In This Week in Delivery, restaurant growth and revenue headlines continue to be depressing, but the bright spot stays the same – restaurants are looking to mobile ordering and delivery as their biggest opportunity for growth.
As delivery grows, casual dining tries takeout-only restaurants
In the same vein, Bloomin’ Brands is testing a takeout-only location, Outback & Carrabba’s Express, offering both Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba’s Italian Grill favorites for takeout and catering. Express locations aren’t a new concept. You usually see them in colleges and airports, but what’s new is opening express locations in areas where takeout ordering has the most potential. [Read More]
How are restaurants using real-time data?
Delivery has been a constant area of growth in the restaurant industry, but we couldn’t ignore how real-time data is giving some restaurants an incredible edge. Here are some highlights:
Chili’s streamlined menu speeds up service times
Chili’s cut their menu in half in September, streamlining their kitchen and putting the focus on their fajitas, burgers, and ribs. “Tickets longer than 15 minutes — and those are ones that generate the greatest number of guest complaints — have dropped 40 percent, and those guests are now much more likely to return.” [Read More]
Red Lobster kicks off loyalty program
Red Lobster is taking their loyalty program nationwide after testing it in Colorado, Arizona, and Wyoming. “In tests, three quarters of Red Lobster customers who downloaded the app have had it scanned to earn points. And the average app user has scanned nearly three checks and more than a third of its members who have redeemed a reward have done so two or more times.” [Read More]
Dickey’s, Quiznos, Firenza execs: Cloud technology gives a lift, but needs advocates
Finally, Dickey’s & Quiznos talk about using data for “sentiment analysis” at the Fast Casual Executive Summit. Restauranteurs can now react to what customers are saying on social media in real-time, and see how that information matches up against location performance. But most importantly, implementing restaurant technology requires advocates who can get buy-in at the various levels of their organization, from corporate to store level management. [Read More]
Anything I missed this week? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll update the post with the best ideas (and a link crediting you).
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