The restaurant industry is expanding at a strong pace again, but there's a difference to the growth and the strategies driving it. Chains are creating opportunities by peering further into the future and anticipating the trends in consumer preferences, restaurant recruitment, financing, politics and restaurant operations. They're hungering for ideas, innovation and insight.
Product recalls can be devastating to the restaurant industry, yet traceability along the foodservice supply chain is complicated and outdated. “Foodservice is where retail was 40 years ago,” said Syndee Stiles, vice president of operations support for McLane Foodservice, at Restaurant Leadership Conference session on traceability.
The fortunes of the restaurant industry and the economy as a whole have improved since the dog days of 2009, but it's been a roller coaster ride to get there, attendees learned at this week's Restaurant Leadership Conference.
MonkeyDish grabbed Robbie Brozin after his keynote presentation at the Restaurant Leadership Conference to learn more about the transformation of Nando’s Peri Peri, a grilled chicken concept, into one of the world’s largest fast-casual chains. Here’s what the South African had to say about the brand he founded and now serves as CEO.
Celiacs may have spurred demand for gluten-free menu options, but experts say that only 1 percent of the 44 million people estimated to be in the gluten-free audience have celiac disease. While some of these consumers may be gluten intolerant, research shows that about 29 percent simply perceive gluten-free as a healthier way to eat.