If you think brand loyalty is a thing of the past, think again. We hear talk of patrons going from brand-to-brand-to-brand and we just assume that it's because loyalty has jumped the shark when, in fact, the opposite is true. People leave brands because brands aren't giving them a good enough reason to stay. And in no place is those more true than in the quick-serve, fast-casual restaurant space.
So is there anything a QSR in today's market can do to lower the likelihood of a patron exodus in search of a brand that better-suits their needs? You bet. And we'll sum it up here in two words:
When people talk about restaurant and dining trends, they typically go right for the plate - meaning they talk about new foods, new ingredients, new food sources and the like. But restaurant trends these days go far beyond the plate - off the menu and into other areas you’d likely not think of right away.
So let’s jump into some 2017 trends that we see happening around the world and see if you saw them coming.
There’s quite a bit of gray area when it comes to certain industries promoting or supporting certain causes or groups of people. For example, cigarette companies aren’t exactly known for their sponsorship of high school athletics programs - or any school for that matter. Not that they’re allowed, either. Many countries have banned tobacco companies from this type of advertising or limited it severely.
But when we look at fast food, we see a very different story. With entire menus for children, free toys, funny characters and more, we can see without a doubt that many fast food brands specifically target children. And with fast food not having the greatest track record in terms of healthy menu items (admittedly, it’s getting better) many question the fact that these brands market to kids in the first place.
It never fails - new years bring new trends which always seems to bring new words and phrases to describe them. This year is no different, so we figured we’d give you a head start on 5 new industry words you’re likely to hear now - and moving forward.
Chef-driven. There was once a time when chefs were the hidden faces of restaurants. They were rarely seen, but often revered as the hidden hero of the menu. Today is a much different story. With so many celebrity chefs on the map there is a new trend of having the chef be at the center of...well...just about everything. Whether a brand cashes in on a chef’s celebrity status, or they merely use chef-developed menu items to signify healthy and natural offerings, this trend is a response to increased demand for healthier items that are rich in creativity and dimension. And those things come from, usually, chefs.