Archives for December 2019

This Week in Restaurant News: Women Franchising, Restaurant Pivots, French Fry Crisis Averted

Every week we’re rounding up some of our favorite articles with trends and tidbits from the world of restaurants. Tell us: what made your reading list this week?

What Did ‘Authenticity’ in Food Mean in 2019? – Eater

Women Flock to Franchising – The Wall Street Journal

The French Fries Are Doing Just Fine – The New York Times

This Washington, D.C. Restaurant Was Booked on OpenTable More Than Any Other in 2019 – Restaurant Hospitality

Want to Increase Your Restaurant Sales Without Advertising? Sell to the Senses. – Toast

Two Years into #MeToo, Has Anything Really Changed? – Eater

Restaurant Industry 2030 Report Predicts Much Older Labor Force – National Restaurant Association

When Restaurants Pivot – The Bold Italic

Ocean Devotion: Diners Love Ocean Friendly Restaurants

References to the ocean and its inhabitants fill the pages of literature, stage and screen, music and visual arts. Conservationists spend lifetimes trying to preserve it. One human being may be no match for the mighty sea. But the human race as a whole contributes to its demise – one bottle, straw or plastic bag at a time. That’s our throwaway culture, but it doesn’t have to be this way.

The Surfrider Foundation is devoted to protecting the world’s oceans for everyone to enjoy. A vast group of supporters throughout North America includes restaurants, and those who become certified as a Surfrider Ocean Friendly Restaurant (OFR) derive a tidal wave of benefits.

Restaurants sign up to get certified as an OFR for several reasons. It usually begins with a chef or restaurateur’s desire to leave a lighter footprint on stressed natural resources and willingness to employ sustainable seafood practices, for example. As more food industry folks recognize the impact plastic has on the human food chain, they’re taking action.

There is a misconception that it’s too challenging or expansive for a restaurant to do away with single use plastics, but the rewards of doing so far outweigh the effort. Plus, it’s what diners want.

“There are so many benefits to restaurants, including recognition from the Surfrider Foundation as a leader in ocean conversation, but also because diners want to feel good about dining out and have options that support a sustainable future,” says Jennifer Hart, plastic pollution coordinator at Surfrider. “There are a number of ways they can promote their Ocean Friendly Restaurant status including stickers we supply, table tents, bill inserts, and the OFR logo they can include on their restaurant website and print on their menus – all of which help diners who seek out ocean friendly dining to recognize them as such.”

The media attention around this topic helps, too. The first OFR in an airport caught on like wildfire. It set an example that if an airport restaurant can meet the criteria to be ocean-friendly, anyone can.

“We can’t continue to use single use plastics, because the earth has had enough and we need to change,” Hart says. “We can help restaurants transition away from the single use mindset and move toward sustainable use and there are several ways restaurants can begin to make those changes.” [Read more…]

2019 Restaurant Holiday Trends to Jump On

Trends are everywhere from fashion to food and can change at the drop of a hat, which means businesses must be flexible with what they promote. The holidays bring about a new set of trends and challenges to go along with that. Whether you plan to revamp your menu, deck out your restaurant Hallmark Movie-style, or haven’t had the time to think about the holidays, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered.

We’ve made a list (and checked it twice) of the predicted holiday trends so you can prepare your restaurant accordingly. And if you’re trying to decide whether you should remain open on the holidays, check out our previous post for some data insights from seasons past.

Digital Ordering Upswing

Millennials’ habits have reshaped a lot of pieces of the restaurant industry, and holiday dining is on that list. In fact, millennials consume food in a restaurant or bar around 30% more often than any other generation. But when the weather turns cold, your dining room may not be overflowing with guests.

Instead, we predict your carryout and delivery counter will be bustling. If you don’t yet have digital ordering capabilities, talk to your POS provider about the integration options they offer, or partner with GrubHub or UberEats directly. This will keep your phones from ringing off the hook all season long and, with the right POS system, you can even streamline digital orders directly to your kitchen without the added burden of a server manually ringing in the to-go items.

Gift Card Surges

Gift card sales are one of the many traditional tactics for restaurants to guarantee repeat guests as well as benefit your diners, because who doesn’t love gift cards? A 2018 Prepaid Consumer Insights Study conducted by FirstData revealed that over 80% of consumers with a fine dining, fast casual, or drug store gift card spend more than the value of the card.

Gift cards can be further used to entice guests by giving the purchaser a gift card for spending a certain amount, such as “Spend $100 on gift cards, receive a $20 credit for yourself!” Additionally, you can make these credits redeemable beginning January 1, ensuring your business will be booming after the holiday glitter has settled. [Read more…]

This Week in Restaurant News: Airport Food, Vending Machines, Behavioral Economics of Menus

Every week we’re rounding up some of our favorite articles with trends and tidbits from the world of restaurants. Tell us: what made your reading list this week?

The Behavioral Economics of Restaurant Menus – The Atlantic

Restaurants Don’t Get the Black Friday Boost You Might Expect. Here’s Why – CNN

Fresh-Food Vending Machines Will Be Graded Like Restaurants – The New York Times

Airport Lounges Step up Their Game to Serve Millennials, Solo Travelers – SmartBrief

If You Have A Capital One Card, Booking A Restaurant Reservation Just Got Way Easier – Delish

Top Chefs Pick Favorite Cities Around the World for Great Restaurants – Bloomberg

How Do Credit Card Transactions Work? A Guide to the Payment Process – Toast

What Does ‘Good Food’ Really Mean? – Eater