Author: Mintel Group Ltd.
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Fast Casual Restaurants - US - February 2018
Overview
 
What you need to know 
Even as things change, they still remain the same. The concept of quality food at an affordable price that launched the fast casual segment has remained a key association. However, as dining habits shift and the landscape gets more competitive, fast casuals look beyond what worked in the past and focus on what lies ahead, including more premium beverages and automation as well as the showcasing of specialty concepts on a mainstream stage. 

Definition 
This Report will examine consumer attitudes toward the fast casual dining segment. It will investigate frequency of visitation to fast casual restaurants, consumer comparisons to other dining segments, and fast casual cuisine interest. This Report builds upon previous Reports with this title from 2017, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010.

For the purposes of this Report, Mintel has used the following restaurant definitions:

●	QSRs (quick-service restaurants) – Used interchangeably with “fast food,” QSRs specialize in inexpensive, convenient meals. There is no waiter service, no alcoholic beverages, and a low price point. Examples include: McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Pizza Hut.
●	Fast casual restaurants – These establishments are characterized by a higher price point than QSRs though not as high as full-service restaurants. Fast casuals do not offer waiter service and may or may not serve alcohol. Examples include: Chipotle, Panera Bread, Shake Shack, and Blaze Pizza.
●	LSRs (limited-service restaurants) – These establishments provide food services where customers usually select and order items and pay before dining. Food/drink may be consumed on the premises, offered as carryout, or delivered to the customer’s location. These may also sell alcoholic beverages. LSRs include both QSRs and fast casual restaurants. The “other” category within LSRs (as seen in the Market Size and Forecast) includes snacks and non-alcoholic beverage bars, cafeterias, grills, and grill buffets.
●	FSRs (full-service restaurants) – These establishments have waiter/waitress service in which customers order and are served while seated. These may also sell alcoholic beverages and offer carryout services and include the following restaurant segments: midscale, casual dining, and fine dining.
●	MMI (Mintel Menu Insights) – MMI is a quarterly census of restaurant brands covering all commercial segments and US census regions/divisions, with trends going back to Q2 2004. MMI tracks more than 30 unique menu item attributes including flavor, preparation (physical and/or cooking), menu type/section, cuisine type, menu claims, etc, grouped into six major categories from macro restaurant, menu, plate, item dish, and beverage to micro ingredient detail.

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