Fast Casual Insights Group

Fast-casual growth continues to outpace that of quick and full service. Though it's still a small, emerging segment (comprising six percent of the restaurant industry) its influence is great. With origins in once-innovative concepts such as Fuddruckers and Koo Koo Roo and the "home meal replacement" trend—as well as prime development seen in chains like Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panera Bread and Five Guys Burgers and Fries—the fast-casual sector has evolved and expanded. The old terminology "adult fast food" is no longer an adequate definition.

Watching the success of fast-casual concepts, quick-service restaurants have adapted by improving menu items and adding fresh positioning. Leading QSRs like McDonald's and Wendy's are upgrading to fast-casual-like décor and Chick-fil-A is now testing table delivery.

While full-service restaurants have integrated elements of fast-casual too, such as Pizza Inn's recent launch of the Pie Five Pizza Co. concept and Denny's Fresh Express, innovative fast-casual concepts continue to evolve, adding full-service elements like table service in the evening and quick-service convenience like drive-thrus and delivery, defying the typical "fast-casual" definition.

In order to assess and redefine fast-casual dining, and forecast its growth through 2020, Technomic is launching an ongoing insights program which:

• Qualitative and quantitative operator research to determine how they define "Fast Casual," critical strategic issues and competitive threats facing operators, and technology's role in the segment.
• Analysis of Technomic's Consumer Brand Metrics data, outlining the attributes that drive satisfaction at fast-casual concepts, how individual brands rate on these attributes and how they compare to quick and full service segment competition.
• Historic perspectives including sales and unit growth, segment share and analysis of why some concepts have earned ongoing success while others have struggled or ceased operation.
• A predictive view of the future, including growth forecasts through 2020, the concepts and niches that will see long-term success and why.
• The Fast-Casual 400—the most thorough ranking of fast-casual concepts, available exclusively with this report.

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