New perspectives can reveal opportunities to improve
October 29, 2018
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This may be controversial. But I’m just going to come right out and say it.
Most people in the restaurant industry are in it for more than the money.
Most people in the restaurant industry truly love restaurants.
Financial performance is important, of course. Yet, I’d argue there are a lot easier industries to make money in. For restaurant people, there’s always some part of them with a passion for the business and the food.
That is why, I think, that customer review sites bug the heck out of restaurant operators. When a diner complains on Yelp, it feels personal. This customer complains about a burger, but the customer doesn’t see all the love that went into bringing that burger into existence.
But, it’s so so important to listen to diners. They are giving you feedback and an opportunity to improve. Right?
Click to read the Oct. 29 issue
NRN’s annual Consumer Picks report is all about the diner perspective. NRN partnered with data firm Datassential to highlight the brands that consumers love most. The report looks at the restaurants with the most loyalty, the best ambience, the most craveable food and the greatest service. These are the brands that have the best buzz.
Note that there are quite a few legacy brands on this list, which reinforces that age is just a number when it comes to consumer relevance.
Explore the full report here to see what your business can learn from these chains.
Also on the learnings front, don’t miss the top takeaways from NRN’s annual event, MUFSO. In early October, we gathered restaurant influencers from brands large and small. We gave them awards for work well done, we tasted food from emerging brands, we sampled new products and we talked over industry issues.
Get complete coverage of show here.
MUFSO is a time for the NRN publication to come alive and for the industry to come together.
As restaurateur and entrepreneur Kimbal Musk said in his MUSFO keynote this year about restaurants:
“It’s critical to have everyone happy and comfortable. We’re going back to being a gathering place where we can connect with friends and family,” he said. “America is hungry for connection.”
Restaurant operators, too, are hungry for connection. Mark your calendars because we’re taking MUFSO to Denver next year, Oct. 14 to 16.
Contact Jenna Telesca at [email protected]
Follow her on Twitter: @JennaTelesca
