A tempting business proposal

According to a recent consumer survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association (NRA), three in four adults prefer eating healthy in restaurants than they were two years ago. These days youngsters tantalise their taste buds with low calorie food rather than eating unhealthy, junk food.  Many fast food and Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) have supplemented low fat delicacies in their menu cards and many new franchised outlets have also popped up. These outlets have low-glucose and low fat diet. The chefs at these eating places offer food that is steamed, boiled, grilled, roasted and baked. Subway is one of the restaurants offering healthiest food. Subway sandwiches and other items on the menu are a healthy option for the foodies as well as diet conscious persons. Manpreet Gulri, Development Agent, Subway System India, says, “Our sandwiches are healthy because they are low on calorie and fat.” Ruby Tuesday, the casual dining restaurant chain has filled its menu card with 30 low-carb items and is further planning to include many other new food choices to meet the needs of the increasing healthy eating lovers. Taco Bell and Pizza Hut are also among the QSR’s which are offering a variety of fresh and healthy food variety.

This sector within the food industry has been exploding over with the coming up of many franchised smoothies and juice bars as well. Earlier it was only during summers that one could think of going to a juice bar but now with the changing trend of being more health conscious, the consumers are giving up the aerated drinks for fresh juices and smoothies. Another boon for the health conscious consumers is the salad bars that are coming up and gaining popularity. In the present times people prefer to go and have a healthy and nutritious salad instead of a special meal in some restaurant. These salads are equally delicious and present a change as well.

The basic criterion of taking a health food franchise is no different from other food franchises. Gulri informs, “We are looking for young enterprising individuals who have a drive to run business successfully. They should have good communication skills and also enough funds to open their franchise restaurant.”

As always there are some challenges while taking up a franchise of any of these restaurants serving low calorie and healthy food. There are some specific areas and locations where these can work as some people are still not aware of benefits of having healthy food. While taking a franchise of these restaurants the marketing strategies should be such as to make the maximum people aware of how different is the outlet and whether the items in the menu are really healthy and nutritious.

Eating out has become a part of our culture with the modern times and considering this, the restaurants have changed the food products in the menu card especially to suit the diet conscious people. So if you were misguided that the food and beverage industry has little scope left, it is time that you get the figures right. Investing in restaurant serving low-cal food is the right choice!!!