You might think that the likes of McDonalds and Wendy’s pretty much have the global market for burgers cornered. Their operations are so ubiquitous that there’s not a country left on Earth that doesn’t host at least one of their franchises.
It turns out, though, that while the fast-food giants have the bottom end of the market sorted, there’s still a big opportunity for entrepreneurs to serve premium ground beef and beef patties in exciting ways.
The Market For Gourmet Burgers Is On The Rise
Just eye-balling the figures, you can see that the popularity of gourmet burgers is on the rise. Data suggest that around 52 percent of people regularly eat gourmet burgers, and a further 39 percent believe that they’re healthier than the regular fast-food alternative.
Furthermore, people are more likely to go to gourmet burger joints with friends and spend a lot of money, pushing up margins. While gourmet burgers are mostly the same as their fast-food rivals nutritionally speaking, restaurants can dress them up in such a way that they command a premium price point. It’s no wonder, therefore, that these kinds of venues are surging in popularity. Burger-loving diners can go out to dinner, eat their favorite food, and get a premium experience. And company bosses can achieve high margins – far higher than if they went down the “pile them high and sell them cheap” route.
Customers Want More Variety
The menu at fast-food restaurants changes very little from month to month. And even when it does, the changes are rarely substantial. Punters often wind up with something that tastes very similar to the usual fare.
Gourmet burger joints, however, have the flexibility to do something different. Diners still get the basic burger in a bun, but they can experience it with a selection of trimmings, designed to tickle their tastebuds in new and exciting ways. For instance, you could offer Mexican, Caribbean, or even Asian-themed burgers, using whatever ingredients you can find for inspiration. It makes life much more interesting for both customers and chefs.
There’s A Growing Trend For Novel Meats
Beef is the quintessential burger meat, but there’s now a growing demand for other varieties too. Traditional fast-food companies can’t incorporate things like goat and boar meat into their supply chains, but small burger joint startups can. What’s more, they can use the fact that they use novel meats to appeal to the Paleo and keto crowd.
People Want Independent Burger Joints
Eating the same food day in, day out, can get a little tedious. Those who frequent the likes of Burger King every day can only eat so many Whoppers before they get bored and want to try something else.
Many foodies, therefore, are automatically seeking out independent burger joints that provide something a little different. This change in behaviour is a big opportunity for entrepreneurs like you looking to get into the restaurant trade. Perhaps setting up a burger joint is the perfect way to launch a thriving business.