QSRs shift models to 'go where the consumers are'

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Mobile initiatives, bigger marketing budgets, franchising growth and unprecedented headwinds grabbed headlines this year for the QSR segment.

Consumer demand for convenience shifting restaurant priorities

December 15, 2014

As restaurant brands increasingly jockey for more consumer visits, it's more important than ever for operators to keep a strong pulse on what their customers…

Report shows holiday season revenue decline at restaurants

December 15, 2014

Thanx Inc. has released new data today showing that over the last several years restaurant revenue declined 22 to 45 percent during the post-Thanksgiving…

Sugar and spice and everything breakfast: 2014 on the menu

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Breakfast, beverage and retail categories accelerated this year, while operators embraced meaty offerings, despite record-high protein prices.

Consumers name California drought as top food story of '14

December 12, 2014

The Great Western Drought topped all food-related stories for American consumers in 2014. According to the Hunter Public Relations' 12th annual Food News…

Demand for food transparency growing

December 12, 2014

New research from Technomic finds that most consumers want transparency from restaurant brands about their menu choices. Additionally, two in five consumers…

IPO, private equity activity were hot for restaurants in 2014

December 12, 2014

With 288 deals and $95.2 billion raised, 2014 will end with record activity in the US IPO markets, according to the EY Global IPO Trends: 2014 Q4 report…

Gluten-free options now available at 9 percent of restaurants

December 12, 2014

New research from Food Genius finds a growing number of healthier menu options and more concepts touting a health-halo menu. Food Genius' report, "Health and…

McDonald's plans to shrink menu, ingredient lists

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

McDonald's has moved from a division structure to a structure that empowers regions to execute their marketing and menu plans toward their specific…

Carl's Jr. claims QSR first with 'all-natural' burger introduction

December 11, 2014

Carl’s Jr. announced it will roll out the new All-Natural Burger at participating locations beginning Dec. 17. According to the company, the burger features a…

NRA: Better kids' meals top trends list

December 10, 2014

Some of the restaurant industry's hottest trends involve children's items, according to the NRA's 2015 What's Hot culinary forecast.

Foodservice supply association predicts 4.1% growth in 2015

December 10, 2014

MAFSI representatives are forecasting growth of 4.1 percent for 2015 over 2014, inline with the growth forecast for GDP.

A 30-brand restaurant tour of Australia

by Darrel Suderman — President, Food Technical Consulting

The focus on healthy menu attributes, such as grass-fed beef, antibiotic and hormone-free products, etc., seemed to be more prevalent than similar products in…

Hurdles expected to remain in place in 2015 for restaurant operators

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

In addition to record-high commodities prices, labor inflation, technology costs and health care/menu labeling regulations, there is also intensified…

In-N-Out Burger ranks on top for customer centricity

December 10, 2014

dunnhumby, a customer science company, announced that T.G.I. Friday’s and In-N-Out Burger topped the Top 10 list in its second Customer Centricity Index on…

2015 beverage trends survey now open

December 9, 2014

QSRweb, sister website of FastCasual and PizzaMarketplace, is preparing a new report about beverage trends for 2015 and is currently looking for restaurant…

Online cultural inclusiveness: Something for restaurant brands to think about

Focusing on how diversity is presented on a company website provides an opportunity to reaffirm our industry’s commitment to reaching a multicultural workforce…

Consumption of fresh food up 20% in past decade

December 9, 2014

A new report from The NPD Group, called "The Future of Eating: Who's Eating What in 2018?" shows that the consumption of fresh foods – fruits, vegetables…

Quiznos turns to millennials in turnaround bid

by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Quiznos will launch a new POS (expected in 2015) and will then be able to test some loyalty tools and a mobile app. The brand is also testing gluten-free…

New research examines the drivers behind consumers' dinner choices

December 8, 2014

Acosta Sales & Marketing, a marketing agency in the consumer packaged goods industry, and Technomic have put together a new report called "The Why? Behind…