Reasons why Fast-Casual Restaurants are growing can be attributed to a number of factors. When you think of a Fast-Casual Restaurant what is the first thought that comes to your mind? Why are Fast-Casual Restaurants Growing?
Most people have an idea but don’t know how a Fast-Casual Restaurant is defined. Ask a person to name a Fast-Casual Restaurant and they may have trouble or be confused.
The Wikipedia definition is- A fast-casual restaurant, found primarily in the United States, does not offer full table service, but advertises higher quality food than fast-food restaurants, with fewer frozen or processed ingredients. It is an intermediate concept between fast food and casual dining and usually priced accordingly.
The concept originated in the United States in the early 1990s but did not become mainstream until the end of the 2000s and the beginning of the 2010s. Fast Casual Restaurants have built their popularity by offering healthful food prepared with better ingredients than those at fast-food chains.
According to 10Best.com, the top 10 Best Fast Casual Restaurants are as follows:
QDOBA Mexican Eats
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
MOD Pizza
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Portillo’s
Panera Bread
Moe’s Southwest Grill
McAlister’s Deli
Five Guys
Au Bon Pain
A restaurant like Chipotle and Panera proved that Fast Casual restaurants could have success in the suburbs. Nowadays a growing number of Fast-Casual restaurants entering into a new market will open in the Suburbs before moving to the bigger cities.
In 2009, there were about 17,300 fast-casuals in the United States with sales of $19 billion, according to the market research firm Technomic. By 2018, the last year for which statistics are available, fast casuals had more than doubled their locations (34,800) and sales ($47.5 billion). Based on an article written by Tim Carmen
EATS Restaurant Brokers provides it’s 4 reasons why Fast-Casual Restaurants are growing so fast.
- The counter-service concept requires far fewer specialized employees than your full-service restaurants require. The Owner can save on salaries for Executive Chefs, Sous Chefs, and employees
- The improvements in technology and data to track buyer’s buying habits have given the owners and franchises tons of information on buyer’s buying habits.
- A better selection of healthful options on menus. The customization of meals, proteins, vegetables, vegan selections, sauces, wraps, etc.
- Dress Code requirement-On the weekends I’m dressed in sweats and a sweatshirt. I want somewhere where I don’t have to dress up to enjoy great food. (#4 is my personal opinion)
Thank you for reading my blog. Next time you enter a Fast-Casual restaurant you will know and can say “Hey this is a Fast-Casual Restaurant”
For more information on the restaurant market and other available consulting services or restaurant valuations, contact Restaurant Business Broker Dominique Maddox at 404-993-4448 or by email at [email protected]. Visit our website at www.EATSbroker.com
