Operations
Perkins debuting fast casual concept
Featuring a streamlined design and an elevated cafe experience, the 1,500-square-foot restaurant is half the size of a standard Perkins.
October 8, 2024 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
The fast casual industry is getting a new player this month when Griddle & Go, developed by Perkins American Food Co. and The Aria Group, debuts in Canada. The concept will also open soon in Texas.
Featuring a streamlined design and an elevated cafe experience, the 1,500-square-foot restaurant is half the size of a standard Perkins and is perfect for traditional street-front retail and non-traditional venues, including airports, casinos, hospitals, hotels, travel plazas and universities, said Toni Ronayne, president of Perkins American Food Co.
"The Perkins Griddle & Go concept is a perfect complement to the growing Fast Casual segment," she said in an interview with FastCasual. "Consumers are looking for convenient options that they can feel good about without having to sacrifice quality. Through this model, we can deliver an experience for our guests to enjoy freshly prepared, high-quality meals in a convenient way and at a great value. Our guests are looking to Perkins to be a source of convenience in their lives, and we want to offer them just that."
How it's different
Like its parent company founded in 1958, Griddle & Go will offer breakfast, lunch, dinner and bakery items. It's a departure, however, from Perkins in that the customer journey will follow a path similar to fast casual concepts, thanks to technology deployments overseen by Chief Technology Officer Steven Roach. Guests will peruse menu items via digital menu boards, place orders with a Perkins team member at a counter or by kiosk for self-checkout and receive text messages when their food is ready for them to pick up at the counter or have it delivered to the table.
The menu features a selection of breakfast classics — omelets and benedicts — which guests may now get as a bowl. It also features a new category of breakfast sandwiches, a lighter eats section and burgers and sandwiches, designed for dine-in or grab-and-go visits.
"We are constantly evolving to create new foods and experiences that are relevant to today's customer," Ronayne said.
Although Ronayne is excited about the fast casual format, she said Perkins will continue to offer franchisees the option of mainline units.
"We are working with franchisees to identify what model is best for their markets," she said. "In some cases, some trade areas may benefit from both a Mainline Perkins and a Perkins Griddle & Go."
About Cherryh Cansler
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