Casual Restaurants

Casual Restaurants

Brief Excerpt from Industry Overview Chapter:

Companies in this industry provide food services in casual atmospheres to seated patrons who are served by wait staff and pay after eating. Major companies include Brinker International, Darden Restaurants, Dine Brands Global, and Outback Steakhouse (all based in the US), along with Recipe Unlimited (Canada), The Restaurant Group (UK), and Skylark Holdings (Japan).

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Casual restaurants are adopting new technologies and services to compete for consumers who increasingly value convenience. Mobile payments, online ordering, and home delivery are becoming more commonplace. Pricing is also becoming a more important issue as customers are able to choose from a growing variety of dining options, including pre-packaged meals from outlets such as grocery stores, convenience stores, and coffee shops. Full-service restaurants also compete with fast-food and other limited-service restaurants, fine-dining establishments, and specialty eateries. Emerging competitors such as providers of subscription meal kits could further disrupt the industry in the future.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Casual restaurants get their revenue from the sales of meals, snacks, and other food items, which account for about 70% of the industry revenue. Some establishments specialize in particular types of cuisine, while about half of casual full-service restaurants serve general American fare. Popular specialties include breakfast foods, Italian food, seafood, and Asian cuisine. Alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and spirits, account for about 20% of full-service restaurant sales.