casual 274

Fast Casual Casual Operations 274

Restaurant Business

JUNE 17, 2025

Salad is rising as the next drive-thru concept The fast-casual Greenlane is plotting growth across Florida with investor and NFL star Rob Gronkowski working the drive-thru window. But Tampa-based Greenlane is among a growing number of fast-casual concepts making freshly prepared salads a drive-thru option.

Fast Casual 162

Fast Casual Leadership Mobile Ordering Casual 162

ChowNow

MAY 23, 2025

In this article, youll learn: Why every operator has to monitor their restaurant profit margins Why it can be so challenging to increase your profit margins How to improve your margin numbers Lets dig into why margins, not just sales, make or break a restaurant business. Your cost of goods sold (ingredients, beverages, packaging, etc.)

Point of Sale 195

Point of Sale Fast Casual Insurance Customer Service 195

Modern Restaurant Management

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

The modern restaurant industry has always moved fast, but the pace continues to accelerate. At the same time, QSRs and fast casual establishments are turning to technology to improve operations and customer interactions as they continue to increase output. Take fast casual and drive-thru for example.

2025 450

2025 Fast Casual Food Customer Experience 450

Modern Restaurant Management

MARCH 11, 2022

In particular, supply chain disruptions and staffing shortages – whether due to resignations or illness – are forcing quick service and fast casual restaurants to adapt quickly to changing conditions. Former competitors are now part of the same umbrella company. Appeal to Mobile Gamers.

2022 520

2022 Marketing Fast Casual Mobile Ordering 520