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6 New Trends in Fast Food Restaurant You Need to Know
In recent years, there have been many new trends and changes in the fast food industry, such as healthier and higher quality food and more menu options. Fast food restaurants seem to be learning some advantages of fast casual to update themselves to be more competitive and stand out in the competitive market. So before we can understand the new trends of fast food restaurants, we need to understand what is fast food and fast casual.
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What is the difference between fast food and fast casual?
Fast food and fast casual sound like two similar concepts. They differ in that fast food focuses on quick service, limited menu options, and lower prices, while fast casual offers a more relaxed atmosphere, higher quality food, broader menu options, and a slightly higher price range. More importantly, fast casual restaurants usually serve alcohol.
1. Concept and atmosphere
Fast food restaurants usually have a quick service concept that emphasizes speed and efficiency. They have a self-service model that focuses on takeout or drive-thru orders to support the fast-paced lives of commuters and students. Fast food restaurants generally have a casual and informal atmosphere with limited seating options, and many people choose to take away meals rather than eat in.
Fast casual bridges the gap between fast food and casual dining. They offer higher quality food and a more relaxed dining experience than fast food chains. Fast casual restaurants usually have a modern and inviting atmosphere with comfortable seating areas for customers to enjoy their food.
2. Food quality and menu selection
Fast food menus are usually standardized and streamlined for quick production and assembly. They offer limited menu items, focusing on popular fast food staples such as burgers, fries, and soft drinks.
This type of restaurant usually prioritizes food quality and freshness. They may offer a more diverse and customizable menu featuring healthier options, fresh ingredients, and a variety of flavors. fast-casual restaurants may also incorporate popular food concepts and dietary preferences, such as vegetarian or gluten-free options.
3. Service style
Fast food restaurants are known for their self-service model, where customers place their orders at the counter and receive their food quickly. They can offer limited or no table service, and customers usually take their meals to go or eat in designated seating areas and stay for relatively short periods.
Fast casual restaurants typically offer a higher level of customer service. Customers can order at the counter, similar to fast food, but the food is usually brought to their table. Some restaurants may also offer table service or a hybrid model where customers can choose between self-service and table service.
4. Price
Fast food is usually associated with lower prices, offering affordable and budget-friendly options.
Compared to fast-food chains, fast-casual restaurants typically come with a slightly higher price point. This is attributed to their emphasis on the value and quality of ingredients, a broader menu selection, and an elevated level of service.
What are the 6 new trends in fast food restaurants?
Fast food is so popular. The U.S. fast food industry has a market size of $331.41 billion in 2022, generating more than $25 trillion in annual revenue. It's an enticingly vast market, and in recent years, the fast food industry has faced dilemmas and choices that have led to new changes, such as no-touch pickup, healthier dietary needs, and environmental requirements.
For those in the fast food industry, seizing change and opportunity is the first step to success.
1. Contactless meal pickup
The impact of the pandemic has prompted fast food restaurants to intensify their investments in contactless dining options, including self-ordering kiosks, takeout, and express pickup services like "grab-and-go." The aim is to minimize physical contact, adhere to social distancing norms, and comply with local health and safety guidelines.
Certain fast-food chains have even experimented with conveyor belts to facilitate contactless pickup. In food delivery, there is a notable surge in lunchtime orders during weekdays, indicating an overall upward trend in the share of food deliveries.
Undoubtedly, the pandemic has left a lasting impact on the restaurant industry, compelling operators to channel more attention and resources into online ordering and delivery services. Most fast-food establishments have adeptly embraced online sales, leveraging electronic coupons, loyalty programs, and social media campaigns to expand and solidify their online consumer base, especially among the younger demographic.
2. Healthier Menu Choices
While many individuals prioritize the convenience and flavor of fast food, they often overlook its impact on health. A typical fast-food combo meal can pack around 800 to 1,500 calories, far exceeding the recommended intake of 500 calories per meal for adults.
To counteract this, many opt for smaller portions, opting for low-fat and low-sodium options and steering clear of extra sauces to avoid calorie overload. Fast-food establishments have keenly observed this trend, with many reducing or eliminating sauce options and incorporating more vegetable, fruit, and salad choices. In certain McDonald's locations, there are meal options labeled as "500 Calories," featuring additional salads and fruits to maintain dietary standards.
Moreover, with the rising number of vegetarians and vegans, fast-food chains are introducing an array of plant-based options. From vegetarian burgers to vegan nuggets, these offerings cater to the diverse dietary preferences of consumers, aligning with the increasing demand for plant-based alternatives.
3. Multi-purpose equipment
With extended operating hours and an expanding menu selection, kitchen tasks are becoming increasingly demanding, prompting a surge in the prevalence of multifunctional equipment within fast-food restaurant kitchens.
Fast-food establishments often grapple with the challenge of preparing a variety of foods within limited space. Multifunctional equipment becomes invaluable in this context, integrating diverse functionalities such as multifunctional ovens and processors capable of handling various food types rather than a singular vegetable cutter. Particularly noteworthy are multifunctional ovens, with many fast-food outlets opting for units that can both steam and bake, streamlining the execution of dual tasks.
These multifunctional devices boast higher production capacities and efficiencies, allowing simultaneous handling of multiple food items. In the fast-food realm, where speed is paramount, these innovations ensure that the pace of operations remains unparalleled.
4. Investing in Automation Products
Automation stands out as the optimal choice for reducing labor costs and enhancing efficiency. There are two key areas for fast food industryinvestment. First, there's the realm of operational systems encompassing self-service ordering, inventory management, and intelligent monitoring of kitchen equipment. These technologies contribute to accelerated order processing and enhanced data analysis capabilities. Second, automation equipment is equally important.
In the bustling kitchens of some fast-food establishments, large fryers with features such as menu editing, automatic basket lifting, and oil filtration carts are becoming commonplace. These innovations autonomously lift and signal when the cooking process concludes, allowing staff to prepare other ingredients during these minutes without constant supervision.
Furthermore, technologies like self-service ordering, inventory management, and intelligent kitchen equipment monitoring not only elevate order processing speed and data analysis capabilities but also enhance the overall automation and efficiency of restaurant operations.
5. Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development
In recent years, the fast-food industry has made significant efforts in environmental protection and sustainable development to minimize its impact on the environment and promote long-term sustainability. Fast food often comes with a substantial amount of single-use plastic waste, and the associated pollution and waste cannot be overlooked.
To address this, fast-food chains have begun initiatives to reduce single-use plastic packaging. Restaurants are opting for biodegradable paper bags instead of takeaway packaging, cutting down on napkin supply, printing eco-friendly slogans on menus, and fully phasing out single-use straws. When you order a cola, you'll find an opening on the cup lid instead of a straw.
Initially, there was some resistance to these measures, but over time and with the growing acceptance of environmental consciousness, more and more people are embracing and advocating for eco-friendly and sustainable practices.
Additionally, fast-food establishments actively promote waste sorting and recycling. They provide waste sorting facilities and collaborate with relevant organizations to ensure proper disposal and recycling of waste materials.
6. Localized taste
Localized taste is also a trend in the fast food industry. In fast food chains (such as McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, etc.), in addition to the classic pairing of burgers and fries, restaurants will continue new products that combine local flavors according to the season and adjust according to feedback.
In Japan, Pizza Hut has introduced sushi pizza, seafood pizza, and charcoal grilled beef pizza, which combine traditional Japanese ingredients and flavors. In Mexico, KFC introduced a menu of fried chicken tacos with chipotle sauce, tacos, and Mexican-style fries adapted to local tastes.
These new offerings have undoubtedly won the favor of the local populace. Aligning with local tastes signifies that fast-food restaurants are communicating a sense of importance and consideration to the people.
Summary
In today's increasingly competitive world, some fast-food restaurants are trying to use open kitchens to attract customers and reduce anxiety while waiting. Either way, it means that fast food restaurants are keeping up with the industry, using healthy and environmentally friendly measures to reflect humanism, using multifunctional and automated equipment to increase efficiency and reduce labor, using contactless pickup to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, etc.
Chefmax stays on top of new developments in the fast-food industry to improve fast-food restaurant efficiency by creating one-stop automated kitchens, and we have a full range of multifunctional equipment that helps reduce training costs and labor costs. If you need more information about one-stop fast-food restaurant kitchen equipment, please contact Chefmax for an immediate response and detailed answers.