A fast casual restaurant, found primarily in the United States, does not offer full table service, but promises higher quality food than other fast food restaurants (with fewer frozen or processed ingredients). It is an intermediate concept between fast food and casual dining, and typically priced accordingly. The category is exemplified by chains such as Boston Market, Bruegger's, Captain D's, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Culvers, Dig Inn, El Pollo Loco, Five Guys, Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Newk's Eatery, Noodles & Co., Panera Bread, Pizza Ranch, and Vapiano.
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History
The concept originated in the United States in the early to mid-1990s, but did not become mainstream until the end of the 2000s and the beginning of the 2010s. During the economic recession that began in 2007, the category of fast casual dining saw increased sales to the 18–34-year-old demographic. Customers with limited discretionary spending for meals tend to choose fast casual for dining perceived as healthier.
Definition
The publisher and founder of FastCasual.com, Paul Barron, is credited with coining the term "fast-casual" in the late 1990s. Horatio Lonsdale-Hands, former Chairman and CEO of ZuZu Inc., is also credited with coining the term "fast-casual". ZuZu, a handmade Mexican food concept co-founded by Lonsdale-Hands in 1989, filed a U.S. Federal trademark registration for the term "fast-casual" in November 1995, leading Michael DeLuca to call Lonsdale-Hands a "progressive pioneer in the burgeoning 'fast-casual' market segment" in the July 1996 edition of Restaurant Hospitality.
The company Technomic Information Services defined "fast-casual restaurants" as meeting the following criteria: