The key indicators are looking good: Gross domestic product and disposable personal income are up; unemployment is down; and gas prices and food costs have been relatively stable. Improvement is still slow, but consumers are starting to regain confidence.
Customer enthusiasm is up, but new challenges are emerging for casual-dining operators.
February 12, 2013
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.
A new report shows that differences are blurring between fast food and fast casual restaurants in Canada and reveals the driving forces of the commercial foodservice industry.
The lackluster economy may have dampened growth for the restaurant industry at large, but fast-casual restaurants continue to stand out as one notable exception.