Steak Houses News and Trends

Stay on top of news and trends in the steakhouse restaurant industry
By Sherril Steele-Carlin, Freelance Writer Steakhouse chains survive and thrive by understanding the latest news and trends in the restaurant business. Discover how to stay ahead of the game and raise profits even when more people are deciding not to dine out by altering menus to reflect current food trends, nutritional ideas and outlooks for the future.

Steak Houses remain popular with a large part of the dining public, because they offer traditional menus, hearty food and beverage options. Keep the customers coming back by:

1. Watching the food industry trends and outlooks.

2. Knowing the nutritional trends for traditional franchise steak restaurant ingredients.

3. Seeking out the latest news and information on steakhouse franchises and other restaurants.

Follow food industry trends for steak houses and related industries

In steak restaurant chains, just like any other restaurant, consumers can be fickle. What they love one day they may decide they hate another, and menus have to keep up with those food trends. Steakhouse chains can sometimes fall into a rut with menu choices, so check out these surveys and other industry outlooks for steak houses news and trends to find out how to tailor your menu to what's hot and what's not.
Try:  You can stay up-to-date on the latest restaurant and steak house news and trends by visiting the National Restaurant Association press room. Restaurant Hospitality offers front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house trends so you know what to expect in the steak franchises. ProvisonerOnline.com offers a state of the industry report regarding meat and poultry that's extremely valuable for the steak house manager or owner.

Study nutritional trends for your steakhouse ingredients

Many people might think dining out at a steak house isn't the healthiest food option, so it's part of your job to change their minds. Look for information on your menu items, from steaks to seafood and sides, and make sure it's available for your diners. Also, look to what's happening in nutrition trends to help keep your menu exciting and accessible to the most people.
Try:  Cattlemen's Beef Board and National Cattlemen's Beef Association offer wallet cards and online information on the lean beef cuts available at most steakhouse chain restaurants. Submit your menu items to Healthy Dining for a complete nutritional analysis. They provide healthy menu planning, too.

Find the latest news and information for steakhouses

In a tough economy, less people are eating out, so keeping up on the latest news and information is imperative in a the changing franchise steak restaurant. Look for news that offers information on how to increase sales, including revamping menus, adding on to bar revenue and keeping food costs down to make the most of these news sites.
Try:  The Cattle Industry Annual Convention & Tradeshow website offers information about the convention as well as informative forums on top issues.  Request a beef price forecast with up to 80 percent accuracy from Market Technologies. This information can help you price your menu and plan in advance.

• Just because you operate chain steak houses doesn't mean you don't have control over what's served on the menu. Many of the most popular dishes in steak house chains come from owners, operators, managers and chefs, so if you see a trend developing, or your staff creates a signature dish, share it with your corporate office to add it to the chain's menu.