April 17, 2012

We just released our latest TOP growing restaurant chain list of companies with between 50-100 units. Typically our list is comprised of 20 companies. There were 10 companies in the preceding quarter who fit the parameters.  Chain growth has slowed in the past 6-8 months for companies of this unit count.

March 19, 2012

Growth remains strong in QSR and fast casual restaurant activity. Family/Casual restaurant chains are still maintaining counts of locations. New independent openings have recently displayed some new growth in cafes with more highly regarded food and food service.

So far overall counts of new activity is the same as last year within 1-2%. Contrary to widely published research calls regarding the casual sector, casual store chain locations remain in business and are improving.

January 25, 2012

We are forecasting the following for this year:

1) The number of food outlets will remain steady for another year. Type and style of growers in staunchly in the QSR/Quick Casual sector. Casual and upscale development of new restaurants will total less than 10%.

2) Technology will continue to improve operations. We expect rapid adaption of FOH technology services that lean towards customer interaction tools such as electronic menus, self and waiter assisted POS systems and improved feedback tools for management.

3) Customer service at chef driven restaurants is on red alert.

4) Snacks as meals continue. Food items/meals between $3-$8 will continue to be the common denominator pricing range.

January 3, 2012

Legal filings of new restaurant openings had a good end of year finish with a 3% increase over last year. We will be displaying our full list of predictions for 2012 and the results of last years predictions next week. As for the current state in the industry, we anticipate little change regarding type and style of foodservice operations that are growing and succeeding.

A sneak peek into two of our predictions from our list are: 1) Low cost menu item outlets combined with speed of service and genuine (customer concern) touches will continue to win. 2) The key word of the survivors is "culture."

October 6, 2011

Restaurant multi-unit operators in the lower per person check range continue to thrive. Growth marches on in this segment as low check averages collide with super market costs regarding day-part meal consumption. The few upscale and family/casual sector restaurants who are growing or maintaining year over year average unit volume continue to push FOH service as their vehicle to retain customers. Franchisors in the QSR and quick/casual sector continue to enjoy strong unit growth.

Additionally online ordering has made strides in relation to the Monday-Friday, 7AM-midnight office market helping their customers manage meal allowances. All in all, new filings and growth continues. We continue to see almost no discernable difference in new activity during the entirety of the recession period.

June 2, 2011

New restaurant filings have improved and increased in net numbers in the first six months of 2011 vs. 2010. Percentage increases are nearing 4% overall. The type and style of new openings continue to mirror the prior three years. $3-$8 per person check average foodservice outlets are the concrete standard of rapid growers. However late to the current call of today's business climate, other restaurant research firms in recent months have been echoing this fact we began to display in June of 2008. We see no reason to believe the majority of type and style regarding new openings will change into 2012.

March  11, 2011

New BBQ restaurant openings grew by 10% in 2010 and are currently tracking a 20% increase in 2011 from 2010. Watch for continued development in this cuisine type as multi-unit operators emulate their efforts.

February 08, 2011

In the prior year restaurants grew at an overall rate of 1.01% according to new opening data.  There was a 12% greater number of single-unit independent openings versus chain openings. Currently QSR remain the dominant category of growth.

November 23,  2010

Drinkable food and juice chains are hot as check averages have hit bottom. Companies who are replicating units are in the sub $5 PPA. A large percentage of chains who are expanding are juice or yogurt based. Our recent November Top 20 list and other recent Top 20 lists reveal this certain trend. All in all, restaurants have continued to open in similar amounts as in the past five years.