American families’ perceptions and habits towards full-service and limited-service restaurants have been changing in the wake of the recession. As a result, new opportunities have emerged from this tumultuous period.
The objective of this report is to explore the environment that shapes how families eat at restaurants: not only the restaurant segments they go to and how often they go, but also what shapes their decisions to order food items and the impact of the recent recession on their dining out habits. Additionally, this report gives operators insight into what parents would like to see more often on kids’ menus. Context is provided in the form of specific restaurant concepts and menu innovation related to meeting kids’ restaurant needs.
This report explores this new landscape; some of the topics covered include:
- Usage of different types of restaurants (QSRs, fast casual and full service) by different demographics for breakfast, lunch and dinner - Types of menu items respondents would like to see on kids’ menus - Which restaurants are innovating and succeeding and why - Promising new items on kids’ menus that can be used as points of differentiation and drivers of sales - The importance of Hispanics, and strategies for reaching this key demographic - How restaurants can attract families with healthier menu offerings - The degree to which parents limit their children’s food choices and their reasons for doing so - How restaurants can proactively address the obesity epidemic and the call for menu transparency - Innovative ways fast food and full-service restaurants can use entertainment to attract kids and families
