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The U.S. restaurant industry is in a funk. Blame it on lunch.
Posted on 5/31/17 at 11:52 pm
Posted on 5/31/17 at 11:52 pm
From the Wall Street Journal today....
The article went on to blame that time constraints and costs are the root cause...blaming increased cost on labor/wages.
ETA....found a podcast transcript
LINK
quote:
The U.S. restaurant industry is in a funk. Blame it on lunch. Americans made 433 million fewer trips to restaurants at lunchtime last year, resulting in roughly $3.2 billion in lost business for restaurants, according to market-research firm NPD Group Inc. It was the lowest level of lunch traffic in at least four decades.
The article went on to blame that time constraints and costs are the root cause...blaming increased cost on labor/wages.
ETA....found a podcast transcript
LINK
This post was edited on 5/31/17 at 11:55 pm
5
Posted on 5/31/17 at 11:58 pm to captainahab
What does cost and labor/wages have to do with people not coming in for lunch as often? I'm confused.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 12:05 am to Degas
I assume less money for people to eat out.
Maybe people are trying to be healthier
Or save money
Or they don't have enough of a lunch break
Or there's just too many damn restaurants
The truth I imagine is a conglomeration of all of the above and can't be pinpointed to a specific reason.
Maybe people are trying to be healthier
Or save money
Or they don't have enough of a lunch break
Or there's just too many damn restaurants
The truth I imagine is a conglomeration of all of the above and can't be pinpointed to a specific reason.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 6:29 am to captainahab
Lunch can be a losing proposition for many restaurants. We stopped offering at mine because we were losing money.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 6:44 am to Mo Jeaux
Almost everyone i work with doesnt take a lunch to "eat out". they go run errands or take a break.
Plus many people are trying to be more healthy. Almost every full service restaurant is half full around lunch, but every Jasons Deli, Panera, McCallisters type place is packed.
Plus many people are trying to be more healthy. Almost every full service restaurant is half full around lunch, but every Jasons Deli, Panera, McCallisters type place is packed.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 6:52 am to captainahab
My Amex says otherwise.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 7:01 am to captainahab
Eating out for lunch gets expensive. For $20 I can make my lunch for a week, or I can spend three times that if I eat out.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 7:06 am to BottomlandBrew
I agree with that for sure. I met a guy at a place yesterday that had salads and wraps. I got a salad with chicken and avacado and a large drink and it was $16.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 7:06 am to alajones
Another reason could be that you can get a hot or cold lunch to go at a supermarket. Sometimes I combine a little grocery shopping with picking up lunch during my break from the office.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 7:23 am to Darla Hood
Good point. Went to Whole Foods the other day around lunch to grab something and the salad bar and cook to order area was nuts
Posted on 6/1/17 at 8:47 am to Degas
quote:
What does cost and labor/wages have to do with people not coming in for lunch as often? I'm confused.
I think they mean it's because the increased costs have driven owners to increase menu prices to cover it. I know that's true for the fast food industry. When you go from paying $6 an hour to $10-15 it hits the pocketbook hard.
The toughest conversation to have with an operator is trying to convince them that customers don't care what your costs are. You can only go up so much in price before people start to bail. The only way to maintain or grow cash flow long term in this business is to drive more traffic to the restaurant.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 8:56 am to alajones
quote:
Maybe people are trying to be healthier
Or save money
Or they don't have enough of a lunch break
All three of these things for me.
I go out for lunch at most once a week, and it's usually somewhere quick, I don't have time for a sit-down lunch unless it's for a specific business meeting.
I can intentionally cook extra dinner portions or prepare lunches ahead of time and save a lot of money, plus it'll be a lot healthier than most of my going out options.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 9:43 am to captainahab
Im in the restaurant industry. We are doing just fine.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 9:47 am to dallastiger55
quote:
Almost everyone i work with doesnt take a lunch to "eat out". they go run errands or take a break.
This. I bring my food and eat a few small meals throughout the day really quick at my desk. At lunch I go grocery shopping or get stuff from the house at Home depot, or just go for a walk.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 9:52 am to alajones
I'm the opposite. I'd rather eat out for lunch and eat at home for dinner. I can't stand being in the office for 9 straight hours without getting away. I'll go somewhere to eat at lunch to keep my sanity.
Posted on 6/1/17 at 10:00 am to alajones
I eat out probably once a week for lunch just to switch things up.
For me the best part of eating out is the social aspect, so if I go during lunch I miss out on that. I'd rather save my money and calories for dinner/drinks out with my husband or friends and stick to a healthier option at my desk.
For me the best part of eating out is the social aspect, so if I go during lunch I miss out on that. I'd rather save my money and calories for dinner/drinks out with my husband or friends and stick to a healthier option at my desk.
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