Consumer Trends: Page 28
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Study: 40% of US consumers would try CBD
Despite a very recent declassification from a scheduled narcotic and few FDA regulations, interest in the hemp-derived substance for food and restaurants is charging forward.
By Emma Liem Beckett , Jessi Devenyns • March 28, 2019 -
Outback to open fast casual spinoff in the US
The restaurant joins chains like The Cheesecake Factory and Cracker Barrel in branching beyond casual dining to test a new revenue model.
By Julie Littman • March 28, 2019 -
Trendline
Top 5 stories from Restaurant Dive
Check out a selection of articles about some of the biggest trends — from the rise of dessert concepts to a cohort of Mexican chains trying to overtake Chipotle — shaping the restaurant industry in 2024.
By Restaurant Dive staff -
Half of diners order delivery at least once a month
According to the Tillster Delivery Index, 50% of customers prefer to order directly from a restaurant website or app, compared to just 6% of fast casual and 3% of QSR customers who prefer to order from a third-party app.
By Alicia Kelso • March 27, 2019 -
Can the Impossible Burger boost Red Robin's sluggish sales?
The burger chain joins a growing list of major franchises tapping trendy alternative proteins for their menus, and could drive rival casual brands to make similar investments.
By Lauren Manning • March 26, 2019 -
Bad hygiene at restaurants is a top frustration for diners, study says
More than half of diners would complain or demand a discount if they found a foreign object in their food, while another 49% would complain if it came out cold, according to a study from Big Domain.
By Kevin Whiteley • March 26, 2019 -
Majority of QSR, fast casual diners would pay up to $5 in delivery fees
A report from Tillster revealed that one-third of customers would pay more for faster delivery and only 20% said they would be willing to wait beyond 40 minutes for their food.
By Julie Littman • March 26, 2019 -
Study: 62% of diners blame both restaurants and delivery companies for bad service
Research also shows that nearly 72% of "co-blaming" occurs when food is delivered at the wrong temperature.
By Alicia Kelso • March 22, 2019 -
Millennial parents increased restaurant visits by 5% in 2018
An NPD report found that the demographic is turning to fast casual and QSR chains for convenient family meals — a growing trend that chains like Chick-fil-A are taking advantage of.
By Kevin Whiteley • March 22, 2019 -
Deep Dive
The blunt truth: Cannabis retail is here
It's a growth industry where the potential is high, but retailers, restaurants and consumers are on a steep learning curve.
By Daphne Howland • March 21, 2019 -
Opinion
Forecasting for the future: What restaurants need to calculate
Restaurants can no longer rely on just historical data to predict demand, and should carefully examine labor and inventory to grow efficiency, says Fourth CTO Christian Berthelsen.
By Christian Berthelsen • March 20, 2019 -
Denny's woos millennials with delivery, new marketing
The breakfast chain has experienced a spike in delivery sales during the breakfast and late-night hours, driven in large part by younger consumers.
By Alicia Kelso • March 15, 2019 -
Baskin-Robbins, Mister Donut partner with HotNow on crypto rewards game
Players can exchange their virtual gold in the game's marketplace for coupons and discounts at real-world retailers.
By Robert Williams • March 14, 2019 -
52% of U.S. diners with exclusion diets struggle to order at restaurants
Research from Spoon Guru shows that 86% of consumers with diets including paleo, keto, vegan and gluten-free want restaurants to "go above and beyond current regulations" to provide ingredient transparency.
By Kevin Whiteley • March 12, 2019 -
Philadelphia becomes the 1st US city to ban cashless concepts
Laws against card-only payments are meant to protect low-income consumers, but could impact tech innovation at restaurants, especially as more chains like Sweetgreen make the switch to improve transaction speed.
By Alicia Kelso • March 8, 2019 -
Poke concept Sweetfin partners with Postmates for delivery
Deliveries of raw fish bowls have skyrocked, with Grubhub reporting a 205% year-over-year jump in orders last year, but questions remain about the food safety risks that come with transportation by third-party platforms.
By Alicia Kelso • March 4, 2019 -
Curry Up Now expands beyond California
The company, leveraging growing demand for the ethnic cuisine, plans to open one of the first Indian fast casual concepts in Utah and Colorado.
By Alicia Kelso • March 1, 2019 -
Burger brands beef up local, diet-focused offerings
Chains are looking beyond just topping patties with bacon to spice up their menus, and are instead innovating with regional flavors and keto-friendly fare to capture new diners.
By Julie Littman • March 1, 2019 -
Fast food 'significantly' saltier, more caloric than 30 years ago, report finds
As America's obesity problem continues, many chains are adding plant-based menu items to brighten their health halos.
By Kevin Whiteley • March 1, 2019 -
Panda Express adds plant-based options following PETA petitions
Responding to activist pressure, the nation's largest Chinese food chain will remove chicken broth and animal seasonings from several dishes such as chow mein and eggplant tofu.
By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 27, 2019 -
Deep Dive
NYC crackdown slows momentum of CBD-infused food and drink
Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive marijuana extract, has been tapped as a top restaurant trend for 2019. But the FDA has halted sales in some markets — leaving operators confused about the category's future.
By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 25, 2019 -
Restaurants save $7 for each $1 invested in cutting food waste, report shows
Businesses that scaled back food production, placed smaller orders and upcycled excess food into new meals could reduce waste by 26% after one year, the study found.
By Kevin Whiteley • Feb. 22, 2019 -
Lemonade and Modern Market Eatery form new restaurant group
The better-for-you chains will continue to operate independently under Modern Restaurant Concepts, a move that could help the brands scale their footprints.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Feb. 21, 2019 -
AirAsia looks to launch a QSR that serves its airplane food
CEO Tony Fernandes' move reflects the growing focus on quality food and restaurant brand partnerships in the air travel world.
By Kevin Whiteley • Feb. 20, 2019 -
Blaze Pizza aims to go public, compete with Domino's
Co-founder Rick Wetzel said the fast casual chain may be eyeing an IPO within the next two years, and is adding 14-inch pizzas alongside its personal pies to support its delivery growth plans.
By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 15, 2019 -
Potbelly ups its value game with new menu
As part of its turnaround strategy, the sandwich chain's Pick-Your-Pair options allow diners to customize their orders, better positioning it to compete with the likes of Panera and McAlister's.
By Alicia Kelso • Feb. 14, 2019