Fast casual dining ? opportunity to start a profitable business

Added: 10/28/2005

Fast casual dining as an alternative to fast food and a full table service appeared comparatively not long time ago, in the 1990s, but has taken a great start from the very beginning and is not obviously going to stop its development or have a break. The brands, offering fast casual dining have become the leading international trademarks and the concept of fast casual dining is so convenient that many people prefer it to other dining offers. It is also an excellent idea to start your own casual dining restaurant, as this segment is not totally occupied yet.

Since the time of its start in the USA, the concept of fast casual dining has spread over many European countries, which adapted the USA brands along with the development of their own popular fast casual dining trademarks. The concept has proved its necessity and importance in the world of the contemporary restaurant industry and recommended itself as more convenient alternative to both: a full time service and a fast -food restaurant or, in other words, it is a blend of the best of both markets.

Fast casual dining usually includes dine-in, dine-out, home delivery and food delivery for home parties and celebration occasions. Today, the major fast casual dining restaurants in the USA are Atlanta Bread Company, Baja Fresh, Boston Market, Buona, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Corner Bakery Café, Culver's, , Fazoli's, Jimmy John's, Moe's Southwest Grill, Noodles & Company, Panera Bread, Portillo's, Potbelly Sandwich Works, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Quiznos Sub. This number is expected to grow extensively by 2006. In the UK, the most popular brands embrace La Tasca, Nando's, Clapham House (Gourmet Burger Kitchen), Urban Dining (Tootsies) and Cafe Med.

You can enter this profitable niche as well, if you are planning to launch your fast casual restaurant. Here are some major tips on what to do first:

1) Learn carefully all the offers of the top fast casual dining brands and define the peculiarities of this business. You will see that each fast casual dining restaurant offers one or several unique features, which do not allow them to merge into one "piece of pie".

2) Learn the peculiarities of your location, find out the tastes and eating habits of locals and examine the number and brands of restaurants in your place of living. It will help you define what the urgent need of your city or town inhabitants is, and what they like and prefer most of all.

3) Develop your idea; it should be different from the others, but it should contain two common features of the top brands of the fast casual dining - a high quality of food and a professional, fast service. The more comfortable and attractive your restaurant, the better reputation it will obtain. The more convenient its service, the more visitors you will have. The same is with the menu variety; people buy when they have choice, if their choice is limited, they will find the better one in some other place.

4) You can also become a franchiser of one of the top brands and, thus, you will get all the technologies, recipes and recommendations of how to run their business. This idea is good if you do not have your own idea and have enough money to buy the franchiser's license.

One more important point about fast casual dining is that there are many reasons of its necessity in the contemporary world, when the day of many people is planed up to every minute. Convenience today is of primary importance, and people would better order pizza from Donatos Pizza and get it in several minutes than spend at least two hours to prepare it at home. That is the reason why you can be assured in fast casual dining stability and growth, as well as in the growth of your own enterprise.

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