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For casual-dining restaurants, pandemic accelerates innovationFor casual-dining restaurants, pandemic accelerates innovation

Hard-hit segment adapts with off-premises sales, virtual delivery-only brands, new technology and safety protocols

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

June 21, 2021

6 Min Read
Nation's Restaurant News logo in a gray background | Nation's Restaurant News

The COVID-19 pandemic turned 2020 into the annus horribilis for the casual-dining restaurant segment.

The hospitality amenities that make the segment special — welcoming dining rooms, attentive service and adult beverages at a convivial bar —were devastated by coronavirus restrictions that closed dining rooms, enforced social distancing and silenced cocktail shakers.

Casual-dining restaurants both large and small pivoted like prima ballerinas pirouetting en pointe. Innovation, by necessity, accelerated.

Casual-dining brands created off-premises channels from to-go, carryout and curbside to even drive-thru lanes. They fulfilled customers’ necessary grocery needs through supply chains that still had access to scarce flour, butter, eggs and ev...

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About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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