When asked by ID Access how the study, in which Red Lobster and Outback Steakhouse took the second and third spots, respectively, will affect distributors, Michael Allenson, Technomic principal, said the popularity of takeout at full-service restaurants will positively impact their businesses in the following manner:
Distributors should carry SKUs of the same products they already stock to meet different portion-size demands for takeout;
Distributors may see increased volume in paper, packaging and even more so functional plasticware;
Distributors will need to deliver more single-serve packaged beverages.
The recent study, "Tapping the Market Potential for Casual Dining Takeout," sheds new light on why takeout has taken off at full-service restaurants and how consumers plan to step up their usage in the coming year. While fast food outlets remain important sources for convenient takeout options and food-on-the-go, the most noticeable growth opportunity appears in full-service casual dining, where the meal is usually consumed at home, Technomic noted.
Some 75% of all consumers currently make use of takeout or delivery from full-service restaurants at least once a month, the study found. As further evidence of its growing acceptance, nearly 30% of these regular users would rather order takeout than eat in at a restaurant, unless the meal was considered a special occasion, the results indicated.
In another sign of growth, twice as many regular users expect to order takeout and delivery more often in the next year% expect more use, whereas just 10% say they'll order less often.
Allenson further commented, "we already knew that takeout represented one of the single best growth opportunities for casual dining chains. But now we're armed with actionable information that will help our clients fully leverage this opportunity."
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