--- title: CTM Design Blog | CTM Staff --- - [Visit CTM Architecture](http://www.ctmarchitecture.ca/) - [Legal](http://ctmdesign.ca/legal) - [Site Map](http://ctmdesign.ca/sitemap) [![logo](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.jpg?width=145&name=logo.jpg)](http://ctmdesign.ca/) - [About Us](http://ctmdesign.ca/about-us/our-company) - [Our Company](http://ctmdesign.ca/about-us/our-company) - [Our People](http://ctmdesign.ca/about-us/our-people) - [Our Accreditations](http://ctmdesign.ca/about-us/our-accreditations) - [Our Work](http://ctmdesign.ca/our-work/our-services) - [Our Services](http://ctmdesign.ca/our-work/our-services) - [Our Approach](http://ctmdesign.ca/our-work/our-approach) - [Project Gallery](http://ctmdesign.ca/project-gallery) - [Project Map](http://ctmdesign.ca/project-gallery/project-map) - [Petroleum Service Stations](http://ctmdesign.ca/project-gallery/petroleum-service-stations) - [Resturaunt and Hospitality](http://ctmdesign.ca/project-gallery/resturaunt-and-hospitality) - [Retail Stores](http://ctmdesign.ca/project-gallery/retail-stores) - [Blog](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog) - [Careers](http://ctmdesign.ca/careers) - [Current Opportunities](http://ctmdesign.ca/careers/current-opportunities) - [Apply today](http://ctmdesign.ca/careers/apply-today) - [Contact Us](http://ctmdesign.ca/contact-us) ![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Layout/news.jpg?width=912&name=news.jpg) ## CTM Staff ![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Images/client_logos/edXQ58OH_400x400.png) ### Recent Posts ## [FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN CHOOSING A QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANT DESIGN FIRM](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/five-things-you-need-to-know-when-choosing-a-quick-serice-restaurant-design-firm) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on May 17, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_304391519.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/five-things-you-need-to-know-when-choosing-a-quick-serice-restaurant-design-firm) Whether you are building a fast food restaurant using an existing corporate plan or template, or are creating an independent restaurant from scratch, you will require the services of a professional design consultant. A design consultant will be able to customize your design plans to your exact needs and ensure it conforms to the local codes and regulations. [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/five-things-you-need-to-know-when-choosing-a-quick-serice-restaurant-design-firm) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/five-things-you-need-to-know-when-choosing-a-quick-serice-restaurant-design-firm#comments-listing) Topics: [Design](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/design), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) ## [QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANT: 6 REASONS WHY YOU NEED A SITE AUDIT BEFORE YOU BUY REAL ESTATE](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/quick-serve-restaurant-6-reasons-why-you-need-a-site-audit-before-you-buy-real-estate) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on May 10, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_122556943.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/quick-serve-restaurant-6-reasons-why-you-need-a-site-audit-before-you-buy-real-estate) *So, you’re looking for the perfect location for your hot new fast food restaurant. There are a lot of great commercial realtors out there.* *The good ones can provide you with invaluable advice on choosing a location with high traffic flow –maybe a corner lot with access to passing traffic on two main streets. They can likely recommend a vibrant neighbourhood that matches your customer demographic. They may be able to help you weigh the pros and cons of leasing versus financing, and hopefully, they are master negotiators who can help you get an incredible price. However, a realtor’s expertise only goes so far.* [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/quick-serve-restaurant-6-reasons-why-you-need-a-site-audit-before-you-buy-real-estate) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/quick-serve-restaurant-6-reasons-why-you-need-a-site-audit-before-you-buy-real-estate#comments-listing) Topics: [Design](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/design), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) ## [FIVE KEY CONSIDERATIONS TO EXECUTING THE PERFECT DRIVE-THRU DESIGN](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/five-key-considerations-to-executing-the-perfect-drive-thru-design) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on April 25, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_187039268.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/five-key-considerations-to-executing-the-perfect-drive-thru-design) *Image: Philip Bird LRPS CPAGB / [Shutterstock.com](%3Ca%20href=)* A 2014 report on Canadian [Quick Service Restaurants](http://ctmdesign.ca/project-gallery/resturaunt-and-hospitality) revealed that 75% of Quick service Restaurants (QSR) offered drive-thru service.\* Seventy-five percent! If you’ll pardon the pun, it’s all *driven* by the needs of a society that is constantly on the go— rushing to work, children’s soccer practices and birthday parties, or to family and social gatherings. As a result, the ability to offer convenient drive-thru service is becoming a make-or-break proposition for QSRs. Which is why it’s crucial that the restaurant site is professionally designed by a firm with expertise and experience in this area. ***You may also want to check out our previous blog post on* [*Layout Planning Matters: 4 Key Design Practices for Quick Serve Restaurants.*](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/four-key-considerations-when-designing-your-quick-serve-restaurants)** [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/five-key-considerations-to-executing-the-perfect-drive-thru-design) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/five-key-considerations-to-executing-the-perfect-drive-thru-design#comments-listing) Topics: [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service) ## [LAYOUT MATTERS: 4 KEY DESIGN PRACTICES FOR QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANTS](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/four-key-considerations-when-designing-your-quick-serve-restaurants) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on April 18, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_249788188.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/four-key-considerations-when-designing-your-quick-serve-restaurants) When a customer enters your restaurant or tries to navigate your parking lot, they generally don’t pay much attention to whether the layout is well thought out. But if it is poorly planned, they will notice in a hurry. That is because awkward, inconvenient, and unsafe restaurant design adversely affects your ability to offer great service, and dissatisfied customers can be quick to take their business somewhere else. [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/four-key-considerations-when-designing-your-quick-serve-restaurants) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/four-key-considerations-when-designing-your-quick-serve-restaurants#comments-listing) Topics: [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service) ## [C-STORE HEALTH & FOOD SAFETY DESIGN: 8 REQUIREMENTS YOU NEED TO KNOW](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/c-store-health-and-food-safety-design-requirements-you-need-to-know-about) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on April 15, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/burger-1015438_1280.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/c-store-health-and-food-safety-design-requirements-you-need-to-know-about) In a recent post, [*Beyond the Microwave: Hot Food Options for Your C-Store*](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/beyond-the-microwave-0), we gave you a taste of some options for providing hot food offerings in your C-Store. This week, we’d like to address equipment and design requirements around food safety. [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/c-store-health-and-food-safety-design-requirements-you-need-to-know-about) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/c-store-health-and-food-safety-design-requirements-you-need-to-know-about#comments-listing) Topics: [Current Trends](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/current-trends), [Innovation](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/innovation), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Gas and Petroleum Stations](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/gas-and-petroleum-stations), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) ## [THREE THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/keeping-an-eye-on-your-supply.-three-things-to-consider-when-choosing-a-fuel-management-system) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on February 26, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/gas-station-island.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/keeping-an-eye-on-your-supply.-three-things-to-consider-when-choosing-a-fuel-management-system) --- Running out of gas in a car is embarrassing. Running out of fuel at a gas station and turning away customers is unforgiveable. Fortunately, your fuel management system is there to keep you on top of your current inventory levels… and much more. [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/keeping-an-eye-on-your-supply.-three-things-to-consider-when-choosing-a-fuel-management-system) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/keeping-an-eye-on-your-supply.-three-things-to-consider-when-choosing-a-fuel-management-system#comments-listing) Topics: [Gas and Petroleum Stations](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/gas-and-petroleum-stations) ## [BEYOND THE MICROWAVE: HOT FOOD OPTIONS FOR YOUR C-STORE](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/beyond-the-microwave-0) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on February 18, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_94893739.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/beyond-the-microwave-0) ## **Six options for improving your food offering.** *Look around and it’s clear to see. Appetites have evolved! Expectations have changed. As a result, new equipment options and food trends are displacing the once mighty microwave in C-stores.* *CTM asked our independent C-store Consultant, Mark Walsh, about different equipment options available to help you take your food offering to the next level.* [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/beyond-the-microwave-0) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/beyond-the-microwave-0#comments-listing) Topics: [Current Trends](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/current-trends), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) ## [BEING ATTENTIVE WITH UNATTENDED SELF SERVICE OUTLETS: HOW TO BUILD FOR REMOTE MONITORING](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/being-attentive-with-unattended-self-service-outlets) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on February 11, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_294029087.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/being-attentive-with-unattended-self-service-outlets) ## **Why it makes sense to plan for a Remotely Monitored Retail Site at the time of your build.** Recently, CTM has worked on several design projects involving Unattended Self Service Outlets (also known as Remotely Monitored Retail Sites). It is a relatively new business model that allows an owner to run a gas bar without the need for onsite staff. *Currently, Alberta and Ontario are the only provinces to permit these types of operations.* [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/being-attentive-with-unattended-self-service-outlets) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/being-attentive-with-unattended-self-service-outlets#comments-listing) Topics: [Current Trends](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/current-trends), [Gas and Petroleum Stations](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/gas-and-petroleum-stations), [Car Wash](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/car-wash) ## [HOT OR NOT: BRANDED OR NON-BRANDED FOOD ITEMS?](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-part-ii-0) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on February 03, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_177840050.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-part-ii-0) ## **In our last blog post, independent C-Store consultant Mark Walsh helped us shed some light on the Pros and Cons of adding a hot food program to your service offering. ** As part of that conversation, he suggested the next key question an owner must ask after deciding to proceed with a hot food offering is whether or not is should be a branded (national franchise) or non-branded product. [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-part-ii-0) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-part-ii-0#comments-listing) Topics: [Current Trends](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/current-trends), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) ## [HOT OR NOT: INTRODUCING HOT FOODS TO YOUR C-STORE](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-0) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on January 27, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_177840050.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-0) ## **It's a question many C-Store owners struggle with: "Should I have a hot food offering? And if I do, should I choose a branded or non-branded product?" ** To help shed light on the key points you need to consider, we solicited the insights of an independent consultant and C-Store specialist, Mark Walsh. Mark addresses both questions in this two-part interview. [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-0) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-0#comments-listing) Topics: [Current Trends](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/current-trends), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) [All posts](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/all) [Next](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff/page/2) ### Get Our Latest Blogs Sent Straight To Your Inbox. 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