Carry-out, Drive-thru, and Delivery Continue As Growth Areas for the Canadian Restaurant Industry

Online and physical visits to Canadian restaurants and foodservice outlets were flat in the year ending September 2021 compared to a year ago when traffic was down double-digits. Helping the industry recover was the growth in foodservice off-premises orders from carry-out, drive-thru, and delivery, reports The NPD Group. Although foodservice traffic has improved from the steep declines experienced last year, visits were 18% below the pre-pandemic level in September 2019, according to NPD’s continual tracking of the Canadian foodservice industry...

White Castle's 'Crave Clutch™' Comes in Clutch for Smaller Gatherings with Friends and Family

A year after its launch, White Castle's Crave Clutch has proven to be a popular addition to the brand's lineup of iconic packaging. Customers have embraced the colorful carryout box, which holds 20 Sliders, because it's an ideal size for family meals and smaller friend gatherings that have been so common during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In honor of the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Crave Clutch, White Castle is giving customers $4 off of White Castle's Share-A-Meal #9...

Canada’s Foodservice Industry Shows Promising Recovery in the Second Quarter Compared to Last Year

Through lockdowns, COVID-19 restrictions, and eventual reopening, Canadians released their pent-up demand and ordered from or visited restaurants and other foodservice outlets in the April-May-June quarter reports The NPD Group. Consumer spending at restaurants and other foodservice outlets increased by +43% in the second quarter of the year compared to the same quarter last year when spending declined by -41% from the year before. Visits, dining in and off-premises orders, improved by +31% compared to the second quarter year ago when traffic declined by -36%, according to NPD’s continual tracking of the foodservice industry.

Each area of the commercial foodservice market is recovering at a different pace. Quick service restaurants (QSR), many of which had well-developed off-premises services like carry-out and...

The U.S. Restaurant Industry Recovery Through Second Quarter has Been Slow and Steady

The second quarter of this year reflects a period during which state and local governments lifted pandemic restrictions, restaurants reopened, people got vaccinated, and consumers used restaurants more than they did throughout the pandemic, reports The NPD Group. Consumer spending at restaurants was up +32% in the April-May-June 2021 quarter compared to the same quarter last year, and for a pre-pandemic view, flat compared to the same quarter in 2019. Restaurant visits, dining in or off-premises, increased by +22% in the quarter compared to the same quarter last year and were down -7% compared to the second quarter of 2019, according to NPD’s daily tracking of the U.S. foodservice industry.

Quick service restaurants (QSRs), representing 81% of restaurant visits in the U.S., realized a gain of +15% in visits in the second quarter compared to a year ago and a -5% decline compared to the second quarter of 2019. Throughout the pandemic, QSR restaurants, particularly...

ANALYSIS: Jumbo Chicken Wings: A Countdown to the Coin Toss

With the first kickoff of college football season practically at our doorstep, the topic of chicken wings has begun to weave its way into market related conversations.

Jollibee Announces the Launch of New Jollibee Ordering App

Jollibee announced the launch of its new Jollibee Ordering App. The ordering platform allows new customers and Jollibee fans to order the brand's food directly from their mobile devices. The app supports orders for delivery and in-store pickup and is live across the United States and Canada now via the Apple App Store and Google Play.

To celebrate the launch of the new app, Jollibee is running a two-week promotion giving customers the brand's Peach Mango Pie for free on every order placed with an account through the new platform. This offer can be redeemed by entering the promo code "JoyOnline" at checkout. The promotion is currently...

P.F. Chang's Expands To Go Concept to Meet Consumer Demand for Takeout

P.F. Chang’s is expanding its P.F. Chang’s To Go concept with two new locations in key markets as the global restaurant chain continues to meet demand for easily accessible Asian cuisine, adapting to the evolution of dining across the country.

The concept, which launched in 2020, features a smaller footprint, creating access to elevated Asian cuisine in high-density metropolitan communities, allowing more guests to experience the P.F. Chang’s Asian favorites they know and love. P.F. Chang’s To Go is a convenient format that provides a solution for...

Domino's Rolls Out Carside Delivery 2-Minute Guarantee
Domino's Pizza is launching a new guarantee to offer customers the most convenient carryout experience possible. Domino's Carside Delivery 2-Minute Guarantee is simple: order Domino's Carside Delivery online, check in when you arrive, and as soon as your order is ready, a Domino's team member will head to your car in less than two minutes or your next pizza is free.

Domino's and DraftKings Inc., a leading sports entertainment and technology company, have launched Domino's Carside Delivery 2-Minute Guarantee Over/Under Challenge as well, giving customers the chance to predict if Domino's Carside Delivery nationwide will be quicker than...

Technomic's Take: Roadblock to Recovery for Restaurants

By all accounts, the restaurant industry is roaring back to life as vaccination distribution spreads, dine-in restrictions are lifted and improved weather throughout most of the country sends consumers flocking to restaurants to dine with friends and family. Operators are reporting same-store sales approaching, and in some cases exceeding, pre-pandemic levels as pent-up demand drives the dine-in surge and off-premise orders remain strong.

For restaurant operators eager to return to full capacity, however, significant headwinds remain as the restaurant industry struggles to fill jobs to meet this booming demand. The biggest challenge facing operators in this current recovery period is finding staff willing to work. There are numerous other factors that are impacting...

Nearly Half of Canadians Plan to Dine On-Premises Now that Pandemic Restrictions are Relaxed

Canadians were anxiously awaiting COVID lockdowns and restrictions to be eased and lifted, and so were restaurant operators. It’s been a long 15 months and 46% of Canadians told The NPD Group that they plan to physically eat at a restaurant, bar, or coffee shop now that COVID-19 restrictions have been eased. Restaurant operators are eager to greet them back and pick-up their dine-in business, which was most impacted by mandated pandemic restrictions.

Dine-in or on-premises restaurant orders/visits have improved since the beginning of the pandemic but, as a basis for comparison, were still down -85% in April 2021 compared to April 2019. Off-premises orders and visits, which include...

US Foods Summer Scoop Lineup Takes Aim at Restaurant Labor Shortage

US Foods Holding Corp. announced the launch of Summer Scoop™. Themed “Dining Out Is In Again,” Summer Scoop features 18 on-trend, versatile, profit-driving products designed to reduce back-of-house preparation and skilled-labor demands. With 62% of operators saying they are concerned about finding skilled workers during the pandemic, restaurant operators struggle to balance the resurgence of on-site diners and existing take-out and delivery operations ramped up during the pandemic. Summer Scoop helps address these challenges with innovative products that can drive higher profits and help operators save approximately 85-95% in back-of-house preparation time compared to making from scratch, helpful for restaurants operating with fewer and less experienced kitchen staff.

“Through each phase of the pandemic, our commitment to helping our restaurant operators ‘Make It’ with product innovation and expert resources has remained our number one priority,” said Stacey Kinkaid, vice president of product development and innovation for US Foods. “As restaurants quickly move closer to...

Canadian Restaurant Industry Learns to Pivot and Adapt Despite Visit Loss Due to COVID-19

It has been over a year since the COVID-19 global pandemic began and the Canadian foodservice industry, one of the business sectors most impacted by restrictions, has had to learn to adapt. In the quarter ending March 2021, keeping in mind that the global pandemic was declared in mid-March of last year, total foodservice traffic in Canada was down -9% compared to same quarter year ago when visits were down -11% versus prior year, reports The NPD Group. Although there is improvement from last year, it’s also important to note that since the first quarter of 2019 through the first quarter of 2021, 326,000 foodservice visits (or orders) have been lost, according to NPD’s continual tracking of the Canadian foodservice industry.

The quick service segment, which prior to the pandemic was already equipped to efficiently handle off-premises operations, like carry-out and drive-thru, ended the first quarter of this year with...

U.S. Restaurant Carry-Out and Delivery Digital Orders Soar During the Pandemic

Digital ordering was a lifeline for consumers and U.S. restaurants, particularly full service restaurants, during the pandemic, reports The NPD Group. In the year ending March 2021, which covers a full year since the start of the pandemic, restaurant digital orders grew +124% compared to prior year. Digital orders for carry-out, which represented 62% of all digital orders, increased by +130%, and digital orders for delivery grew by +142% in the period compared to year ago and held 38% share of total restaurant digital orders, according to NPD’s ongoing foodservice market research, CREST®.

Digital ordering offered full service restaurants, which operated under varying degrees of mandated dine-in restrictions throughout the pandemic, much needed...

P.F. Chang's Celebrates Spring Holidays with New Menu

P.F. Chang’s is celebrating a season of moms, dads and graduates, creating a unique and memorable celebration experience for each signature event. Launching is an updated menu, suited for celebrations of all kinds. The exclusive pre-fixed menu includes a selection of four courses and a glass of wine for $50 per person.

“At P.F. Chang’s, we believe there’s much cause for celebration over the coming weeks, whether it’s honoring important family members or hard-working scholars,” said Tana Davila, chief marketing officer for P.F. Chang’s. “We’re always a place to celebrate life’s milestones – both big and small – but...

Nathan's Famous Partner with Ghost Kitchens Brands to Open 100 Locations by End of 2021 

Nathan’s Famous announced its partnership with Ghost Kitchen Brands (GKB). The partnership with Nathan’s Famous and Wings of New York, Nathan’s recently launched virtual kitchen brand, will help Nathan’s continue to bring their new menu to consumers across US and Canada with 60 non-traditional locations to the U.S. and 40 to Canada by the end of 2021. Many of these new kitchens will live inside Walmart stores offering some seating, and all locations included in the deal will offer carry-out and third-party delivery.

"We’re excited to continue our expansion across the US and Canada, and this partnership with Ghost Kitchen Brands grows our footprint even more," states James Walker, Senior Vice President, Restaurants. “We look forward to beginning this journey with GKB in their current kitchens and cities, with hopes of...

Quaker Steak & Lube Introduces New, Limited-Time Menu Items

With the weather heating up and the days getting longer, it can only mean one thing: a much-needed summer is right around the corner. To celebrate, Quaker Steak & Lube is introducing a brand-new "All-American Summer" menu complete with its twists on classic BBQ favorites and seasonal-inspired cocktails.

Here is the food lineup Quaker Steak & Lube will feature on its All-American Summer menu...

U.S. Restaurant Chain Customer Transactions Begin to Recover

In mid-March 2020, U.S. governing authorities, to get the COVID-19 global pandemic under control, restricted on-premises dining at roughly 70% of all U.S. restaurants, a historical defining moment for the industry. By the last week of March 2020, customer transactions at major restaurant chains had fallen by -43% compared to year ago and by -77% at full service chains, which were most impacted by the dine-in restrictions.

In March 2021, with the lifting of restrictions and more consumers vaccinated, customer transactions at major restaurant chains were up +32% compared to the steep declines year ago, although still down -6% compared to two years ago, March 2019. Major chain transactions at full service restaurants were up...

Meijer Reveals Unique Shopping Trends One Year into Pandemic Living

As the one-year mark into pandemic living has officially passed, Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer Meijer reveals some of the most surprising shopping trends from the height of the shutdown to the ongoing changes in home and work lifestyles across the Midwest.

While home delivery and pickup services doubled at Meijer stores over the last 12 months, customers used the retailer's Shop & Scan technology more than 100 million times as they shopped and bagged while practicing social distancing to shorten time spent in the store. Additionally, customers also ate more...

ANALYSIS: Chicken Wings Head into Overtime

It isn’t often that chicken wings continue to command the limelight in Q2. But despite the conclusion of March Madness, and in the absence of any wing-centric holidays on the immediate horizon, the market...

Canada: Dine-In Restaurant Visit Declines Soften in February when Restrictions were Eased
The pent-up demand for indoor dining was evident in February after dine-in restrictions were eased in Canada’s largest provinces. Dine-in restaurant visits increased by 4 percentage points in February compared to January, an increase of 10.5 million visits versus prior month. The downside of this news is the still deep traffic declines in on-premises dining. Dine-in visits declined by -79% in February compared to same month last year and were down -85% in January compared to last year, according to NPD, which continually tracks consumers’ use of Canadian restaurants and other foodservice outlets.

Off-premises dining, like carry-out, delivery, and drive-thru, has been the beneficiary of the indoor dining restrictions. In January off-premises visits, digital or physical, were up...

US Foodservice: Expect an Even Bigger Lift From the Third Stimulus

Checks under the USD 1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, the third and largest stimulus package since the pandemic outbreak, began rolling out mid-March. The US government expects nearly 85% of all US residents – adults, children, seniors – to receive direct payments of up to USD 1,400 based on household income. The ongoing stimulus is substantially higher than the last two in April and December 2020, which included direct payments of USD 1,200 (plus USD 500 per child) and USD 600 (plus USD 600 per child), respectively.

Recipients Spent 10% to 15% More in Restaurants Following the Last Two Rounds of Stimulus

Credit/debit card transaction data from Earnest Research, a data analytics firm that tracks the US consumer economy through foot traffic, credit/debit card spend, retail pricing, and healthcare data, shows...

How COVID-19 has Changed Eating Out Over the Last 12 Months In the UK

It’s 12 months since the UK’s first COVID-19 lockdown, and one of the sectors that has been most heavily impacted is hospitality. Here, The NPD Group picks out eight eating out/eating in trends from the pandemic’s first year (March 2020 to February 2021) and suggests how they will unfold as lockdown eases. From a surge in home deliveries to the growth of collection, the rise of eating on a deal, the surge of drive-thru, treating to beat boredom, a doubling of choosing vegan and veggie options, the rise of al fresco dining and a laser-like focus on delivering the best customer service, here’s how COVID-19 has changed the way we eat out (and in).

Delivery: In the 12 months of COVID, delivery’s share of out of home eating has more than doubled

Ordering takeaway main meals for home delivery has been a big part of locked down life and, according to The NPD Group’s consumer data, spend increased...

National Restaurant Association Survey Breaks Down How Consumers Used Restaurants During Pandemic

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Restaurant Association began a weekly survey of 1,000 adults to see how they were utilizing restaurants.

Starting in February 2020, the survey “tracks the extent to which U.S. adults participated in restaurant and foodservice on a week-to-week basis.”

The survey is broken down into six periods over the past 12 months and focuses on patronage during breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack/beverage and dinner and both on-premise and off-premise dining...

Three New Sysco Foodie Solutions Toolkits Available for Restaurateurs

Sysco Corporation announced the addition of three new toolkits to its Foodie Solutions platform: Brunch, Protecting Your Business and Turning Your Tables. As more restaurants reopen their dining rooms, these are the latest in a series of carefully curated tools to help customers respond quickly to shifting business requirements and trends resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Brunch toolkit offers innovative ideas and recipes to help make Easter and Mother’s Day a success, including popular brunch and take-out concepts, such as Bloody Mary cocktail kits and a Mother’s Day “Berry Me in Chocolate” strawberry kit. In addition, “Sea-cuterie boards” are a unique play on the...

Cracker Barrel Offers New Prime Rib Heat n' Serve and Creative Basket Options

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® announced the launch of its Spring Into the Season campaign, featuring a new, homestyle Prime Rib Heat n' Serve meal and Baskets for Every Occasion gift options to make the most of the Easter holiday and life's most memorable milestones. Plus, Cracker Barrel's popular classic Easter Heat n' Serve meal including spiral-sliced sugar-cured ham will be back in two sizes – Feast and Family Dinner.

"Whether you're craving a country feast, refreshing your home for Spring, or planning to give one-of-a-kind Easter baskets, Cracker Barrel is here to offer convenient and delicious ways to make new traditions at home or celebrate with us around one of our tables," said Cracker Barrel Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Tate. "This year, we're especially excited to offer...

US Foods Spring Scoop Caters to Consumers’ Growing Interest in Well-Being, Sustainability

US Foods Holding Corp. announced the launch of Spring 2021 Scoop™, “Hungry for Better,” which features products that cater to consumers’ growing interest in dining options that support their planet, their communities and themselves. Today’s consumers are more deliberate and conscientious about their dining choices and are seeking products with simple and authentic ingredients that can also satisfy specific dietary needs. At the same time, they are also demanding products with sustainable attributes, and research shows that these consumer behaviors have only intensified since the start of the pandemic. To meet this growing need, US Foods Spring Scoop highlights 21 products that offer a well-being and/or sustainable attribute and are part of the company’s growing portfolio of products under the Hungry for Better initiative.

“With Spring Scoop, we are focusing on products that support our Hungry for Better initiative,” said Stacey Kinkaid, vice president, product development and...

Sysco Launches New and Exclusive, Chef-Tested Menu Concepts Through Cutting Edge Solutions Platform

Sysco Corporation, the leading global foodservice distribution company, introduced nine innovative concepts through its Cutting Edge Solutions platform. These new and differentiated products are available exclusively from Sysco and provide foodservice operators with unique menu offerings, innovative meal solutions and environmentally friendly cleaning and beverage products.

“Now more than ever, foodservice operators must provide differentiated offerings to succeed in this challenging operating environment. Sysco’s Cutting Edge Solutions platform offers...

Foodservice and Retail Get Creative for an Unprecedented Valentine’s Day 

While the pandemic has caused disruptions to gatherings and going out, there remains a special significance around Valentine’s Day. Consumers are committed to celebrating the holiday, even if traditional celebrations must be altered. According to the National Retail Federation, about 52% of adults plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, spending a total of $21.8 billon.

Nearly three-quarters of consumers celebrating the holiday this year feel it is important to do so given the current state of the pandemic. The virus is still a focus, with 74% indicating it will directly impact their plans for the holiday. About 24% of consumers plan to gift their loved one with an evening out, the lowest in...

Wingstop Brings Fan Favorite Flavors Back to Menus Nationwide

Wingstop is bringing back three popular remix flavors to menus nationwide as a limited time offering. Starting on Valentine's Day, one of the brand's busiest days of the year outside of the Big Game, fans will once again have access to Hot Lemon, Bayou BBQ and Lemon Garlic, available hand-sauced-and-tossed on bone-in and boneless wings as well as crispy tenders.

Valentine's Day marks a hallmark event for Wingstop as fans look to share flavor with the ones they love. This year, fans can stay in, relax, and get Wingstop's bold distinctive flavor via...

Insight Into Key Markets Ahead of the ‘Big Game’ as Foodservice Takes Unique Approach to Gameday

Heading into the big game last February, the coronavirus was just a blip on everyone’s radar, the focus was on ordering wings and appetizers for the pre-game party or planning a trip to a local sports bar.

This year, many Americans will be enjoying the big game in smaller groups and while meat lover’s pizzas and chicken wings will be devoured all night, trips to restaurants are out of the cards for some and businesses are shifting their takeout specials to cater...

The Dark Clouds of 2020 Yielded Silver Linings for U.S. Restaurant Industry

Throughout one of the most challenging years for U.S. restaurants the industry demonstrated its resiliency against a variety of headwinds throughout 2020 by rising from a -35% traffic decline in April to a -11% visit decrease in December compared to year ago, reports The NPD Group. Although mandated dine-in restrictions have held back all restaurant segments, particularly full service, consumer demand for restaurant meals and the ability to serve the demand with a host of off-premises services, like digital ordering, delivery, drive-thru, and carry-out, are the silver linings that enable the industry to persevere.

Restaurant digital orders, which were growing prior to the pandemic, increased by +19% in January of last year to +145% in December compared to year ago, according to NPD’s daily tracking of consumers' use of restaurants and other foodservice outlets. Like digital ordering...

Americans to Eat Record 1.42 Billion Chicken Wings for Super Bowl LV

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in many ways. One thing that hasn’t changed: America’s love for chicken wings. This is no more apparent than on Super Bowl weekend, when Americans will devour a record 1.42 billion wings while watching the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers battle for the Lombardi Trophy.

This figure is up 2% from last year, according to the National Chicken Council’s annual Wing Report.

There are several reasons for the uptick, says National Chicken Council spokesman Tom Super. “If you think about it, restaurants like wing joints and pizza places were built around takeout and delivery, so they didn’t have to...

National Restaurant Association Releases 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Report

The National Restaurant Association released its 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Report, which measures the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the restaurant industry and examines the current state of key pillars including technology and off-premises, labor, and menu trends across segments based on a survey of 6,000 restaurant operators and consumer preferences from a survey of 1,000 adults. The report also provides a look at the path to recovery for chains, franchises, and independents and the year of transition ahead.

Key findings regarding the impact of coronavirus on the restaurant industry include...

IHOP Introduces New Signature Burritos and Bowls

IHOP introduced its latest menu innovation, Burritos & Bowls, designed with flavor combinations and easy portability in mind. Starting today, guests can select from a lineup of six different builds – in breakfast, lunch and dinner varieties – all of which can either be wrapped in a flour tortilla or served in a bowl.

The six new Burritos & Bowls flavors range from signature ingredients, like IHOP’s hickory-smoked bacon and include hash browns to hotter fare like poblano queso sauce and...

Sysco Releases New Foodie Solutions Toolkits

Sysco Corporation announced the addition of four new toolkits to its Foodie Solutions platform. The Valentine’s Day, Wholesome Dining, Seafood and Greatest Game toolkits are the latest in a series of carefully curated resources that reflect the best ideas from across the foodservice industry for generating additional revenue and meeting consumer expectations for a safe and memorable dining, takeout or delivery experience.

Valentine’s Day is historically one of the most popular holidays to dine out, second only to Mother’s Day. Despite the pandemic, Sysco expects it will remain...

McDonald's to Launch Three New Chicken Sandwiches Next Month

McDonald's is launching three chicken sandwiches beginning February 24, joining long-time sandwich favorites like the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Egg McMuffin, and Filet-O-Fish. The new options include a Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, and the Deluxe Chicken Sandwich.

McDonald's began testing the Crispy Chicken Sandwich in Houston and Knoxville, Tennessee, last year. The sandwich is made of a fried chicken filet served on a potato roll, topped with butter and pickles. The spicy option comes with a spicy pepper sauce, and the deluxe sandwich comes with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo.

In November, Joe Erlinger, President of McDonald's USA, said a new crispy chicken sandwich would...

The Catering Sector in France Adapts and Absorbs the Shock from COVID-19 Lockdowns

According to the latest data from The NPD Group, the share of “take-out” visits in France has doubled in catering, comprising 35% of total visits between March and October 2020, versus 17% over the same time period last year.

Restaurant owners have been able to adapt in order to develop their offerings toward take-out. They have reviewed the composition of the menus, developed the product mix, worked on the packaging and found new ways of communicating with...

El Pollo Loco Unveils New L.A. Mex Restaurant Design to Meet Evolving Customer Demand

El Pollo Loco unveiled its new restaurant of the future designed to enhance off-premise convenience powered by a more robust and frictionless digital experience.

The re-imagined El Pollo Loco restaurants have been inspired by the changing habits of consumers to enjoy a more digital-forward and contactless off-premise experience that was inevitably sped up by...

2021 Food Label Trends Deliver Safety and Security for Consumers and Retailers

As U.S. consumers turned to takeout, food delivery and online grocery shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic, food and beverage labeling took on fresh importance. Citing a 15-20% increase in grocery industry sales this year, and e-commerce sales up 43%, sustainable label leader UPM Raflatac found its grocery and restaurant delivery customers want to provide an increasingly safe experience with labels that provide visible safeguards for human health and protections for the environment.

"We knew packaging needs would change for our food industry customers given the COVID-19 shopping impact, and we are encouraged to see...

Panasonic Explores How the Pandemic has Transformed Food Services and Food Retail Industries

Panasonic Corporation of North America, a leading technology company, released its industry survey as to how the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed Food Services and Food Retail businesses. The new study reveals that one in four Food Services and Food Retailers now view their companies as tech-forward early adopters, up from one in eight prior to the pandemic.

The research is a follow up to a previous study conducted by Panasonic shortly before the coronavirus outbreak. In late 2019, Panasonic conducted a food industry pulse survey in association with...

Pizza Hut to Offer Holiday Meal Box 

With the holiday season in full swing, Pizza Hut is crossing cooking off the to-do list by delivering the ultimate gift: the Triple Treat Box.

Arriving just in time for the holidays, each Triple Treat Box features a three-in-one meal, packed with two medium one-topping pizzas, five breadsticks and 10 Cinnabon Mini Rolls. Pizzas are available on...