Are you optimistic about the rest of 2016, or expecting sales to struggle? Will you tackle mobile or menu changes this year, or deal with other challenges?
Nation's Restaurant News is asking restaurant operators to share their answers to such questions in its annual operator survey, which will be open through March 14.
The survey is anonymous. Users will immediately get results showing them how their answers stack up against their peers' responses.
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Take the NRN 2016 Restaurant Operator Survey!
What is your current role or job function?
CEO/President/Founder
Operations
Finance
Marketing
Chef/Menu Development
General Manager
Other
Which segment does your business operate within?
Casual Dining
Fast Casual
Family Dining
Quick Service
Fine Dining
How large is your restaurant business?
1-9 locations
10-50 locations
51-200 locations
201-500 locations
More than 500 locations
So far in 2016, your customer traffic trends have been:
Better than the same time last year
Worse than the same time last year
No change from the same time last year
I expect my restaurant’s 2016 first-half same-store sales to be:
Better than the same period in 2015
Worse than the same period in 2015
Flat from 2015
I don’t have enough visibility yet
What do you think will be the best tailwind for your business in 2016?
(Select one)
Lower unemployment rates
Increased consumer disposable income
Pent up demand for dining out
Lower gas prices
Lower commodity costs
None of the above
Something else:
What is the top challenge you’re facing in 2016:
(Select one)
Minimum wage increases or pressures
Healthcare costs
Changing consumer menu expectations
Finding and keeping quality employees
Securing prime real estate/locations
A different challenge:
Are you planning net positive unit expansion this year?
Yes
No
In 2016, my restaurant business plans to invest most in:
(Select one)
Equipment upgrades
Restaurant redesign
Menu revamp
Digital/Mobile implementation or upgrades (include ordering and pay)
Delivery
Recruiting/training
Marketing spend
I cannot invest this year
Other investment area:
If you are planning on changing your menu this year, how are you changing it?
(Select one)
To adjust for seasonality
To add more healthful options
To add more premium items
To adjust for cost of ingredients
I am not changing my menu
My brand is adding mobile capabilities in 2016, focused most on:
(Select one)
Ordering
Payment
Staffing/scheduling
Customer service/marketing
Delivery
I do not plan to tackle mobile this year
Thanks for taking the survey!
The final results will be featured in an upcoming NRN special report. Click the button on the bottom left to view the overall survey results.
The NRN Top 100 Report tracks and analyzes the largest restaurant chains based on U.S. systemwide foodservice sales.
See the results from the 2015 operator survey.
If you are viewing this page on a mobile device or do not see the survey loading above, take the survey here: 2016 NRN Restaurant Operator Survey .
Update: March 8, 2016 This story has been updated to reflect that the survey will be open through March 14.