CHICAGO — Fast-casual restaurant growth in the U.S. continues to outpace that of the quick-service and full-service sectors, forcing operators to adopt.
According to the Chicago-based research firm Technomic Inc., while the fast-casual sector represents only six per cent of the foodservice market, it has evolved and expanded from once-innovative concepts such as Fuddruckers and Koo Koo Roo to chains such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panera Bread and Five Guys Burgers and Fries.
“Leading QSRs like McDonald’s and Wendy’s are upgrading to fast-casual décor, and Chick-fil-A is testing table delivery,” said Darren Tristano, Technomic EVP, of the changes. “Full-service restaurants have integrated elements of fast-casual, such as Pizza Inn’s recent launch of the Pie Five Pizza Co. concept and Denny’s Fresh Express.”
To address the issues associated with the growth, Technomic is launching a new Fast-Casual Insights Group to provide ongoing monitoring and growth forecasts.
For more details, visit technomic.com.
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