The chicken sandwich wars have catapulted a menu staple to new heights of popularity and profitability. America’s insatiable appetite for chicken sandwich variations and a young market hungry for bold new taste adventures have dovetailed to create sky-high demand for chicken innovation. As a result, the stakes for quick-service chains clawing their way up the pecking order of chicken sandwich concepts continues to rise.
Topics: Millennials, Trends, Quick Service Restaurant, Menu, Sales & Profitability, Operations, quick service restaurants
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
As the chicken sandwich wars continue to reach new heights, it was inevitable that they would dovetail with another major foodservice trend: plant-based chicken. Protein alternatives in the category could rise fast in the pecking order of chicken sandwiches, given high demand for foods that are both flavorful and functional—a combination that COVID-19 has brought to the front burner of foodservice.
Topics: Quick Service Restaurant, Better-for-You, Vegan, Menu Strategy, Sustainability, Operations, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Functional, Plant-Based
The pandemic deprived the food and beverage industry of nearly $240 billion in sales in 20201—but it couldn’t bring breakfast down—at least, not completely.
Topics: Noncommercial, Family Restaurant, Global, Business & Industry, College & University, Healthcare, Lodging, Commercial, Quick Service Restaurant, Casual Dining Restaurant, Fine Dining, Donuts/Pancakes/Waffles, Breakfast, Better-for-You, Breakfast Biscuits, Single-Serve, belVita Breakfast Biscuits, OREO, Senior Living, Grab-and-Go, Convenience, Micro Markets & Vending, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Fast-Casual Restaurant, Off-Premises, Branded Ingredients, Flavor Profiles, Personalization, Consumer Behavior, Indulgence, Customization, Prepackaged, Nostalgia, On-Premises, Functional, Foodservice, Healthful, Sweet, Micro Market, Breads/Muffins/Pastries, Plant-Based, Fresh, Workplace, Cafeteria
The tide may be turning, but it can still be a struggle for operators to keep their head above water. Despite a surge of government funding for restaurant relief, rising vaccination rates and receding restrictions, 39% of restaurants—about 2 out of every 5—couldn’t cover their June rents, according to survey data from the lead generation platform Alignable.1
Topics: Technology, Quick Service Restaurant, Delivery, Operations, COVID-19, Off-Premises, Digital/Online Ordering, Third-Party Delivery (3PD)
See how you can leverage 2020’s top trends to help tailor your menu for today’s evolving tastes.
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