Study: Competition, technology to drive industry’s future

Industry competition will continue to intensify in the years ahead, and operators will to have focus on offering elevated levels of food and service in tandem with technological enhancements, new research from the National Restaurant Association has found.

According to the report “Restaurant Industry 2020: A Snapshot of the Future,” NRA research found that operators also will have to continue to upgrade their concepts on an ongoing basis just to remain competitive. Other findings indicate that convenience stores and supermarkets will continue to expand their foodservice offerings; American restaurant operators will keep trying to expand their concepts into international markets, such as Asia, South America, Europe and Africa; and the off-premises segment, including takeout, drive-thru, delivery and mobile operations will continue to gain market share from on-premise restaurants.

“Because of this sustained competitive environment, operators will seek to more strongly differentiate themselves across a spectrum of operational characteristics, ranging from food and service to décor and technology,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the NRA’s research and knowledge group. “In addition, the industry will continue to be a breeding ground for entrepreneurialism and employment growth.”

The study, conducted using the Delphi approach, relies on a panel of industry experts to identify and analyze issues by subjective judgment.