The world of food franchising has been a catalyst for pioneering innovations that have had a ripple effect across multiple industries. After all, the McDonald brothers, with the pivotal support of Ray Kroc, changed our approach to franchising altogether. And it’s safe to say that the food franchising industry brought Henry Ford’s approach to process optimization to a whole new level. Yet, there remains one area ripe for innovative change: engaging communication for all stakeholders (and no, I’m not talking about customer-facing menu boards, point-of-purchase advertisements, drive-through displ ..read more

While employment is likely to grow, finding staff is still a significant challenge for many operators, with 45% of surveyed restaurateurs reporting inadequate staffing to meet extant consumer demand. dapiki moto. (2020). “New Normal” [Photograph]. Retrieved from Unsplash.Dive Brief: The restaurant industry is projected to grow employment by about 1.1 million positions between the end of 2023 and 2032, according to projections developed by the National Restaurant Association and based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data. While employment is likely to grow, finding staff is still a signific ..read more

New efforts to kill the credit are arising in Illinois and Maryland, adding to the activity in four other states and on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are considering a measure to fix the results of losing the credit there. Bills to kill the credit are expected to be introduced in the Illinois legislature. | Photo: Shutterstock Legislation phasing out Illinois’ tip credit is expected to be introduced in both houses of the state legislature later this week, following the reintroduction of a bill in Maryland to kill the employer concession there. An effort to eliminate ..read more

The “Swift Lift” is real. Taylor Swift may have just become the self-professed chairman of the Tortured Poets Department, but she’s also clearly in charge of the U.S. economy. A so-called Swift Lift has benefited restaurants and hotels across the United States, with eateries in the 20 cities that Swift has already visited gaining an extra $100 million in sales, according to a new report from Mastercard. The payments company examined businesses in the immediate vicinity of stadiums (within 2.5 miles) up to the surrounding 10-mile radius, giving us a look at how local economies fa ..read more

In recent years, three companies in the world received permission to market cultured meat, and offered dishes in a limited quantity in only 3 restaurants. Recently, all restaurants stopped offering these dishes to the public. The industry itself is at a crossroads, and has to struggle with high production costs and the inability to increase the scale of production Cultured meat companies have raised a lot of capital in recent years with the aim of offering consumers new products containing animal cells grown in a laboratory. So far, two companies in the world have managed to approve their prod ..read more

In the dynamic world of fast food, the quest for innovation, speed, and efficiency is never-ending. Amidst this quest, self-ordering kiosks have emerged as a beacon of transformation, signaling a new era in customer service and operational management. For restaurant owners, understanding and harnessing this technology isn’t just an option; it’s a strategic imperative to stay competitive and relevant. This exploration isn’t just about adopting new technology—it’s about envisioning the future of fast food. Are self-ordering kiosks just a trend, or are they the new backbone of the fast-food indus ..read more

The future of the industry is in embracing data-driven services to drive personalization and loyalty. Immersed in customized content from their very first taste of digital media, Gen Z is a digitally native cohort that’s gotten used to having personalized experiences. Because the music they listen to, the content they watch, their social media feeds and so much more have always been curated specifically for them, they expect similar customization in all areas of their lives—and that includes restaurants. And when personalization has been the standard, static, one-size-fits all dining opti ..read more

The restaurant industry is currently facing some simultaneous challenges. For instance, restaurant brands must: Stand out from the (stiff) competition. Today’s restaurants face increased competition, not just from other brick-and-mortar establishments but also from non-traditional dining options like ghost kitchens and virtual brands. Restaurant brands need to differentiate themselves to attract customers and maximize sales. Meet changing consumer preferences. Last year’s hot trends (like pickletinis and Sriracha variations) might be cooling down moving forw ..read more

The National Restaurant Association is forecasting a record $1.1 trillion in sales in 2024 and the addition of 15.7 million jobs. The National Restaurant Association released its annual State of the Industry report today with the sales forecast as its top headline; the association expects to exceed $1.1 trillion in 2024. Should this forecast play out, it will mark the first time sales from the nation’s second-largest private industry will tip into the trillions. Last year, the foodservice industry forecast was $997 billion, while the pre-pandemic forecast from 2019 was about $863 bil ..read more

A recent demonstration outside a Philadelphia falafel spot was just the latest in a history of boycotts and conflicts. George Recine, a Boston advertising executive, knew exactly where to eat lunch last week during a business trip to Philadelphia. “What better place to stop by than Goldie?’” he said. Mr. Recine, 45, had read reports about a protest there a few days earlier that Pennsylvania’s governor and the White House had condemned as antisemitic. A crowd carrying Palestinian flags had gathered in front of the popular falafel restaurant, co-owned by an Israeli-born chef, and chanted ..read more