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.
Time-Tested: Which Pandemic Practices Could Become Permanent?
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
The challenges of 2020, including business closures and social distancing guidelines, catapulted the demand for takeout and delivery to new heights over the past year—and may have forever changed consumers’ relationship with the foodservice industry. Indeed, more than half (53%) of consumers surveyed by the National Restaurant Association say takeout and delivery have become "essential to the way they live.”1
Topics: Technology, Marketing & Communications, Independents, Takeout, Regional, Pies/Tarts, Business & Industry, Commercial, Quick Service Restaurant, Casual Dining Restaurant, Delivery, National, Local, Social Media, Family, Labor, Convenience, Foodservice Industry, Customer Experience, Consumer, Distribution, Menu Strategy, Packaging, Sales & Profitability, Delivery App, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Curbside Pickup, Fast-Casual Restaurant, Off-Premises, Consumer Behavior, Ghost Kitchens, Design, Digital/Online Ordering, Signage, Shareables, Third-Party Delivery (3PD)
Restaurants Redux: Foodservice Preps for Post-Pandemic Profits
If the pandemic has seemed to consist of nothing but a plateful of problems, the table is now being reset with plenty of reasons for optimism.
COVID-19 vaccines are becoming increasingly available, and all adults (ages 18 and up) should be eligible to receive them by May 1.1 The recently passed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill contains $28.6 billion in restaurant relief. Known as the American Rescue Plan, the new law’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund provides the relief debt-free to small and midsize restaurants.2 And consumers will now have more money to spend on foodservice. Individual Americans making under $75,000 a year and households with incomes under $150,000 will receive stimulus checks of $1,400.2
Topics: Restaurant Operations, Independents, Foodservice Industry, Sales & Profitability, Operations, COVID-19, Coronavirus
All in Good Time: What Makes for a Winning LTO in 2021?
Operators have increasingly turned to limited time offers in recent years to entice customers and spur sales. In fact, Technomic research indicates that LTO launches among the biggest 500 chain restaurant and retail operations grew 64% from 2014 to 2019.1
Topics: Merchandising, Promotions, Independents, Family Restaurant, Takeout, Quick Service Restaurant, Casual Dining Restaurant, Delivery, National, Custards/Cheesecakes, Cookies/Bars/Snacks, Ice Cream Desserts, Main Dishes, Dessert, Chocolate, CHIPS AHOY!, OREO, Cookies, Dessert Ingredients, Grab-and-Go, Convenience, Foodservice Industry, Menu, Creative Inspiration, Customer Experience, Consumer, Flavors & Ingredients, Menu Strategy, Food & Beverage, Packaging, Sales & Profitability, Drive-Thru, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Curbside Pickup, Fast-Casual Restaurant, Branded Ingredients, Flavor Profiles, Consumer Behavior, Indulgence, Limited Time Offers (LTOs), Dips/Spreads/Sauces, Sandwiches/Burgers, Prepackaged, Nostalgia
A Downturn’s Upside: Coronavirus Crisis Causes Outbreak of Good News and Goodwill at Foodservice Operations
COVID-19 (a.k.a. the coronavirus) may be an astonishing outbreak, but foodservice is far from broken. Though the dark clouds of coronavirus continue to gather, there have been bright spots that show the industry's resiliency and resolve.
Topics: Restaurant Operations, Trends, Independents, Family Restaurant, Regional, Commercial, Quick Service Restaurant, Casual Dining Restaurant, Meal Kits, National, Local, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Restaurant, Social Responsibility, Sales & Profitability, COVID-19, Coronavirus