USA | A comprehensive report by Crunchtime into multi-unit restaurant operators has found that brands are not slowing growth despite the economy.
Crunchtime Information Systems, Inc., the leading provider of operations management solutions for the restaurant industry, has shared the results of a comprehensive research study conducted in partnership with Technomic, based on a nationwide survey of more than multi-unit restaurant operators.
The 2025 Restaurant Growth Insights Report finds that restaurant brands are not slowing growth amid economic headwinds, but are strategically thinking about how they scale more sustainably while also identifying critical areas for improvement. Key findings include:
- Growth plans amid economic concerns: Operators plan to open, on average, 20 percent more new locations in the next two years than the last two, despite 73 percent being concerned about economic uncertainty, and 75 percent saying that growth is now harder to achieve.
- Sales forecasting accuracy falls short: Despite being a top priority, operators say their sales forecasts are only 60 percent accurate, on average, even though 72 percent use tech-based forecasting tools. This signals that while tools exist, many solutions are not meeting their needs. Inaccurate forecasts (off by 40 percent) will negatively impact growth and profitability.
- Visibility gaps hurt the bottom line: While 80 percent of operators prioritise real-time visibility into data across key areas like labour, food costs, and compliance, fewer than half actually have it. Major blind spots exist in tracking food costs, waste, and ingredient usage, critical to profitability. Full visibility is essential for spotting issues, ensuring accountability, and making smart decisions that protect growth and guest experience.
- Growth depends on strong vendor support: Although 83 percent of operators strive to partner with vendors who can support their growth, 79 percent faced challenges during periods of expansion, ranging from rising costs to poor integration, which all become amplified as brands scale. These challenges highlight that the tools that are in place aren't always delivering the real-time guidance or accuracy needed.
"Restaurant operators are focused not only on opening new locations, but also on ensuring their systems, teams, and partners are built to scale. This research gives them the benchmarks they need to make those calls," said John Raguin, CEO of Crunchtime.
"At the same time, there's a significant opportunity to improve forecasting accuracy and real-time visibility into operational data, capabilities that are critical to getting growth right."
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