This Week In Foodservice

The editorial team aggregates key industry information and provides brief analysis to help foodservice professionals navigate the data.

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Restaurant sales increased in August. Do consumers trust fast-food chains? Restaurant prices continue to rise faster than prices at grocery stores. Hurricanes cause multiple problems for restaurants. A foodservice and lodging apprenticeship program is up and running. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

 

The Restaurant Performance Index improved in May. Gross Domestic Product for the first quarter was revised upward. Foodservice operators continued to hire in June. Two of the three largest foodservice distributors saw sales growth last year. A pizza restaurant develops robots for the kitchen. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

 

Two burger chains prepare initial public offerings. Cracker Barrel’s recovery teams have restaurants affected by the hurricane up and running. The rule that effectively doubled the salary level of employees who were exempted from overtime pay appears dead. McDonald’s updates McCafe. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

Consumers evaluate restaurant chains’ performance via two new surveys. Consumers who download third-party delivery apps don’t cut back on restaurant visits. Casey’s General Store offers delivery service. One consultant sees food halls growing. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

The National Restaurant Association reports restaurant performance was weaker in July. Foodservice hiring slowed in August. Waffle House takes on Hurricane Harvey. Domino’s has formed an alliance with Ford to develop a self-driving delivery car. YUM! China introduces a new KFC concept. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

Restaurant sales were soft in May. Price difference narrows between food at home and food away from home. Fast-casual sales growth slows. Digital sales at Panera Bread hit $1 billion. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

Resistance to minimum wage increase arises in the Midwest. Hamburger chains find Chicago is a tough market. Does technology eliminate restaurant jobs? Michigan Restaurant Association survey shows sales are looking good. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

Here’s a quick look at 2017 forecasts for foodservice. The NPD Group describes foodservice performance as “steady.” Wall Street likes fast feeders. The Labor Department reverses rules on who controls employees. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

Distribution giants seem to be asking “What restaurant recession?” Consumers’ evaluation of full-serve restaurants declines. Chuck E. Cheese introduces a new restaurant design. Krystal moves to keep some units open 24 hours a day. These stories and a lot more This Week in Foodservice.

The National Restaurant Association says industry performance softened in April. Foodservice operators kept hiring in May. Fast-casual sales are predicted to slow this year. Panera Bread found a way to achieve faster service. Shift in dining habits hurts lunch business. Some consumers are balking at the price of better burgers. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

 

Census Bureau reports positive July sales. Little Caesar’s rolls out the “Pizza Portal.” Millennials prefer some types of restaurants. Has Starbucks reached the saturation point? These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

Real restaurant industry growth to date is barely positive according to one estimate. Restaurant design of the future may center on take out service. The Nielsen Company sees c-stores as having both challenges and opportunities. McDonald’s remains the world’s largest restaurant company. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.


Casual dining chain sales remained weak in June. Foodservice hiring was very strong in July. The NPD Group reports “micro chains” are a growing factor in some major cities. Grocery shoppers are looking for prepared food according to one expert. These stories and more This Week in Foodservice.

Independents are on the rise. Darden plans to build and remodel restaurants. DQ, White Castle and Noodles & Company all prepare to change their appearances. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

Restaurant industry performance in June was consistent with May, per the National Restaurant Association. McDonald’s quarterly financial performance exceeded Wall Street’s forecasts. Buffalo Wild Wings opened its B-Dub Express concept in Minnesota. Chipotle Mexican Grill will add a drive-thru window as a test to one of the chain’s Ohio locations. These stories and a lot more This Week in Foodservice.

The Census Bureau reports restaurant sales were up in April. Technomic’s 500 Report shows weakness in the full service segment. Sysco, US Foods and the Performance Food Group all showed moderate sales advances. Minimum wage increases prove harmful to restaurants. McDonald’s will aid franchisees to upgrade. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

Experts disagree on impact of higher minimum wages. Restaurant “real” sales were up fractionally in the first half of the year. Foodservice jobs are at risk of being automated. Blaze Pizza may be the fastest-growing chain ever. These stories and many more This Week in Foodservice.

 

The NRA reports March came on strong. Pizza Hut operators will be buying new equipment. Foodservice operators have added more than a quarter of a million employees in the past year. C-store foodservice earns a greater percentage of sales. The FDA postpones mandatory calorie postings until next year. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice.

Sales at restaurants and bars declined in June. The spread between food-away-from-home prices and food-at-home prices narrows. A consulting firm focuses on how restaurants can improve their customers’ experience. Chipotle introduces a new concept. These stories and a lot more This Week in Foodservice.

 

Gross Domestic Product was disappointing in the first quarter. Delivery is a bright spot for restaurants. McDonald’s first quarter beats estimates and its  Japanese division bounces back. Taco Bell plans aggressive growth in Canada. These stories and a whole lot more This Week in Foodservice. 

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