2014 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers

FastCasual.com's ninth annual review of the restaurant segment's Top 100 movers and shakers takes a look at the brands, people, marketing campaigns, menu…

The difference between ‘OK’ and ‘delightful’ restaurant experiences

by Alicia Kelso — senior editor, QSRweb.com

Those who rate their experience a 5 out of 5 on satisfaction are eight times more likely to recommend the restaurant than those who rated it a 4 out of 5.

Families with kids trimming restaurant visits

May 14, 2014

Restaurant visits by families with kids under the age of 13 have been declining since 2008, according to research from The NPD Group. Families with kids made …

Majority of franchisees now believe social media effectiveness outweighs traditional ads

May 14, 2014

Franchise restaurant operators consider social media reviews and search engine rankings more important than traditional advertising and promotions and more…

Millennials want more involvement in meal preparation

May 7, 2014

The influence of Millennials and the growing Hispanic population in the U.S., along with aging Boomers, will have a major impact on the country's eating…

Restaurant spending up, foot traffic down

May 5, 2014

GE Capital, Franchise Finance just released its 24th annual Chain Restaurant Industry Review, showing an increase in customer spending but a decline in foot…

Fast casual heats up restaurant industry with 11 percent growth

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

More QSRs and full-service restaurants are expected to realign their formats to compete more aggressively.

Infographic: The top 5 places for in-store marketing messages

May 1, 2014

A new restaurant patron survey that identified the most compelling marketing messages and assets to drive repeat business and inspire recommendations found…

Restaurant industry metrics reach 10-month high

May 1, 2014

Driven by stronger same-store sales and customer traffic and a more optimistic outlook among restaurant operators, the National Restaurant Association's…

Study: Charging for condiments will drive away consumers

April 30, 2014

With pressures from rising food costs, restaurant operators are seeking ways to increase check size without increasing the cost of popular menu items, but…

Report: Snacking now represents half of all eating occasions

April 25, 2014

A new report from The Hartman Group explores the shifts in U.S. food culture, including an increase in snacking, eating on-the-go and eating alone.

Consumer demand increasing for proteins

April 21, 2014

Consumers are saying they want more protein in their diets, however a majority — 71 percent — don't know the recommended daily amount they should be eating.

Why gluten-free is here to stay

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Gluten-free menu items have increased by 200 percent since 2010.

What Panera 2.0 means for all operators

Panera 2.0 is two new customer experiences in one.

Technomic extends restaurant brand tracking tool to reflect blurred channels

April 15, 2014

To keep up with the blurring distinctions between restaurants and retailers, Technomic has expanded its online Consumer Brand Metrics tracking tool to include…

March sales rebound doesn't save Q1 for restaurant industry

April 14, 2014

March delivered good news for the restaurant industry once the crippling effect of an unusually cold winter ended. Same-store sales growth was 0.7 percent for…

Gluten-free menu mentions up 200 percent since 2010

April 11, 2014

According to new research from Mintel Menu Insights, the use of "organic" on restaurant menus has declined by 28 percent from 2010 to 2013. Organic continues…

Have burger chains reached their peak?

Smaller, regional brands have seen an increase in sales, while sales at their larger QSR counterparts are falling.

Restaurant industry surpasses pre-recession employment peak

April 7, 2014

More than six years after the start of the Great Recession, the number of private sector jobs finally surpassed its pre-recession peak in March, according to…

Nikki Baird to give keynote on privacy at CONNECT summit

Top retail analyst Nikki Baird will explore rapidly advancing technology and consumer tolerance for being tracked.