Customer enthusiasm is up, but new challenges are emerging for casual-dining operators.
February 11/Chicago/PRNewswire -- There is some good news to report for the casual-dining segment: customer enthusiasm is up, but new challenges are emerging for casual-dining operators as the lines continue to blur between limited-service fast-casual restaurants and full-service casual-dining chains. Consumer expectations are shifting as customers continue to trade-up and trade-down across the casual-dining spectrum.
"Consumers in search of a casual-dining occasion have plenty of choices, and their expectations are changing," says Darren Tristano, executive vice president of Technomic. "Whether their needs are driven by price, food quality, overall value or simply the dining experience itself, operators need to know how to stay competitive."