Fast casuals, overpopulation to blame for casual dining downfall

Fast casuals, overpopulation to blame for casual dining downfall
Tags: Operations Management, Trends / Statistics
July 27, 2009

An article in the Orlando Sentinel has identified several reasons behind the decline of casual-dining restaurants.

In addition to the popularity of fast casual restaurants, the article highlights a change in consumer dining habits and demographics and the general overpopulation of casual-dining restaurants as reasons behind the downward shift.

As reported in the article:

The recession has sent some moms and wives back to work so they can supplement the family income, but many women have lost jobs, too. The slowdown in the percentage of women working has "removed a growth factor that was relevant in the '60s, '70s and '80s," said Dennis Lombardi, a nationally known food-service consultant based in Ohio.