Restaurant Megatrends 2019: Franchisees Assert Their Power Over Chains

[caption id="attachment_321381" align="alignright" width="240"] Download your copy of Skift Megatrends 2019[/caption] We've just released our annual industry trends forecast, Skift Restaurant Megatrends 2019. You can read about each of the trends on Skift Table as well as download a copy of our magazine here. While fast food chains pump money into upping delivery capabilities, completing store makeovers, and even rebranding, operators are losing patience; perhaps, rightfully so. A lack of cash flow and customer traffic continues to hurt franchisees’ pockets, even as average check sizes increase. Many executives have publicly acknowledged ongoing growth strategies will not succeed without franchisee buy-in. That is to be expected. But operators are finding it difficult to stay quiet when returns from reported positive earnings haven’t yet trickled down. Training employees on aforementioned new technologies and workflows creates yet another gripe for them to hold. In some cases,