By Mark Kalinowski
Published on January 20, 2021 at 12:00 AM
With this report, we update our data-driven Kalinowski Fast Casual Index for Q4E to +3.4%. This figure is based on our latest proprietary checks/data as regards samestore sales performance for this segment during October, November, and December. We believe that November same-store sales were likely the best month of the quarter, while December was likely the worst month of the quarter. That said, we believe fastcasual sector same-store sales month-to-date in January are better than any month during Q4, thanks in part to beneficial effects from stimulus.
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By Mark Kalinowski
Published on May 23, 2019 at 12:00 AM
With this report, we increase our data-driven Kalinowski Fast-Casual Index for Q2E by +100 basis points, to +5.4%. This figure is based on our latest proprietary checks/ data as regards same-store sales performance for this segment during April 2019 and the first half of May 2019.
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By Mark Kalinowski
Published on April 17, 2019 at 12:00 AM
Of the large sectors of the U.S. restaurant industry (quick-service, fast-casual, midscale/family dining, casual dining, and fine dining), the fastest-growing one yearin and year-out continues to be the fast-casual sector. In 2018, the fast-casual segment’s sales rose by +7.6% to $55.4 billion, now representing about 10% of the U.S. restaurant industry’s $556.4 billion in total sales. For 2019, Technomic projects that the fast-casual sector will expand by +7.3%, greater than its forecasted growth rate of +3.9% for the restaurant industry as a whole. In our view, fast-casual’s growth will continue to outpace that of the industry for years to come, due to the quality of the food offerings, the speed of service, and the relative discount that guests enjoy relative to much of full-service dining. That said, as the data in this report shows, the rising fast-casual tide is NOT lifting all boats, and we do not expect that to be the case going forward. Individual concepts and their various attributes (including the management of those concepts) continues to matter greatly. We note the following:
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