Consumer Trends

  • A robot table busser with a cat face on a tablet screen.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    The many faces of automation at the NRA Show

    This year artificial intelligence appeared in forms ranging from a cat-eared delivery robot to a generated analytics dashboard.

    By • June 5, 2025
  • Two people hold Zaxbys food.
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    Courtesy of Zaxbys
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    Zaxbys’ latest LTO emphasizes late-night dining

    The fried chicken chain joins brands like Pizza Hut, Wendy’s and Portillo’s in making late-night occasions a strategic priority.

    By • June 3, 2025
  • An image of several people eating hamburgers and french fries from a generic fast food restaurant. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Diamond Dogs via 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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    webphotographeer via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by American Egg Board

    Why (and how) restaurants continue to embrace the incredible, irreplaceable egg

    Consumers continue to expect and demand real eggs on restaurant menus.

    June 2, 2025
  • The sign on a Red Robin restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Red Robin ‘far from claiming victory’ despite comps growth

    The casual chain’s turnaround efforts are paying off in terms of comparable sales and profits, but executives say a repeat performance is unlikely in Q2.

    By • May 30, 2025
  • Adam, a robot made by Richtech Robotics, makes an espresso drink at the National Restaurant Association Show in May 2025.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Reporter’s notebook: 3 unanswered questions from the NRA Show

    Can a robot really replace a worker? Will tariffs trigger a recession? Can you charge $14 for a mocktail?

    By • May 28, 2025
  • A hand drops sauce from a spoon onto plates of food.
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    Gins Wang via Getty Images
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    Full-service restaurant uncertainty: Why diners are trading up and down

    Customers are pulling back on spending in full-service dining — except when they aren’t. Both fine dining establishments and massive casual brands must adapt to mixed signals.

    By • May 28, 2025
  • Three fast food beverages stand in line.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s will wind down CosMc’s, test drinks

     The Golden Arches will start shuttering its beverage innovation spinoff’s units in late June, just 18 months after its first location opened. 

    By • May 27, 2025
  • Shrimp and French Fries
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    Permission granted by Lamb Weston
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    Sponsored by Lamb Weston

    Ever wonder what makes fries so craveable?

    Fries drive customer satisfaction when they deliver on two key elements: the combination of crispiness and seasoning.

    May 27, 2025
  • Contactless payment made a restaurant dinner table.
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    Southworks

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    Why dashboard dining and weekend restaurant visits are on the rise

    Consumer trends are contradictory, according to a Technomic presentation at the National Restaurant Association Show. Both on-premise group dining and solo car dining are growing.

    By • May 22, 2025
  • Burger King’s Maple Bourbon BBQ Whopper
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    LTOs and value are key to solving restaurant traffic downturn: Technomic

    With consumers bracing for tariff impacts, limited-time offerings will likely grow in importance alongside budget-focused menu items.

    By • May 20, 2025
  • Am image of a sign on a window that says "Meal Deal" and shows a chicken sandwich and burger with nuggest, fries and a Coca-Cola.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Analysts at NRA Show: Tariffs could make H2 gloomier for restaurants

    As costs rise, fast food chains are losing pricing advantages relative to fast casual and even full-service chains.

    By • May 19, 2025
  • An image of a customer entering a Cava restaurant.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    How Cava beat traffic gravity in Q1

    The brand’s 10.8% comparable sales growth outperformed rival fast casuals, with Chipotle and Sweetgreen posting flat-to-negative sales.

    By • May 16, 2025
  • An exterior shot of a beige restaurant on a rainy day.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    Vegan full-service chain Planta goes bankrupt

    Rising costs, falling consumer demand and structural changes in the restaurant industry left the brand with insufficient cash flow.

    By • May 14, 2025
  • A stock image of a consumer examining a receipt.
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    Patpitchaya via Getty Images
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    Tariffs, immigration policy put US restaurants at ‘significant risk’: Fitch

    High consumer price sensitivity leaves brands with little room to offset the costs of tariffs and labor market disruptions.

    By • May 14, 2025
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    Permission granted by MARS Foodservices
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    Sponsored by MARS Foodservices

    Top sweet snacking trends

    Learn how to elevate your dessert offerings and explore the latest trends consumers crave in 2025!

    May 12, 2025
  • An image of a Sweetgreen restaurant with a drive-thru
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen’s same-store sales slip for first time as public company

    The salad brand attributed its sales shortfall to consumer pullback, and is looking to loyalty and LTOs to offset the trouble.

    By • May 9, 2025
  • A rendering of a new Huddle House prototype.
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    Courtesy of Huddle House
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    Huddle House pursues drive-thrus, non-traditional growth in rebrand

    As casual dining struggles, brands are leaning into a wide array of real estate and menu changes to capture fast casual and QSR diners.

    By • May 8, 2025
  • Four customers wait in line at a fast food restaurant.
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    epicimages via Getty Images
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    Consumers expected to spend 7% less on restaurants this summer

    A majority of consumers, who are already feeling the pinch of inflation and shrinking incomes, expect tariffs to raise prices, a KPMG report finds. 

    By • May 5, 2025
  • Three fast food beverages stand in line.
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    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
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    McDonald’s to test expanded beverage menu this year

    Adding more items to its menu, including energy drinks and coffee, will help the chain compete with sector rivals and boost profitability.

    By • May 1, 2025
  • A Starbucks barista hands a customer a coffee
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks’ employee, algorithm investments show signs of paying off

    Pilot programs last quarter proved workers, not equipment, are the key to solving Starbucks’ low throughput woes, according to CEO Brian Niccol.

    By Bryan Wassel • May 1, 2025
  • A photograph of a red and yellow sign with a giant yellow "M" above a red box that says "McDonald's Billions Served."
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s US traffic slides due to economic uncertainty

    Low- and middle-income guests pulled back spending in Q1, but the chain expects improved performance from promotions and the launch of chicken strips.

    By • May 1, 2025
  • People sit in a coffee shop.
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    Adam Gray via Getty Images
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    Starbucks suffers 5th quarter of falling comps

    The coffee chain will start cafe remodels to improve its coffeehouse feel in New York and Southern California later this year as its brand turnaround continues.

    By • April 30, 2025
  • An image of a pink sign that says "Saucy"
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    Permission granted by Saucy by KFC
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    Taco Bell sales surge, KFC will expand Saucy concept

    As Taco Bell succeeds in the U.S., KFC’s spinoff could replicate the Cantina strategy that Taco Bell has used to power its menu innovation.

    By • April 30, 2025
  • Chili's Big Smasher cheeseburger accompanied by sides of chips, fries and cola on a wooden dining table
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    Permission granted by Chili's Grill & Bar
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    Chili’s notches 21% traffic surge

    The casual chain’s focus on value is driving success where rivals are lagging, with many competitors reporting sliding same-store sales. 

    By • April 29, 2025
  • McDonald's new McCrispy chicken strips.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s chicken strips mark first permanent menu addition in 4 years

    The chain needs a menu win — and a leg up on fast-growing chicken competitors — after last year’s value and LTO successes were offset by an E. Coli outbreak.

    By • April 25, 2025