photo/malias

Restaurants that offer smaller food portions to provide healthier dishes are at risk of losing customers say industry experts.

Annica Kreider, vice president of marketing at McAlister’s Deli, sighs when she recalls testing smaller portion sizes of dishes with focus groups. “They were attractive, people liked the way they looked, but they noticed the difference,” she says. “They didn’t want the items they loved in smaller sizes.” Kreider says outright reducing portion sizes would not be a good idea for a brand... “In our industry, even as a quick-serve or fast-casual concept, we have to remember that eating out is an indulgence for people,” Kreider says. “Especially in today’s economy, with fewer discretionary dollars. If a customer comes to your place and feels somehow cheated out of the portion size, that’s the last time you’ll see them.” [via QSR Magazine]