Golden Corral Uses 15-Minute Forecasts to Keep Buffets Under $20
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 23
Golden Corral Uses 15-Minute Forecasts to Keep Buffets Under $20
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 23
Summary
Golden Corral is using 15-minute demand forecasts and tighter batch cooking to keep dinner buffets below $20 at many locations despite rising food and operating costs.
About 38 cents of every sales dollar goes to food, pushing the chain to pair costly steak and shrimp with cheaper sides and to add a bone-in pork chop that costs about 40% as much as sirloin.
The roughly 350-unit chain makes about 80% of buffet items in-house and arranges its 150 offerings in cost-balanced modules to limit waste while keeping food fresh.
Unlimited-value deals still resonate with budget-conscious diners, and rival chains have expanded them sharply: major restaurant brands launched about 150 such promotions in the first half of 2026, four times 2021 levels.