Independent Operators
2020 Fast Casual State of the Industry now available
This year’s Fast Casual State of the Industry report reveals how nearly 200 fast casuals are coping with the pandemic, and also polls them on the usual challenges they face each year.
October 12, 2020 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
People all over the world agree that 2020 has been the craziest year of their lives, and fast casual restaurant owners are clearly in that camp.
The pandemic has forced nearly one in six U.S. restaurants (representing nearly 100,000 restaurants) to close either permanently or long-term, and about 3 million restaurant employees are still out of work. The restaurant industry is on track to lose $240 billion in sales by year's end, but that's just part of the story revealed in the 2020 Fast Casual State of the Industry, which explores how nearly 200 fast casual operators have been coping with the pandemic.
Although times have been hard, many fast casual restaurants have found ways to stay in business by applying for Paycheck Protection Program loans, as well as adapting business models to focus more on curbside and delivery orders, for example.
For many, that included redesigning space in both the front- and back-of-house to expand contactless ordering while following social distancing mandates. Others had to
launch mobile from scratch, however. Most brands also got a little creative with their menus, creating family meal deals, take-home taco, burger or pizza kits and selling necessities like toilet paper and milk.
Although the pandemic is not yet in the rear-view mirror, there is some light at the end of the tunnel, which is discussed in the 2020 Fast Casual State of the Industry. It also dissects, however, the usual challenges restaurants face each year and how the pandemic has altered them.
About Cherryh Cansler
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