Consumer Trends

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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    6 restaurant trends to watch in 2026

    Restaurants may face cost savings challenges and sales declines amid  continued supply chain disruptions, but can leverage consumer demand for cheaper menu items and experiential meals to stand out.

    By , , • Jan. 8, 2026
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ adds protein milk to menu

    The protein-heavy version of dairy milk allows the brand to appeal to consumer health preferences without adding many SKUs.

    By • Jan. 8, 2026
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    Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Loyalty & Rewards Strategy

    Capturing — and keeping — loyal customers is more crucial than ever as diner price sensitivity puts pressure on restaurants.

    By Restaurant Dive staff
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    DC’s Compass Coffee files for Chapter 11

    The chain faced shortfalls in foot traffic due to significant changes to the workforce and consumption patterns in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

    By • Jan. 7, 2026
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    Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
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    Dave’s Hot Chicken promotes COO to CEO

    Jim Bitticks succeeds Bill Phelps, who helmed the brand since 2019, and will continue to grow the chain that has nearly doubled its unit count since 2024. 

    By • Jan. 5, 2026
  • A frosted soda and two floats from Chick-fil-A in old-school soda fountain glasses.
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    Courtesy of Chick-fil-A
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    Chick-fil-A adds floats, frosted sodas to permanent menu

    Mixing the brand’s soft serve with sodas gives Chick-fil-A an easy way to add new beverage platforms without increased complexity or equipment costs.

    By • Jan. 5, 2026
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    Courtesy of Olive Garden
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    Olive Garden drives sales growth with delivery, smaller portions

    The Italian chain will accelerate the rollout of a lower-priced menu, which features seven existing items in reduced sizes, after receiving positive consumer feedback over affordability.

    By • Dec. 19, 2025
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    4 restaurant menu strategy fails in 2025

    From french fries that clogged up core operations to unprofitable doughnuts, national chains tried and abandoned a wide range of menu tactics to woo diners in 2025.

    By • Dec. 19, 2025
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle adds protein snack cups

    The fast casual giant framed the new items, which offer four-ounce portions of meat for about $4, as both a health and value play.

    By • Dec. 18, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    DoorDash tests AI-powered restaurant discovery app

    The delivery giant’s technology chief said Zesty, now in testing in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area, improves local restaurant visibility.

    By • Dec. 17, 2025
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ and Starbucks boost traffic with holiday LTOs

    The chains’ successful holiday campaigns show the legacy coffee sector isn’t out of ammunition in a competitive battle with rising stars.

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
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    Brett Dworski/Restaurant Dive
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    Column

    Fueling Up: How foodservice and QSRs can reshape c-store labor in 2026

    Hiring and retaining good workers has become an intractable challenge for the industry. Building first-class food programs could help retailers finally break through.

    By Brett Dworski • Dec. 16, 2025
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    Permission granted by Frank Beard
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    Column

    The Road Ahead: What if c-stores don’t need to become QSRs?

    The success of Japan’s convenience stores demonstrates the opportunity in selling food designed for everyday living, not just indulgent moments.

    By Frank Beard • Dec. 15, 2025
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    Permission granted by PAR Technology
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    Sponsored by PAR Technology

    The 3 ingredients of the golden age of loyalty

    Loyalty’s golden age: brands win with personal, playful and community-driven engagement.

    By Joe Yetter, General Manager of PAR Engagement at PAR Technology • Dec. 15, 2025
  • Taco Bell's $5, $7 and $9 luxe boxes. Each combo meal contains several items, a side and a drink.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Yum Brands: Solo dining, customization are reshaping value strategy

    Chief Marketing Officer Ken Muench said the lack of control and predictability in consumers’ lives is pushing diners toward customized experiences — even when that means passing up a deal.

    By • Dec. 10, 2025
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks’ on-premise experience could stave off coffee competitors

    CEO Brian Niccol said the chain’s emphasis on a coffeehouse atmosphere would result in consumers choosing the chain over “soulless” options.

    By • Dec. 10, 2025
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    Allie Beau

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    Sponsored by Schweid & Sons

    4 generations, 1 legendary burger

    “Every time someone eats a Schweid & Sons burger,” Jamie says, “they taste 4 generations of dedication.”

    Dec. 8, 2025
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    A market of extremes: How 2026 will impact restaurant winners and losers

    Price compression has intensified competition between restaurant sectors, as executives look back on a bifurcated year.

    By • Dec. 5, 2025
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    Permission granted by Sonic
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    Sonic tests cold coffee lineup

    The cold caffeine arms race is pushing Sonic to add everything from plain iced coffee to a soft-serve coffee milkshake to its menu.

    By • Dec. 5, 2025
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC’s Saucy to open 3 more units

    The expansion signals Yum Brands sees the drinks- and tenders-focused concept as an important part of its KFC turnaround.

    By • Dec. 3, 2025
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway resurrects Sub Club after 20 years

    Consumers who buy three footlong sandwiches earn a fourth one free, offering a major discount for value-conscious customers. 

    By • Dec. 1, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    Toast: Solo dining reservations jumped 22% in Q3

    Data shows a shift toward the breakfast daypart and weekdays, but weekend dinner occasions still comprise the bulk of full-service reservations.

    By • Nov. 26, 2025
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks anticipates Gen Z Thanksgiving traffic surge

    A whopping 70% of the cohort plans to visit a coffeehouse over the holiday, a trend the chain hopes to capitalize on through its renewed on-premise focus.

    By • Nov. 25, 2025
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    Permission granted by Paragon Solutions
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    4 c-stores turning up the heat on breakfast

    From Kwik Trip’s in-house bakeries to Wawa’s LTOs, convenience stores nationwide are capitalizing on the buoyant breakfast market.

    By Michael Brady • Nov. 25, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Speed isn’t enough anymore. Why QSR brands need to dial up the emotion.

    Chains need to focus on experiences, rituals and spaces that foster connection, writes Lotte van Uum, creative director of spatial design at FutureBrand.

    By Lotte van Uum • Nov. 24, 2025
  • A photo of crinkle fries in a box that says Sonic and two burgers next to each other in front of a blue backdrop.
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    Permission granted by Sonic Drive-In
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    NRA: Value, comfort will define 2026 menu trends

    Operators looking to take advantage of buzzy food items, like protein add-ons or smash burgers, will have to balance operational complexity with demand.

    By • Nov. 21, 2025