What is fast food news?
Fast food news is a subgenre of news reporting that exists specifically to report on the fast food industry and its development and changes. Fast food news shares many of the same elements as other news sources, but with a focus on the fast food industry. News outlets, websites, and even TV channels dedicate sections of their content to reporting on the fast food industry. Fast food news reports on everything from the latest technology that has been implemented in the fast food industry to the high-profile scandals that have affected the fast food industry.
A Bite of Fast Food News- The Latest Trends Every Fast Food Lover Needs to Know
What's New in Fast Food Chains?
The last two years have seen some changes in consumer behaviour patterns and preferences. Since eating out at full service restaurants is still considered risky and people are getting bored of cooking at home, there has been an upsurge in the popularity of fast food.
As seen during the pandemic, delivery and takeout options are here to stay. Many food chains are now looking at long-term solutions, such as hiring their own drivers or offering promotions to encourage pickup. Many national chains are also looking to personalize individual locations by encouraging community involvement or opting for regional food items on menus to engage patrons. Papa John's latest limited time offer is the New York style pizza with a thinner, foldable crust.
Even though fast food chains have adapted to the new normal by offering more contactless options to accommodate proper health guidelines, they couldn't combat rising costs and staff shortages. But after announcing menu cutbacks last year, many fast food chains have brought back some of the items.
Every year, menus in fast food chains for January and February have healthier options as diners are trying to stick to their New Year's resolutions to lose weight. Most of the menu options in March see a distinct shift towards seafood based menu items due to Lent. Popeyes has brough back the flounder fish sandwich for the Lenten season. Arby's also has a lineup of fish sandwiches for seafood season which is headlined by their new spicy fish sandwich. Many fast food restaurants also start offering special food ahead of St Patrick's Day. Dairy Queen has already brought back their fan-favorite, mint chip shake, and they are also offering mint brownies as their Blizzard of the month for March.
Plant-based Fast Food Trends Coming Your Way
Vegetarian options to meat-based foods have been around for decades, but after the pandemic more people are turning to healthier dishes and looking at flexitarian meal options (meals with less meat and more plant based options). This has led to a sudden boom in plant based food items. As per data, sales of plant based food are set to touch $37.9 billion by 2027. Fast food chains are not far behind in cashing in on the trend.
We have listed some plant based menu items offered by a few fast food chains-
- After testing a plant based version of the classic fried chicken, KFC has launched its Beyond Fried Chicken nationally this January. And there seems to be more on the horizon as it has recently entered a partnership with Beyond Meat and its Yum Brands, which also owns Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.
- Pizza Hut is also in the process of rolling out its plant-based Italian sausage at its 450+ food chains across Canada. Pizza Hut also offers plant based pepperoni in the U.S as part of partnership deal Yum Brands (the parent company) has with Beyond Meat.
- Smoothie giant Jamba has also jumped on the bandwagon with its latest plant-based matcha green tea, mangos, kale and orange juice concoction. Jamba also offers a variety of plant based options like the toasted breakfast sandwich which has a plant-based sausage patty.
- Ice cream and frozen yogurt brand Ben & Jerry's already has non-dairy alternatives to classic favorite ice cream flavours like cookie dough and Cherry Garcia. It has now also created some new flavors exclusively for the non-dairy line which makes up almost 40 percent of the flavor lineup.
You’re craving a burger, but you don’t want to go to the drive-thru.
You need a quick bite that won’t take up too much time and will satisfy your hunger.
How Drive thrus Are Skyrocketing
As discussed earlier, the pandemic forced people to maintain social distancing, and that rolled over into food deliveries too. Many food chains have invested in technology to make it easier to provide service via drive thrus. Contactless delivery and drive thrus became popular methods of collecting food from food chains.
As per fast food news reports and food industry news, drive-thrus now account for 41% of the orders at food chains and restaurants. Food chains like McDonald's and Wendy's have been upgrading their drive thru lanes to cut down on service time.
Many food chains have only opted for drive thrus in high-traffic areas. PJ's Coffee in New Orleans decided to go for drive thrus only in certain areas, and found that their drive thru locations brought in 53.4% more revenue than those without. Studies have shown that about 23% of surveyed food chains had digital menu boards which cut down drive thru times by an average of 12.3 seconds. But food chains have to ensure that the back house is equipped to deal with the traffic that drive thrus brings and adapt their serve time accordingly. One way to do this is to offer items that require quick prep time only for the drive thru section.
There has also, however, been a downside to the drive thru. Higher traffic volume and larger orders have slowed down the average drive thru time by 29.8 seconds. Most of the fast food chains have now started looking at AI and automation to scale back the turnover time for drive thrus.
Old Menu Items Start to Make a Resurgence
During the pandemic, many food chains like McDonald's had to cut back on menu items. They did this to streamline operations and reduce wait time. But now, with the economy opening up again, and because of high customer demand, fast food chains are bringing these popular menu items back. Bringing back old favorites is a good way to meet consumer demand for shareable menu items that are made from cost-effective ingredients, but are high on flavor.
Chick Fil A has brought back the smokehouse BBQ bacon sandwich, grilled or fried chicken breast topped with Colby Jack cheese, bacon strips, pepper and lettuce in brown sugar and barbecue sauce for a limited time. Taco Bell reinstated the Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes and Spicy Potato Soft Tacos to the permanent menu after months of requests from customers.
The price of fast food menu items has seen the highest rate of inflation since 2008 due to the increase in demand for takeout and delivery services and on account of the increase in wages to retain untipped workers. This may also be one of the reasons for bringing back favourite menu items to draw in customers.
The Latest Trends in Fast Food Technology
Food chains and restaurants have to constantly innovate to make sure customers are happy and keep coming back. According to a study by Oracle, most consumers prefer restaurants that use technology to streamline their processes. 64% said long wait timeswhether at an in-house diner or at a drive thruwas a turn-off. Many also preferred online ordering. Food chains have taken customer demands into consideration while upgrading their restaurant management processes. We have listed here some of the trends that fast food chains are incorporating into their daily operations.
AI for drive thru-
In recent times, there has been an increase in the turnaround time for drive thru orders and many staff have been overwhelmed with the orders. McDonald's is now testing out a voice-ordering bots at their drive-thru locations. The bots can greet customers at the drive thru, take orders, transfer orders to point of sale (POS) systems which leaves the staff with more time to prepare orders.
Data analytics-
Big fast food chains and restaurants are opting to use data analytics to customize orders and recommendations, based on consumers' past purchasing behavior. Burger King uses deep flame technology in its new digital menu boards to suggest food that sees maximum purchase orders. This technology can also recommend hot or cold coffee as per the outside temperature. Most food chains are investing in data analytics to improve customer loyalty programs and boost sales.
Contactless ordering-
Contactless ordering- Many food chains are now opting for contactless or online ordering to overcome staff shortage and social distancing. Rise Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken in North Carolina recently started a self ordering kiosk and heated locker system. The customer can place the order via the self service kiosk and the food can be place in the heated locked to be collected.
Automated POS and restaurant management system
Many food chains have started looking to POS systems, like Plum POS from the Hubworks restaurant management app store, to streamline daily operations, help with marketing, and vendor management for Restaurant Supplies that best suit their needs.
You need to keep up with the latest trends in the fast food world.
You’re a foodie, and you need to know what’s hot in the fast food world.
Labor Trends in Fast Food News
As per food news, inflation has hit fast food chains. This has made ingredients and labor expensive. At 7% year-over-year in December, the U.S. inflation stood at its highest level since 1982, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly 20 million workers have left the U.S. workforce since April 2021 and many in the service industry have used the increase in demand to ask for better working conditions and wages. Hourly labor costs saw an increase of 8.6% in 2021, the highest in 10 years, and annual hourly earnings of restaurant employees rose between 1.5% and 4.4% per year.
Food chains have seen an 8.4% unemployment rate, which is much higher than the overall U.S. unemployment rate of 5.4%. Many fast food chains are offering higher wages to counter the exodus and the average wage of employees went over $15 an hour for the first time, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But tight profit margins are making it difficult for many food chains and restaurants to offer competitive wages and benefits.
The increase in labour wages has also lead to an increase in fast food menu items prices. Issues with supply chains and Food Distributors also contribute to an increase in food prices. The inflation rate is projected to increase by 2.30% in 2022. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices at fast food chains rose 7.1% compared to 2020.
What Next for Fast Food Chains?
Let us now check out some of the trends predicted to emerge in the fast food industry in 2022.
- Delivery option- The pandemic saw people opting for doorstep delivery of food. Many food chains are now looking at in-house delivery options to cater to the needs of their customers. Fast food chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell have started to use third-party services.
- Smart Appliances- Many fast food chains are now opting for smart appliances to identify opportunities to reduce energy. These appliances are designed to cook food faster, which conserves energy and optimizes operational efficiency. Some also have WiFi options for better communication.
- Better Kids' Menus- Several fast food chains are upgrading their kids' menus to include more plant based menu items, as children often eat what their parents eat.
- Healthier options- With an increase in the number of health conscious consumers, many food chains have started using healthier alternatives like macadamia butter and chickpea butter instead of conventional oils.
- Sugar Alternatives- Many food chains are also looking at alternatives to sugar and honey, like sweet potato or coconut.
- Self ordering- Some fast-food restaurants are implementing self-ordering options, including online orders for quick pickup. Some are also setting up pick-up cabinets that allow customers to pay for their food remotely, and then collect it from a cabinet at the fast-food restaurant by entering a code.
It’s hard to keep up with the latest trends in fast food news.
You want to know what’s happening in the industry and what your favorite burger joint is doing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which fast food chain reigns at the top?
You can't deny it. You've eaten at the same fast food chain more times than you can count, but there are times that you want to try something new. What fast food chain reigns at the top? A recent study looked into which fast food chains provide the best quality and customer satisfaction rates. Results show that two major brands were rated as the highest in customer satisfaction- McDonald's and Taco Bell. Here is how they beat their competitors.You can't deny it. You've eaten at the same fast food chain more times than you can count, but there are times that you want to try something new. What fast food chain reigns at the top? A recent study looked into which fast food chains provide the best quality and customer satisfaction rates. Results show that two major brands were rated as the highest in customer satisfaction- McDonald's and Taco Bell. Here is how they beat their competitors.
Will fast food chains ever go extinct?
In the last ten years, convenience stores have grown in size and number. Along with the convenience store boom came an increase in fast food chains. These fast food chains are popping up across America, including new outlets that offer healthier options. Yet, it's not clear if these healthy options will be enough to keep this industry booming for long. Fast food restaurateurs face a difficult challenge- how do they keep their customers coming back for more? There are many factors that play into the success of a fast food chain like industry trends and consumer demographics. In order to compete against other rivals, you need to know what your competition is doing so you can stay ahead of them on their game. This article will provide you with an overview of the fast-food market and give insight into some of the most popular competitors to see where they're going wrong and what they need to do to stay relevant.In the last ten years, convenience stores have grown in size and number. Along with the convenience store boom came an increase in fast food chains. These fast food chains are popping up across America, including new outlets that offer healthier options. Yet, it's not clear if these healthy options will be enough to keep this industry booming for long. Fast food restaurateurs face a difficult challenge- how do they keep their customers coming back for more? There are many factors that play into the success of a fast food chain like industry trends and consumer demographics. In order to compete against other rivals, you need to know what your competition is doing so you can stay ahead of them on their game. This article will provide you with an overview of the fast-food market and give insight into some of the most popular competitors to see where they're going wrong and what they need to do to stay relevant.
Where do I find out what's coming up in the fast food world?
Because of the speed at which fast food restaurants have been growing, it can sometimes be difficult to keep up with the latest news. Luckily, this is one question that doesn't have an answer. That's because most fast food companies are constantly updating and experimenting with their menu items. So what you need to do is read up on a couple of blogs or magazines to find out what they're up to. You just need to know where to find them.Because of the speed at which fast food restaurants have been growing, it can sometimes be difficult to keep up with the latest news. Luckily, this is one question that doesn't have an answer. That's because most fast food companies are constantly updating and experimenting with their menu items. So what you need to do is read up on a couple of blogs or magazines to find out what they're up to. You just need to know where to find them.
Are fast food chains profitable?
Fast food chains are major sources of quick, inexpensive meals. It's hard to imagine any restaurant that doesn't offer a fast food option. But is it actually profitable? The fast food industry is one of the most lucrative and popular industries in the world, but have you ever asked yourself why? In order to understand the financial aspects of this business model, we have to take a look at what makes up a fast food chain's profits. A well-managed restaurant will have a good starting point with their consumer base, while offering nutritious and tasty meals that people can afford. In addition, they'll make sure they're catering to the customer's needs. These are just some of the many factors that played into making this industry successful. Here are some ways to ensure your restaurant doesn't fail before you start taking it over.Fast food chains are major sources of quick, inexpensive meals. It's hard to imagine any restaurant that doesn't offer a fast food option. But is it actually profitable? The fast food industry is one of the most lucrative and popular industries in the world, but have you ever asked yourself why? In order to understand the financial aspects of this business model, we have to take a look at what makes up a fast food chain's profits. A well-managed restaurant will have a good starting point with their consumer base, while offering nutritious and tasty meals that people can afford. In addition, they'll make sure they're catering to the customer's needs. These are just some of the many factors that played into making this industry successful. Here are some ways to ensure your restaurant doesn't fail before you start taking it over.