It’s always an exciting time in the QSR/limited-service restaurant industry. It seems like every day, a new and inspiring brand pops up and takes hold in one area and seems to outdo the competition, or create a whole new niche that they grow into.

The problems tend to start when these local success stories spread their wings and grow into other markets. Here are three tips to help for smoother and more profitable expansion:

If you open your lunch container and see leftovers or that sandwich you made last night, you’re not alone. More and more people are choosing to NOT spend money on sandwiches, soups and salads and are instead saving a few bucks by making their own lunch at home.

New data from the USA suggest that lunch traffic in QSR/fast-casual restaurant locations is slowing faster that it has in recent years - down seven percent in 2016 as compared to 2015 numbers.

Part of the reason is that more Americans are working from home than ever before (on at least 1-2 days each week) and lunch is either too expensive to eat out every day, or there is no dining option nearby.

If you enjoy the McDonald’s signature burger, and you also enjoy spicy Sriracha sauce, this post will be of interest to you. If you also just enjoy reading about new and interesting ways big QSR brands are doing to stay relevant, keep reading as well.

The global burger chain announced recently that it is testing a Sriracha Big Mac burger menu item in the USA. The test is only taking place in one city as of right now - Columbus Ohio. The city has been a popular test location for other “Mac” products that are set to be introduced nation-wide in 2017.

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.

Every once in a while (who are we kidding, it’s more like every week) we come across some unique menu items that get our attention. Here are six that will either have you scratching your head…or licking your lips.

Tocabe’s Bison Ribs

The Denver-based fast casual Tocabe is known for its traditional Native American cuisine—one of the only multiunit concepts to take so unique an approach—and has earned rave reviews for its Bison Ribs. The ribs are cured for 24 hours, then braised in a house-made bison stock, grilled, and glazed with a seasonal berry barbecue sauce.