Despite the unprecedented challenges the restaurant industry faced in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic—including an estimated $255 billion sales loss1—franchising activity didn’t come to a complete halt.
Franchise Frenzy: The Boom in Fast-Casual Segment Franchise Opportunities
Topics: Quick Service Restaurant, Casual Dining Restaurant, Delivery, OREO, Cookies, Foodservice Industry, Menu, Menu Strategy, Food & Beverage, Sales & Profitability, Drive-Thru, Limited Time Offers (LTOs)
How Noncommercial Operators Can Maximize Sales With Prepackaged Snacks
Nine in 10 adults now snack more often than before the COVID-19 pandemic1—and due to efforts to limit close contact to reduce the virus’ spread, prepackaged items have become a popular choice.
Foodservice provider Morrison Healthcare, which works with more than 800 hospitals and healthcare systems, has seen a notable uptick in prepackaged snack interest during the past 18 months—although Jeffrey Quasha, Morrison’s director of retail culinary innovation, says customers have actually been drawn to prepackaged options for several years.
Topics: Snacking, Vending, Noncommercial, Specialty Coffee Shop, Business & Industry, College & University, Healthcare, Lodging, Commercial, Snack, Single-Serve, belVita Breakfast Biscuits, OREO, Senior Living, Grab-and-Go, Labor, Convenience, Foodservice Industry, Menu, Customer Experience, Flavors & Ingredients, Food & Beverage, Micro Markets & Vending, Packaging, Sales & Profitability, Operations, Coronavirus, Indulgence, Limited Time Offers (LTOs), Prepackaged, Safety & Sanitation, Food Waste, Waste Reduction, Functional, Healthful, Micro Market, Cafeteria, Office Coffee Service (OCS), Healthful Snacking, Grocery, State of SnackingTM Report
Bite to Treat: Building the Best Between-Meal Snack Menu
Driven by a need for nourishment, distraction and other factors,1 in recent years, snacking has become somewhat of a national pastime.
Topics: Snacking, Noncommercial, Promotions, Salads, Side Dishes, Beverage, Business & Industry, Commercial, Cookies/Bars/Snacks, Beverages, Appetizers/Snacks, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Snack, Better-for-You, Bars, Single-Serve, Grab-and-Go, Foodservice Industry, Menu, Consumer, Menu Strategy, Sustainability, Food & Beverage, Packaging, Sales & Profitability, Brownies, Drive-Thru, Dessert Pizza, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Fast-Casual Restaurant, Branded Ingredients, Consumer Behavior, Value, Indulgence, Limited Time Offers (LTOs), Dips/Spreads/Sauces, Sandwiches/Burgers, Prepackaged, Design, Functional, Healthful, Sweet, Breads/Muffins/Pastries, Fresh
Time-Tested: Which Pandemic Practices Could Become Permanent?
Over the past year and a half, operators have addressed emerging pandemic-related consumer preference, safety and other needs by introducing innovative menu and operational changes—and a number have shown some staying power.
Topics: Technology, Promotions, Marketing & Communications, Mobile, Independents, Family Restaurant, Takeout, Business & Industry, Quick Service Restaurant, Casual Dining Restaurant, Ice Cream/Yogurt Shop, Delivery, Meal Kits, Donuts/Pancakes/Waffles, Cookies/Bars/Snacks, Ice Cream Desserts, Cakes/Cupcakes, Breakfast, Dessert, Snack, Holidays, Chocolate, CHIPS AHOY!, OREO, Family, Cookies, Dessert Ingredients, Grab-and-Go, Labor, Convenience, Foodservice Industry, Menu, Creative Inspiration, Customer Experience, Consumer, Flavors & Ingredients, Menu Strategy, Food & Beverage, Sales & Profitability, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Curbside Pickup, Fast-Casual Restaurant, Off-Premises, Consumer Behavior, Value, Limited Time Offers (LTOs), Nostalgia, Digital/Online Ordering, Touchless, On-Premises, Foodservice, Sweet, Fresh
Under Wraps: What’s Next for Off-Premises Packaging?
Off-premises dining now comprises a larger portion of overall sales than it did pre-pandemic in all six major restaurant segments (family dining, casual dining, fine dining, quick service, fast casual, and coffee and snack).1 No doubt, the demand for takeout will remain strong in the coming months as summer temperatures and higher vaccination rates prompt consumers to seek a convenient way to dine outside—and take leftovers home.
Topics: Noncommercial, Promotions, Marketing & Communications, Family Restaurant, Takeout, Regional, Business & Industry, Commercial, Quick Service Restaurant, Casual Dining Restaurant, Fine Dining, Delivery, National, Local, Beverages, Main Dishes, Lunch, Dinner, Single-Serve, Family, Freshness, Grab-and-Go, Foodservice Industry, Menu, Customer Experience, Consumer, Menu Strategy, Product Quality & Safety, Social Responsibility, Sustainability, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Packaging, Sales & Profitability, Delivery App, Drive-Thru, Consumers, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Curbside Pickup, Fast-Casual Restaurant, Off-Premises, Consumer Behavior, Sandwiches/Burgers, Design, Digital/Online Ordering, Third-Party Delivery (3PD), Safety & Sanitation, Mobile App, Outdoor Dining, Waste Reduction, Touchless, On-Premises