A trend that is bubbling up in neighborhoods across the continent is the resurgence of the corner store, that’s more than just a place to buy milk. There are community hubs that double as meeting spots. There are delis and bodegas that boast daily line-ups for their legendary sandwiches. And there are urban reinventions of […]
Hot Trend: The Corner Store as a Destination Read More »
Traditionally, food from convenience stores often focuses on packaged snacks, and hot food offerings may be perceived to be of dubious quality. Yet according to research from Nation’s Restaurant News, convenience store food quality is improving, shifting consumer perceptions and becoming a threat to fast food restaurants. However, if a fast food restaurant has moved in
Are Convenience Stores Becoming the New Quick-Service Restaurants? Read More »
The goal of any restaurant operator is to drive repeat visits. Loyal customers tend to drive better margins and greater sales (while also providing some predictability to same-store sales) and cost less to market to than new customers. When considering brand loyalty for food service operators, fostering a sense of belonging is crucial to creating
Brand Loyalty in Foodservice: How to Create a Sense of Place Read More »
If you are in the food service industry and rely on your locations to drive your business, curb appeal and visibility are key. Operators such as Dairy Queen, Boston Pizza, Second Cup and Tim Hortons all understand that exterior signing is their most effective marketing vehicle, working 24/7 to grab the attention of customers and
Creating the right first impression through signing Read More »
Categories in today’s market are becoming less defined, as foodservice blends with grocery and retail and cafes offer added value within banks, bookstores, and gyms. Customers are looking for choice, custom experiences, convenience, multi-functionality, and less cultural rigidity. All-day breakfast is becoming a popular restaurant offering, the demand for gender-neutral clothing is increasing, and hybrid
Keep Your Restaurant Relevant With These Hybrid Design Tips Read More »
The food service category is in transition and many new restaurant concepts are emerging. Many established restaurants are struggling in this evolving market. Refreshing your restaurant’s brand ensures future relevance. Now is the ideal time to start the process. Business may be decreasing because of more competition or not meeting customers’ changing needs as effectively
Five Steps to Refresh Your Restaurant Experience Read More »
Rebranding is often a messy process, but when it comes to rebranding an entire franchise, it can get downright adversarial. The relationship between franchisees and franchisors can often become strained as franchisors want to update their brands quickly and broadly, while franchisees can feel frustrated and resentful when they don’t understand the reasoning behind high-level
How to Rebrand Without Alienating Your Franchisees Read More »
Many things seem to get in the way of you and your food when you are hungry and short on time. Wait times exist throughout the experience, whether you are grabbing a snack at a limited-service fast food restaurant or dining at a full-service sit-down establishment. For example, there is a delay between walking in
Maximize Your Restaurant’s Efficiency: 6 Proven Strategies to Reduce Wait Time Read More »
Advantages, Disadvantages, and Societal Acceptance There has been a lot of talk recently about robots being introduced in a variety of industries, from hospitality to retail. At the Henn-na Hotel in Japan, for example, a robot dinosaur greets you at the front desk. Mario the robot greets guests in 19 languages and monitors the buffet
Do Restaurant Robot Waiters Actually Provide Great Service? Read More »
Over the last decade or so there has been a fundamental shift in the way we structure our day; the pace of life has accelerated exponentially and, as a result, we are required to adjust our behavior to adapt. Nowadays, we might not have the time to eat a proper breakfast or lunch, delaying those
Eight Ideas to Expand Your Restaurant’s Dayparts Read More »
Foodservice is in transition. Technology is enabling new processes, categories are blurring to steal share, and customers are demanding more. Due to the disruptive nature of these transitions, it is becoming vital that traditional chain restaurant businesses act quickly to remain relevant; those that do not accept and embrace the change are facing declining market
How to Capitalize on Unmet Customer Needs in Foodservice Read More »
