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At this point, industry experts, business owners and customers alike know that the fast-casual segment is dominating the restaurant franchise industry. In fact, a recent report released by Technavio revealed the fast casual restaurant market is expected to reach a whopping $66.87 billion by 2020.

And while the proliferation of fast casual restaurants is good news for customers hungry for something more than the lackluster fast-food experience, it&rsquo;s created a lot of competition in a marketplace that&rsquo;s become increasingly crowded. Fortunately, for brands like <a href="http://www.mcalistersdelifranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-mcalisters-combines-a-strong-menu-and-southern-style-hospitality-to-stand-out-in-the-fast-casual-space-11452" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">McAlister&rsquo;s Deli</a>, standing out in a sea of fast casual restaurants comes down to one simple formula&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s the menu, the hospitality or the atmosphere, it&rsquo;s crucial to always offer up a little something extra for guests.

Founded in 1989 in Oxford, Mississippi, <a href="http://mcalistersdeli.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-mcalisters-combines-a-strong-menu-and-southern-style-hospitality-to-stand-out-in-the-fast-casual-space-11452" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">McAlister&rsquo;s Deli</a> has a long history of raising the bar in the fast casual segment. And today, with over 380 restaurants in 28 states, it&rsquo;s clear that McAlister&rsquo;s recipe for success has helped the brand thrive in every local community they serve. According to Robert Dimson, the vice president of marketing, this starts with McAlister&rsquo;s simple, yet elevated, menu. From quality sandwiches and spuds, to soups, salads and desserts, McAlister&rsquo;s doesn&rsquo;t confine itself to a specific label&mdash;it&rsquo;s about serving up a strong and varied menu, and doing it well with only the freshest ingredients.

&ldquo;Take one look at our menu, and it&rsquo;s clear that we pride ourselves on offering an extensive menu&mdash;our variety is truly second to none,&rdquo; Dimson said. &ldquo;The breadth of our menu has become an asset&mdash;it eliminates the &lsquo;veto vote&rsquo; because there&rsquo;s something for everyone to enjoy and feel satisfied by.&rdquo;

And yet, despite McAlister&rsquo;s dedication to simplicity, the brand embraces innovation, too. Whether it&rsquo;s introducing new limited time offers, or tweaking and enhancing familiar products, McAlister&rsquo;s has found a way to optimize its core without veering off track from what has long made the brand great.

&ldquo;We really do take pride in the fact that our food is simple, yet elevated. Looking at our menu through that lens, we&rsquo;ve been able to narrow our focus while simultaneously remaining open minded. It&rsquo;s helped stay within those guard rails to ensure that everything we offer is something we&rsquo;re proud of,&rdquo; Dimson added.

McAlister&rsquo;s emphasis on genuine hospitality has helped the brand stand out, too. The brand goes out of its way to take care of its guests, and it&rsquo;s important that within each restaurant, families feel at home the second they walk through the doors.

&ldquo;People appreciate hospitality&mdash;they notice when you go the extra mile to make them feel comfortable,&rdquo; Dimson added. &ldquo;Whether you&rsquo;re in the South, the Midwest or up North, it&rsquo;s about great service and great atmosphere for us. It&rsquo;s about giving people a place to connect over great food alongside friends and family.&rdquo;

According to Dimson, McAlister&rsquo;s third key differentiator is in the fact that its staff will always go the extra mile to make sure guests are leaving the restaurant with a smile on their faces. Other major competitors utilize a model that has customers placing their order and picking up their own meal. McAlister&rsquo;s, on the other hand, believes that it&rsquo;s important to actually serve people and bring food straight to their tables.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a very humble approach. It&rsquo;s all about making sure that everything is going well for our guests. This means checking in with them to see if there&rsquo;s anything they need&mdash;it&rsquo;s heartfelt and genuine,&rdquo; Dimson said. &ldquo;These are all things that you don&rsquo;t expect from a fast casual brand. And in the end, it&rsquo;s what ultimately sets us apart in this competitive industry. We&rsquo;re an uplifting brand that provides a community gathering place where genuine hospitality and real, handcrafted food come together to create craveable connections.&rdquo;

How McAlister’s Combines a Strong Menu and Southern-Style Hospitality to Stand Out in the Fast Casual Space

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With over 380 restaurants in 28 states, McAlister’s recipe for success has helped the brand thrive in every local community they serve.

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How McAlister’s Combines a Strong Menu and Southern-Style Hospitality to Stand Out in the Fast Casual Space

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