French fry favoritism alive and well in US fast food race

by Josh Anish — Head of Content, Quantifind

A 15-brand comparison of customer buzz about QSR french fries leads to one solid winner for category favorite.

How efficient is your methodology for menu innovation?

by Juan Martinez — Principal, Profitality Labor Guru

Menu innovation, a very important part of any concept, can be a silent killer if not done right.

The anti-app: why messaging is the new loyalty program

More than 60 percent of smartphone users download an average of zero apps every month, and most of those are opened only once. Roughly 75 percent of consumers…

Why 367 more days? A debriefing on the menu labeling delay

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Taking a step back from the new year-long extension in enforcement activation for menu labeling, brands need to give some thoughts to the road ahead and their…

4 mistakes killing your food cost margins

by Niall Keane — CEO of SynergySuite, SynergySuite

Every step of the food production process has to be watched carefully in order to control costs. A veteran restaurateur offers four potential mistakes that can…

Spring flavors now trending: Cherries, hot sauces and unicorns?

by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

Menus across the globe are featuring a few spring trends this season, including ethnic flavors, fresh fruits and veggies, and innovative sauces.

Food trucks and restaurants – a symbiotic relationship

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

While many limited service restaurants are clearly interested in expanding into food trucks, veteran food truck operators are using the skills they develop on…

Ode to the taco: Why the old-school menu item is trending

Tacos aren't new, but they are trendier than ever. Here's why.

Will the menu trends of 2017 turn to the dark side?

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Charcoal, heavy fats and lots of bubbles may not sound like they belong on 2017's list of menu trends, but the Canadian food-centric marketing consultancy…

Calcuatling the new cost of food spoilage

Forward-thinking companies are embracing new technologies to better position themselves for ongoing profitability.

Understanding site selection variables for restaurant tenants

When you're looking for the right property for a pizzeria or QSR, having a checklist of desirable criteria can help you stay on track.

The 'munchies' effect: How cannabis legalization will effect QSR traffic

by Eli Portnoy — CEO, Sense360

Will Colorado's legalization of marijuana increase traffic for the state's restaurants?

3 steps to "wow-ing" customers with your loyalty program

by Brad Marg — Chief Operating Officer, Clutch

Last year, Google released data showing that "near me" searches on their platform doubled between 2014 and 2015. According to this USA Today article, Google’s…

The Instagram advantage: Seven rules for putting this super-visual tool to work for you

by Seshu Madabushi — Founder & CEO, mKonnekt

Pictures and words and great hashtags — that's the world of Instagram. It's a world restaurateurs must know to engage today's customers. Here are some…

Six ways your restaurant's reputation is affecting your online orders

by Alex Membrillo — CEO, Cardinal Web Solutions

As technology makes it easier for your customers to order online, it also makes it more important than ever to manage your restaurant's reputation.

Why the streets outside Los Angeles are suddenly bleeding pink ...

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Irvine, California says "Hello Kitty" to Sanrio's first U.S. cafe. The company wants its famous kitty to take a bite of the U.S. food service market.

Where in the restaurant world will Pokemon GO, go?

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Computer code rarely lies, and the computer code inside  the Pokemon Go game for mobile devices indicates that the Niantic Labs product already has  McDonald's…

Boo(ze)-hoo! Restaurant liquor sales fall for 3rd straight year

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

A new industry report shows that on-premises alcohol sales have dropped again, and the cause might just surprise you.

Minsky's 40th anniversary a prime example of accomplishing a lot through one event

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Midwestern gourmet pizza chain Minsky's got maximum promotional punch out of its 40th anniversary celebration with a campaign that not only permeated social…

Amazon "primes" the pump to play major role in restaurant delivery

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

It's called Prime Day and Amazon clearly sees it as a prime opportunity to make a major entry into the restaurant delivery business.