Food

Here are the ingredients getting increasing play throughout the restaurant segments.

One of the fastest-growing segments in fast casual is “specialty," as operators look to carve out their own niche in underrepresented cuisines such as Middle Eastern and fusion rather than compete in the crowded mainstream sectors. Here’s a look at some recently launched specialty fast casuals, from an Asian-Texas restaurant to a Roman pizza-sandwich concept.

Operators are taking cereal out of the bowl and swapping it in desserts, coffee, cocktails and other breakfast dishes.