Consumer Trends
Consumers welcome increased menu transparency
A majority of diners approve of the new healthcare bill requiring all restaurants with 20 or more locations to include calorie counts on menus, according to new research from Mintel.
Operations
Delivery backlash and 4 other head-spinning moments
The dash for off-premise business is taking a detour around third-party delivery. Meanwhile, Amy Poehler isn't making restaurateurs laugh, R&D kitchens are cooking up some unusual new products, and the drug epidemic is prompting some controversial changes in operations.
Sandwiches are undergoing exciting flavor and quality upgrades on every level—from breads to fillings and condiments. New sandwich trends are driven by artisan and sustainable ingredients, the desire to eat seasonally and more healthfully, and the celebration of regional and global foods and flavors.
I've always been a big fan of Chipotle Mexican Grille's menu and business model. What's there not to like about ordering very tasty burritos and bowls custom-built before your eyes with top quality, carefully sourced ingredients? I guess the long lines are one drawback, but they don't seem to keep the faithful away.
In its just-released 2012 Restaurant Industry Forecast, the National Restaurant Association reports that there is an increasing consumer interest in high tech interaction in restaurants. The NRA's statistics show that consumers up to the age of 55 support new restaurant technologies. But the majority of the restaurant industry does not seem to be keeping pace.