Nation's Restaurant News On the Go Holiday Edition

A year of contradictions

Hey readers, I’m Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, managing editor at Nation’s Restaurant News. A big part of my job around here is to look at all of our coverage — from the daily C-suite changes to the quarterly earnings reports to the comprehensive looks at technology — to identify trends in the industry and try to figure out what comes next.

And as I look back at 2022, I’m struck by one thought: It’s been a year of contradictions for restaurants.

With an impending recession (maybe? probably? are we still talking about this?) most restaurant chains are working to target a consumer on a budget. Full-service companies are putting an even heavier emphasis on off-premises with permanent changes to their units, from take-out windows at Texas Roadhouse to drive-thru lanes at Applebee’s and Smokey Bones. Meanwhile, limited-service restaurants from Panera to Jack in the Box are eliminating dine-in altogether at some units. But on the other hand, fast-casual Smashburger opened its first full bar this year in Denver in an attempt to tap a consumer who missed experiences at the height of the pandemic.

And for all the talk this year of possible recessions, and inflation, and the supply chain — 2022 was one of the calmest restaurant finance years that I can remember since I started in this industry in 2016. There were fewer mergers and acquisitions, with more emerging brands banding together instead of being scooped up by larger corporations. After at least seven IPOs among restaurant chains in 2021, there were barely any in 2022. And when I went to round up 2022 bankruptcies, I was stunned to find that there had only been a handful. We’ve said it for years, but restaurants are truly resilient, rolling with the punches and finding ways to get through whatever the world throws at them.

With all this contradiction, and a counterpoint to every trend I could identify, you’d think my job would just be frustrating, but truly — it’s what keeps every day exciting around here. What’s coming in for restaurants 2023? It feels impossible for me to even guess. But I can’t wait to be around for the journey.

This is our last NRN On the Go dispatch of the year! We’ll be back with all of the latest industry news and commentary of the year in January. Happy holidays!

15 new ways restaurants reached consumers in 2022

If restaurants have learned anything in 2022, it’s that consumers’ pandemic habits aren’t going away. While many are grateful to be able to dine-in again, others continue to want to pick up meals and take them home. Throughout the year, we’ve seen restaurant chains make permanent changes to their units to accommodate the modern consumer.

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Tech Tracker: AI voice ordering is here to stay—and it keeps getting better

For this month’s Tech Tracker column, we spoke with Soundhound about the tech company’s latest audiovisual AI technology for food ordering that more easily understands natural cadences of human speech. The goal? Less friction and frustration in the drive-thru lane as customers struggle to get a robot to understand their lunch order.

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O’Charley’s is investing in inflation-era strategies beyond raising prices

Paring down your menu and adding items with what you already have in your kitchen: O’Charley’s CEO Craig Barber is creatively battling economic challenges.

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Which restaurant chain do you think has the most exciting breakfast/brunch concept?

Nation’s Restaurant News talked to leaders at 10 of the most dynamic breakfast chains in America. We want to know which one you think has the most exciting breakfast/brunch concept. Comment HERE and don't forget to check out our coverage on the 10 restaurant chains making waves in the breakfast space.

Drinked-In Live Holiday Party Extravaganza!

Join us next week for a very special edition of Drinked-In Live with Ron Ruggless and the Nation’s Restaurant News editorial team for a virtual holiday party extravanganza! Hear from the NRN editors for this festive live session as they celebrate the industry’s progress in 2022 and look ahead to trends we should expect in 2023.

JOIN US HERE

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