1851

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

1851 Franchise

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

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

how-mcalisters-combines-a-strong-menu-and-southern-style-hospitality-to-stand-out-in-the-fast-casual-space

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

Home Halo

home-halo-former-athletes-frachisees-image

Why Former College Athletes Can Make Winning Home Halo Franchise Owners

former-college-athletes-home-halo-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Unlocking Superpowers: How KidStrong Is Building the Next Generation of Confident Kids — and Thriving Franchise Owners

kidstrong-franchise-confident-kids

Image of a kid growing up, developing with kidstrong, high fiving and smiling. 

How KidStrong has Become the Franchise Disrupting Child Development by Partnering with Purpose-Driven Franchise Owners 

kidstrong-franchise-opportunity-child-development

Picture of kids for franchise business Kidstrong which focuses on child development and fitness

KidStrong Is Pediatrician-Recommended for Raising Confident, Capable Kids and Families Can't Get Enough

kidstrong-child-development-program

Bringing Robots to Main Street: How Elad Inbar’s RobotLAB Franchise Is Powering the Local AI Revolution

bringing-robots-to-main-street-how-elad-inbars-robotlab-franchise-is-powering-the-local-ai-revolution

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

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

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS