Texican Mac & Cheese
View the complete recipe.

Curbing Appetites

Carrying out new ideas with menu appeal.

Plagued by tighter budgets and tighter schedules, many people are more pressed for time and money than ever before. They search for ways to balance their hectic schedules and offset rising costs, all while trying to do more of the activities they want to do. Today, many consumers are finding that “cocooning,” or staying at home, is the most time- and cost-effective way to enjoy life.

Carryout, delivery, curbside, and drive-thru are among the ways many people find balance and enjoyment at home. Today, nearly 30% of consumers place their carryout orders via their cell phones—a number that has doubled in only 2 years’ time. And according to the National Restaurant Association, 47% of adults say they would likely use curbside service if their favorite full-service restaurant offered it.

Many operations have already started formalizing takeout and delivery programs to meet consumers’ demands for convenience. Technomic has forecasted that takeout services will account for much of the growth in restaurant sales, outpacing industry growth by as much as 50%. According to NPD Group, the typical American ate 81 meals inside a restaurant in 2006, but ordered 127 meals to go. Takeout sales among casual-dining chains have experienced double-digit growth each of the past 3 years, yet experts at Technomic theorize that only 1 in 5 takeout-service meals comes at the expense of dine-in business.

You can make your operation an easy solution for consumers who are on a budget and on the go. By taking advantage of carryout, delivery, curbside, and drive-thru, you’ll be able to keep bringing in the customers—even if they aren’t coming inside to eat.

Sources: Technomic: State of the Foodservice Industry Forecasts for 2008; Technomic: Shelter from the Storm

Curbing Appetites explores ideas and products to help you take advantage of the demand for takeout. Along with menuing and product ideas, there are merchandising materials-table tents, counter cards, posters-that can be downloaded and printed to help users promote these ideas. Menu descriptions are also available for downloading.

Go to www.curbingappetites.net to explore Curbing Appetites, the fifth volume of the Tyson Food Service Ideas @ the Heart of Value series. Readers can provide feedback and share their value experiences at fsconcierge@tyson.com.

According to Tyson Food Service, the purpose is simple: To create open dialogue about generating better value, tighter control of food costs, and to show you value Working at the Heart of Your Menu.™

© 2008 Tyson Foods, Inc. Trademarks and registered trademarks are owned by Tyson Foods, Inc. or its subsidiaries.