Applebee's recently announced the introduction of wood-fired grills to its restaurant kitchens. In recent years, casual dining chains such as Applebee's, TGI Fridays and Cracker Barrel have made significant efforts to upgrade their facilities in order to appeal to a new generation of consumers. This latest upgrade is part of an effort to give Applebee's are more rustic quality that is indicative of smaller, independent restaurants.
The new wood-fired grills will be introduced in nearly 2,000 of Applebee's US locations and their introduction has already been marked with a stack of split logs displayed at the front of each restaurant. The grills themselves are American-made and they will be used to grill premium cuts of meat such as sirloin steaks and bone-in pork chops. All of the meat will be hand-cut on-site by professional meat cutters to ensure the perfect thickness. The chain will also use the new grills to cook non-feature dishes such as salmon, vegetables and other meats.
What's Driving This Trend
- Wood-fired Grills
- Restaurants are introducing wood-fired grills to upgrade their facilities and appeal to a new generation of consumers.
- Rustic Dining Experience
- Casual dining chains are striving to create a more rustic quality to emulate smaller, independent restaurants.
- Premium Cuts of Meat
- Restaurants are hand-cutting premium cuts of meat on-site to ensure the perfect thickness and enhance the dining experience.
Who This Affects Most
- Casual Dining
- Casual dining chains like Applebee's, TGI Fridays, and Cracker Barrel are upgrading their facilities to cater to the evolving demands of consumers.
- Restaurant Equipment
- The introduction of wood-fired grills presents opportunities for American-made grill manufacturers to supply the growing demand from restaurants.
- Food and Beverage
- The focus on premium cuts of meat and the desire for a rustic dining experience opens up opportunities for suppliers and producers in the food and beverage industry.
