Panera’s Menu Makeover Could be Start of Big 2024 for Fast-Casual Chain

With an eye towards efficiency (and, one presumes, improved profits), Panera Bread recently unveiled it’s largest menu revamp ever.

Fast-Food Kiosks Will be Prevalent by 2025

The annual State of Digital Report by Qu revealed that food kiosks are the top priority this year for QSRs and fast-casual restaurants.

The Future of Restaurants: Data and Insights for 2024 and Beyond

What do consumers desire in 2024 when they eat out? Value and convenience, mostly, and though those are universal qualities most any time, an uncertain economic outlook and increased food prices have seen consumers slowly …

FI Fast Break audio news: March 8, 2023

The latest FI news podcast notes that major restaurant chains are reducing menu options to prepare for tough financial times.

FI Fast Break audio news: Feb. 22, 2023

The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on modern consumers’ increasing focus on value and affordability.

Report: CAVA & Chicken Salad Chick Earn Rave Reviews

As inflation persists, it becomes more challenging for restaurants to lure customers. Nevertheless, new research shows a few chains are making strides when it comes to winning guests. Merchant Centric, a data analytics and reputation …

Investors See Tough Times Ahead for Fast Casuals

It’s difficult to project how the fast-casual industry will perform in a recession. The current version of the industry hasn’t really seen one. To be sure, the fast-casual concept predates the financial crisis of the …

Study: Gen Z Flocking to Fast-Casual Restaurants

These days, members of Gen Z are flocking to quick-service restaurants. In the 12 months ending July 2022, Gen Z consumers made 5 billion total restaurant visits, and 4.3 billion of those visits were to …

Restaurant Brands Increasingly Court Marijuana Users

Image courtesy of Wingstop While 18 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. have legalized marijuana for recreational use, it remains illegal on the federal level. Yet, several national restaurant brands are incorporating marijuana into their marketing …

Restaurants Work New Strategies to Retain Staff

Hiring new employees is hard for businesses across the food landscape. Retaining them is even harder. And if you are a restaurant operator amid the current worker shortage, your staffing problems are the hardest. The …

Consumers Eager to Wine and Dine, According to Restaurant Data

New research shows reason for optimism in the fine-dining space. Merchant Centric, which monitors customer reviews, recently noted that, during the first half of 2021, fine dining had the strongest guest sentiment and star rating …

CEOs: Merger of Panera, Caribou, and Einstein Bros. Should ‘Turbocharge’ Growth

In a major merger announced Thursday, Panera Bread joined forces with Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels to form Panera Brands. The new group includes more than 4,000 fast-casual restaurants. The pact sent reverberations throughout …