Financing
Catching a break
Seafood is in high demand by Americans—total consumption rose by 45 million pounds in 2009 over 2008, states the National Fisheries Institute.
2011 Super Bowl Specials
Whether watching the big game on-site or at home, hungry football fans need sustenance. Pizza, chicken wings and chili are still Super Bowl Sunday favorites, but some restaurants are changing it up a bit.
Currently, 12.4% of all foodservice operations have at least one menu item mentioning "California" in the name of the dish—up from 8% in 2005. The descriptor is most often used in items like chicken, turkey, veggies and burgers. While California is not the first state to have its name attached to a dish (NY Strip Steak is a classic), few evoke the same appeal.
Dinner business has seen better days. According to a recent Technomic survey, in the last year, 40% of consumers have significantly cut back on away-from-home dinner purchases because they have less money to spend on dining out. When weighing options, consumers look for value-based operations that offer ways to save money while still providing a quality meal.
Healthy vs. indulgent: What do most restaurant customers choose when dining out? According to Unilever Food Solutions’ World Menu Report Global Research Findings 2012, 52% of diners worldwide look for healthier menu options but 72% of them decide to treat themselves instead with something that’s more appealing and not that nutritious.