For the love of links: 89 percent of Americans like sausage

October 8, 2018

New research commissioned by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council and conducted online by The Harris Poll in September 2018, ahead of the current National…

Commodities: Down, down, down ... unless you're Papa John's

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Pizza operators got a break from most commodity prices last week, which turns out to be a particularly good thing since three of the four brands monitored here…

Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, McDonald's, Domino's. driving restaurant sector sales growth through year's end

September 11, 2018

Technomic today released its Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report 2018 Forecast indicating that for those leading 500 chains, sales will grow 3.2 percent by year's…

Commodities: Changes ahead?

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Changing weather, politics and consumer demand could foreshadow equally changing commodity and stock prices in the weeks ahead. This week though values for…

Independent restaurant count down 2 percent

August 22, 2018

NPD reported today that a 2 percent decline in U.S. independent restaurant brands contributed to a 1 percent drop in the nation's overall restaurant count this…

Pies, sides of the near-future: The trends en route to a pizza near you

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

What's not merely new to the pizza trade, but about to be new? Take a brief test to see if you know, then read on to find out what culinary trend forecaster…

NPD sees restaurant opportunities in growth of 'blended meals'

July 25, 2018

Although an NPD Group recent study found that more Americans are eating at home, the good news is that they're often adding restaurant foods to home-cooked…

Restaurant leaders discuss 3 digital categories turning industry on its head

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Digital signage, online ordering and loyalty apps are collectively transforming the restaurant business as we've known it for most of the past several decades.

Toppers returns to its 'rebel' roots with items 'outside the (pizza) box'

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Toppers is going back to its quirky beginnings by thinking "outside the (pizza) box" when it comes to the brand's menu.

Study: Pizza brands have big opportunity in Gen Z travelers

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

College-age consumers are not that wild about partying when they are traveling, but they DO love traveling itself more than any other single activity. And…

Restaurant leaders: Survey seeks your feedback on fast casual now

July 6, 2018

FastCasual is now conducting its annual survey tracking fast casual operations. The survey is open to c-level (CEO, COO, CDO, CIO CMO, etc.) executives…

Fast food pizza drives QSR customer satisfaction gains

Fast food pizza brands are making customers very happy this year and that's helping to  push the whole QSR category up a notch in its measurement of customer…

Commodities: Prices down on some pizza ingredients

Restaurateurs enjoyed lower costs last week on the commodities markets with cheese, vehicle fuel and some wheat prices falling, while two of the publicly…

Pilot Flying J names states' favorite road food

June 21, 2018

What we eat on the road is hardly unanimous in the U.S, according to Pilot Fyling J, North America's largest network of travel centers. After assessing last…

Top food trends now: The 'women' have spoken

June 20, 2018

The women have spoken, and they have some interesting ideas about where food is going in the years ahead. Les Dames d'Escoffier International — 2,300 women…

RDI: Why restaurant leaders should know what that means today

by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Where there is a will there's a way and in the restaurant industry consumers "will" take the easiest route to getting food delivered to their doors, one reason…

There may never be a better time for breakfast pizza

June 19, 2018

The time may never be better for pizza restaurateurs to get in on a little breakfast action, which has long been unfamiliar territory for such brands. A recent…

Restaurant sales flat, but traffic still vanishing along with employees

June 8, 2018

TDn2K reported that chain store comp sales gained slightly over the rolling three-month period, up 0.8 percent, though comp traffic dropped 2.9 percent in May…

Self-pour beer: A tech worth tapping into?

by Elliot Maras — Editor, Kiosk Marketplace & Vending Times

The craft beer revolution has changed the beer industry, and self-pour technology has made it easy for all kinds of brands to also embrace the trend, including…

April restaurant sales best in nearly 3 years

May 17, 2018

For the restaurant industry, April did indeed bring showers, but those of increased business, according to the most recent data from TDn2K, showing that…