Customers are eager to make fast friends with fresh food. That’s why there’s a prime opportunity to open a fast-casual restaurant franchise to satisfy the next big craving cycle that’s hitting the restaurant industry. No, fast food isn’t going anywhere. However, customer attitudes toward what they find satisfying are pivoting in some interesting directions. Fast needs to mean fast-meets-fresh from now on.
What is a Fast-Casual Restaurant Franchise?
We always see them when driving down any major road in America without necessarily noticing that these establishments satisfy a growing desire among American consumers. A fast-casual establishment is a hybrid concept that merges the easy counter service that makes fast food popular with fresh, high-quality preparation. Just think of the devotion people have to Chipotle, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Baja Fresh, or any other popular fast-casual Mexican restaurant franchise when trying to understand the pull of the fast-casual restaurant franchise sector.
How Big is the Fast-Casual Food Market?
“The global fast casual restaurant market stood at a value of around USD 189.7 billion in 2022,” according to the Global Fast Casual Restaurant Market Outlook report published by Expert Market Research (EMR). The report forecasts that the sector will have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5% for the period spanning from 2023 to 2028 to reach a value of USD 364.52 billion by 2028.
“Based on food type, the Asian/Latin American food segment is predicted to account for a significant market share in the fast-casual restaurant industry,” according to EMR’s report. This puts a fast-casual restaurant franchise offering authentic ethnic cuisine in a special growth category.
When considering a fast-casual restaurant franchise in any niche, it’s important to start the research process with a look at expected growth for fast food as a whole within the next decade. A Grand View Research analysis published in 2022 shows that the global fast-food market size is expected to reach $813.9 billion by 2028.
Grabbing Share of Wallet (SOW) With a Fast-Casual Restaurant Franchise Offering Ethnic Cuisine
“Consumers become bored as each successive exposure results in marginally less cognitive and emotional arousal,” cites a paper on boredom-induced switching behavior in the restaurant industry. Once the “glow” wears off familiar products, customers may seek alternative means of hedonic stimulation. For the fast-food industry, the challenge rests in anticipating the experiences consumers want when dining out.
A report shared by Foodservice Consultants Society International helps to shed some light on a trend that many within the food and beverage sector are already watching closely. According to insights from a survey involving 1,400 respondents, 32% of consumers who ever order food with ethnic flavors would be willing to pay more for authentic ethnic cuisines.
“Additionally, ethnic options must feel accessible rather than intimidating, and this can be achieved through providing flavor and sourcing information about each ethnic dish,” shares the report. That last point is key for understanding why a fast-casual restaurant franchise specializing in ethnic fare is such an attractive prospect for hooking in customers looking for something different that doesn’t require a big “outing.”
Many customers assume that enjoying the flavors, quality, and freshness of ethnic cuisine requires a special trip to a sit-down restaurant where they have to be fully immersed in the experience just to get the kinds of taste experiences they want. Once they discover that authentic cuisine is available using the familiar fast-casual franchise experience they get when grabbing burgers or subs, they are then receptive to opening up a share of wallet (SOW) to this new option.
It’s insights like this causing many people to look at a fast-casual franchise as the perfect way to ride the upcoming wave of demand for better, more authentic fast food.
Juici Patties Satisfies the Demand for Fast-Casual Dining
There’s no going back once you sink your teeth into a Juici Patties signature Jamaican patty! This emerging icon of a menu item puts juicy meat inside a soft bun made from coco bread. Patties are also available with an assortment of flavors and fillings!
When you become a Juici Patties fast-casual restaurant franchise owner, you attach your name to one of the first authentic Jamaican restaurant concepts in the United States. In addition to offering a crowd-pleasing menu aligned with consumer dining trends, you’re partnering with a brand that gives back to the community. Juici Patties works closely with its franchisees to guide every part of opening and operating a location!
More markets around the country are ready to finally experience the island flavors of the Juici Patties’ authentic Jamaican menu of freshly prepared, easy-to-grab fare. Contact us today to learn about one of the most exciting fast-casual restaurant franchise opportunities to come around this decade!