It's no secret that this pandemic has been really rough on a lot of businesses. However,
a lot of chains have held on tight and seem to have all the necessary resources to keep
going strong. Here are 10 Restaurant Chains You'll See Everywhere In 2021.
KFC
Fried chicken is probably one of the best comfort foods out there, and people are ready
to do just about anything to get their hands on a red-and-white striped bucket of Original
Recipe. KFC knew that and immediately took action. In mid-November, KFC announced their
plan to completely remodel their restaurants in order to better fit the new norms of "human
contact." Across the country, KFC is expected to feature new "cubbies," specially designed to
buy online and pickup in store. Stores would offer twice as many drive-through lanes,
enhanced parking for the benefit of delivery drivers, and curb-side pickup, all in compliance
with social distancing measures. Not only is KFC adapting and evolving, but it's also
opening new stores, offering new meal deals, giving makeovers to the iconic Colonel Sanders,
and, maybe the best all, releasing a new gaming system which also keeps your chicken warm.
KFC is the perfect example of a chain doing everything it can to stay relevant and successful.
Chipotle
While most restaurants have seen decreased sales since the pandemic began, for Chipotle,
it was the complete opposite. Their sales have practically exploded and show no signs
of slowing down. One of the reasons why Chipotle is still afloat and now even more successful
is - well, because they were already one of the big guys and therefore had a rather big
cushion to fall on - but also because of the substantial investment the company made in
its digital business before everything happened. This digital business includes online ordering,
delivery, and mobile pickup lanes - cleverly called Chipotlanes. After opening its first
digital-only restaurant, Chipotle plans to expand into urban markets where indoor dining
would be made impossible due to space limitations. The instalment of pick-up shelves over the
past few years, enabling customers and delivery drivers to pick up their digital orders contact-free,
has also played a big role in the chain's booming business. According to their CEO,
this digital move has been so effective that it was projected to exceed $2.5 billion dollars
in sales by the end of 2020.
Dominos
This one should probably not be such a surprise, as it is one of the big fast-food players,
and pizza has always been the number one delivery go-to. But how did Dominos, in particular,
seem to conquer the pandemic era to be a winner? Innovation, baby. Dominos is the king of innovation,
always has been and always will be. Not only have the sales been going up, but they even
plan on expanding to 25,000 locations by 2025. They've managed to increase their year-over-year
sales and become the number one pizza chain in America based on revenue. While a lot of
restaurants were forced to close down many locations, Dominos had to close one. Yes,
one store. This is further proof of just how far in advance they already were compared
to other restaurants. The secret to their success stems from their ability to stay one
step ahead of the competition all the time. Sure, it's also because the pizza is really
good, but that's a given. For 6o years now, Dominos has been ahead of the innovation
curve. They were the first ones to come up with the idea of a "ghost kitchen" in the
pizza fast-food world; they have a killer online ordering service that would put most
fast-food outlets to shame and a lot of resources for their digital development.
McDonald's And Burger King
First of all, McDonald's has seen its delivery sales triple since the beginning of the pandemic,
and even though it had to close over 200 locations this year, it didn't make that big of a difference
in the grand scheme of things. Especially since there are over 34,000 locations, you
know. With innovations like fewer seats, conveyor belts, and automated ordering, the chances
are pretty slim for McDonald's not to survive the pandemic - and pretty much anything else,
really. As for Burger King, it has also seen some closures as a result of the pandemic,
but again, nothing too major. The Home of the Whopper has plans to launch new features
in 2021 to fit the new restrictions. For example, by designing new venues that are 60 percent
smaller than their current locations in order to better follow social distancing norms.
Also, just like McD's, it will introduce brand new drive-thrus with conveyor belts
to deliver food right to your car, with no human contact whatsoever. Sure, every fast-food
chain has had to make sacrifices and come up with new ways to stay open, but McDonald's
and Burger King have both proven that they were part of the fast food elite for a reason:
they are always ready for anything!
Red Lobster
With a year full of social distancing, stay-at-home restrictions, and the inability to meet up
with friends and family, it might be hard to imagine how a dine-in restaurant like Red
Lobster can keep its head above water and stay afloat. While, yes, early predictions
for Red Lobster were far from positive, Red Lobster was still able to turn it around.
The seafood giant has seen its sales tripled since the beginning of the pandemic. How exactly?
Well, thanks to delivery orders, of course! Like a lot of restaurants have done, just
to stay in business, Red Lobster opened its first first "ghost kitchen" to reach customers
who are unable to go out and get to the restaurant. The ghost kitchen, which is just a kitchen
with no dine-in option, opened in downtown Chicago in mid-November 2020 and has greatly
contributed to putting Red Lobster right back on the map with its competitors. But that's
not all they did. While many other chains are trying to cut down their menus, Red Lobster
went a different way. They've introduced a couple of new menu items, like a Wagyu Bacon
Cheeseburger and Bacon-Wrapped Sea Scallops. They also hosted a "Say Goodbye to 2020" sweepstakes
in which you could win a few different prizes, like free Red Lobster for a whole year!
Ghost Kitchens
Like we've seen time, and again throughout this list, contact-free service in 2021 is
definitely the way to go - not only to respect social distancing measures but also so that
people feel safer in general. Ghost kitchens have become more and more present in the restaurant
industry, and even if it they're not around forever, they're here to stay for a little
while, at least. Practically every restaurant has opted to go with a ghost kitchen concept,
and those who haven't yet, are surely thinking about it. There's a particular type of restaurant
that has been quite successful in the ghost kitchen biz, and that's the chicken wing industry.
While pizza is still the dominant delivery service, chicken wings are not too far behind.
A lot of chains have launched virtual kitchens devoted exclusively or near-exclusively to
serving up tasty wings, and they've all been a huge success. Places like Applebee's, which
launched Neighborhood Wings in the spring, Chuck E. Cheese, which came out with Pasqually's
Pizza and Wings this summer, Smokey Bones, with The Wing Experience, and Fazoli's, which
opened Wingville in the fall. Trying to succeed one way or the other, wings and ghost kitchens
seem to go hand-in-hand and will definitely be something you'll see a lot of in 2021.
Hoots Wings
Hoots Wings is a fairly new restaurant that specializes in, you guessed it, delicious
chicken wings. It is actually a fast-casual restaurant offshoot of a very popular chain,
Hooters! After opening its first location in Chicago in 2017, six more quickly followed
suit, and it now has seven locations across Illinois, Georgia, and Florida. Even though Hooters
had to lay off hundreds of workers within the first month of the pandemic, that wasn't
really the case with Hoots Wings. They are determined to become a dominant player in
the wing industry and serve "the best wings on the planet." But how did they manage to
survive for so long despite being the new kid on the block? Well, through franchising!
In fact, Hoots Wings hopes to expand to an additional 17 locations by 2021, 35 in 2022,
and 50 in 2023. A very hopeful prediction that could very well come true. Another reason
why Hoots Wings was able to stay in the game is the food they serve: chicken wings. People
love wings, and since the beginning of the pandemic, they have proven to be an incredibly
popular delivery option, only second to pizza. Hoots Wings also boasts that its entire menu can
be made using only "two pieces of kitchen equipment," which is perfect for a low-staff
climate.
Dickey's Barbecue Pit
When you think about Dickey's, you probably think of a nice family night out; all joined
together around some good old generous portion of Texas-style smoked meats and savory sides.
And you would be right, it is a "social" spot. So it would've made sense for it to go under,
or at least lose a little bit of interest in light of the current situation. However,
the complete opposite happened: Dickey's Barbecue Pit soared and adapted completely to fit the
new needs of its customers. The company CEO announced that Dickey's was not only adding
virtual kitchens, but was also offering some online training for its barbecue masters. With over
500 locations, it seems like a good way to go. Their Barbecue University Online program
will be their main focus this year in order to deliver the best service possible to its
customers. Dickey also said that while it doesn't compare to real hands-on training
in the actual kitchen, the program will still give franchisees and pit crews an opportunity
to improve their skills from wherever they're working. By continuing to train their employees,
it doubles their chances of staying around for the long term. It seems like Dickey's
Barbecue Pit will still serve its slow-cooked barbecue, ribs, and other delicious dishes
in 2021, maybe even more than before.
Smashburger
It has not been an easy couple of years for Smashburger. In the past three years, it had
to close over 78 locations and saw a big drop in sales. However, it seems like the pandemic
brought a new craving for "better burgers," and Smashburger finally saw the light at the
end of the tunnel. The beloved chain saw a more than 400% increase in sales, thanks to
their digital orders. This gigantic increase boosted their confidence and their hope in
opening up 40 new locations during this year, a very bold yet somehow realistic goal. To
ensure their road to success is flawless, Smashburger has adopted a pandemic-positive
approach and has completely revamped their restaurant in order to guarantee impeccable
service. First, they opted for contactless cubby-system pickup, along with a more intuitive
curbside pickup system, and frequently updates to its app and website to provide a faster,
frictionless experience. Plus, they launched a whole new breakfast menu!
Not only did Smashburger adapt their business, but they were also awarded " The Best Employer"
award by Forbes. The election was based on the employee's satisfaction with the pandemic
response and with their willingness to recommend Smashburger to their friends and family. Needless
to say, it looks like Smashburger will be around for a long, long time.
Saladworks
Eating healthy should always be a priority. But in times where the pandemic is causing
most people to stop exercising, it should be an even bigger one. This is where Saladworks
comes in to save the day. While it may not be the most popular restaurant chain in America,
it has been around for a good 34 years, so they definitely know a thing or two about
good, quality salads. The national made-to-order salad chain has seen its profile raised significantly
since the beginning of the pandemic, and it's all thanks to their innovative initiatives.
They followed many other restaurants' lead and opened a bunch of ghost kitchens all throughout
2020. They've opened seven outposts in grocery stores - and plan on opening ten more in 2021
- to try and fill the salad bar void and offer Americans healthier options, instead of turning
to burgers or pizza all the time. With expansions and growing interest, Saladworks has definitely
a lot of potential up its sleeve. The chain has been making headway slowly but surely,
and if it wasn't on your radar before, then you should keep an eye out for it now.
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