Consumer Trends

  • A close up photograph of a white sign with lettering that says Cava.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Cava Q3 comps growth moderates

    Like Starbucks, Cava’s big traffic gains in H1 moderated, and mix and pricing accounted for a majority of its Q3 same-store sales growth.

    By • Nov. 4, 2026
  • Coffee drips into a white ceramic mug emblazoned with the Starbucks logo
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks puts greater personalization on the menu for 2027

    Service times are on target, stores feel warmer and executives want to elevate the app and drive-thru experiences with personalization and AI.

    By Bryan Wassel • Nov. 3, 2026
  • An image of several people eating hamburgers and french fries from a generic fast food restaurant. Explore the Trendline➔
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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
  • A car drives to a drive-thru window at a Kentucky Fried Chicken storefront.
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    Courtesy of Yum! Brands
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    Taco Bell’s winning streak ends, KFC’s turnaround continues

    Yum Brands hopes continued marketing magic at Taco Bell, menu investments at KFC and overall tech improvements will result in strong sales growth.

    By • Nov. 3, 2026
  • A photograph of a brick building with a red sign and white letters that says Chipotle.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Chipotle Rewards drives a record share of loyalty sales

    Membership reached more than 24 million customers, and they accounted for one-third of the chain’s Q3 sales, CEO Scott Boatwright said. 

    By Bryan Wassel • Nov. 2, 2026
  • A DoorDash delivery worker walks his bike along the road in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco, California.
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    Getty Images
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    DoorDash adds $12 value meal boxes

    The meal option could help the delivery giant weather consumer price sensitivity, while driving new orders at partner restaurants.

    By • Nov. 2, 2026
  • Design poster of "college and university dining trends"
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    Permission granted by Kikkoman Sales USA / Canva
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    Sponsored by Kikkoman Sales USA

    College and university student dining trends

    Gen Z craves bold global flavor. Discover how Kikkoman elevates campus dining with less prep!

    By Kikkoman Sales USA • Nov. 2, 2026
  • An image of a black building with windows and The Cheesecake Factory signage.
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    Maddie Meyer via Getty Images
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    The Cheesecake Factory hits record 15.2% comps growth

    The brand’s strong managerial retention, social media marketing and menu innovation drove an exceptional quarter.

    By • Oct. 28, 2026
  • M&M blondies
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    Permission granted by Mars Food
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    Sponsored by Mars Food Services

    Making dessert work harder: The business case for seasonal LTOs

    Seasonal desserts can do more than add a sweet finish — they can help drive check growth and give guests a reason to return. Discover how to create craveable holiday LTOs.

    By Michelle Rivera • Oct. 26, 2026
  • A green pie.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell, Pepsi renew vows after KFC divorce

    Remaining with the sodamaker signals strategic menu continuity for Taco Bell and the Mountain Dew Baja Blast, while sister-brand KFC pursues an overhaul.

    By • Oct. 22, 2026
  • Four horchata based beverages Taco Bell will serve at its Live Mas Cafes.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell tests 4 horchata beverages

    Live Más Cafés will pilot the drinks ahead of a December nationwide launch as the chain pushes toward $5 billion in annual drink sales.

    By • Oct. 15, 2026
  • Overhead view of three cheeseburgers in paper trays, surrounded by golden French fries with ketchup and dipping sauce on a gray stone surface.
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    Permission granted by Simplot Global Food
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    Sponsored by Simplot Global Food

    The rise of mini meals: How apps and small plates are taking over the table

    Value once meant bigger portions. Today, consumers want meals that fit their appetite.

    Oct. 12, 2026
  • A spread of pasta entrees from Maggiano's Little Italy.
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    Courtesy of Maggiano's Little Italy
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    Maggiano’s turnaround yields ‘green shoots’

    The Italian brand only accounts for 3% of Brinker’s profits, but a focus on portion size and speed of service could grow sales, CEO Kevin Hochman said. 

    By • Sept. 21, 2026
  • An image of a restaurant that has a white sign with "Chili's" on the front and side.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why Chili’s is ready to open new stores

    While the casual giant saw its same-store sales explode, its unit count stayed stagnant. Now, Brinker International is investing in growing its storebase again.

    By • Sept. 18, 2026
  • An image of a drive-thru digital menu board with a Taco Bell restaurant with white and purple paint in the background.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell’s traffic slump persists as outbreak ends

    Nearly two months after iceberg lettuce at the chain was linked to Cyclospora, the QSR giant’s foot traffic remains depressed, according to Placer.ai.

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
  • A restaurant sign on an Art Deco building. The restaurant is empty, the sky beside the sign is a cold, harsh blue.
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    Getty Images
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    TGI Fridays joins the casual dining value arms race

    Starting at $11.99, the casual chain’s 3 For All menu could help it capitalize on deal-seeking consumers in a volatile pricing environment.

    By • Sept. 14, 2026
  • An order of Stuffed French Toast topped with strawberries and oozing sweet cream.
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    Why IHOP brought back Stuffed French Toast

    The pancake chain hopes to give fans more of what they want — vanilla sweet cream filling — while sticking close to its historic breakfast identity.

    By • Sept. 14, 2026
  • Animated image of a graph behind burger and fries
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    Adobe Stock/ imran

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    Sponsored by Facteus

    Restaurant sales are down. But same-store sales only tell half the story.

    Sales tell you who won. Transaction data reveals where the customer went.

    By Phil Fox • Sept. 14, 2026
  • A sign that says "Since 1956 Jersey Miek's Subs"
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    4 key numbers shed light on Jersey Mike’s strategy

    The sandwich chain is investing in digital marketing and significant unit growth in its first months as a public company.

    By • Sept. 9, 2026
  • A group of friends eating pizza
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    Permission granted by Rokt
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    Sponsored by Rokt

    Loyalty programs alone will not solve QSRs’ frequency problem

    QSRs can drive repeat visits by making every loyalty interaction more relevant.

    By Kyle Cowser • Sept. 8, 2026
  • Heads of iceberg lettuce in a grocery store.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Can restaurants avoid the next Cyclospora outbreak?

    The parasite is hard to trace and harder to kill. With recent cuts to food safety regulators, restaurants will be hard pressed to keep their supply chains clean.

    By • Sept. 3, 2026
  • A hand lifts a slice of stuffed crust pizza topped with pepperoni and peppers. The slice trails strings of melted mozzarella.
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Q2 2026’s restaurant winners and losers

    Coffee is in, pizza is out, and some legacy QSR chains are struggling with much-needed turnarounds. 

    By • Sept. 1, 2026
  • Three pumpkin themed coffee drinks from Starbucks. Two are iced, one is hot and has whipped cream.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks’ pumpkin spice launch breaks records, again

    The Pumpkin Spice Latte, combined with new drinks and an emphasis on food attachment, powered the coffee giant’s strongest-ever fall menu debut.

    By • Sept. 1, 2026
  • labor law
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    Kevin Dietsch / Staff via Getty Images
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    Starbucks faces another union boycott, activist investor pressure

    Pro-labor investors want the chain to split its board chair and CEO roles as Starbucks Workers United asks consumers to join its contract fight.

    By • Aug. 31, 2026
  • Man Pays Restaurant Bill with Credit Card
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    Getty Images
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    Gen Z is boosting restaurant traffic

    Bars and independents are outperforming chains, and consumers are shifting from grocers to restaurants, according to Bank of America data.

    By • Aug. 28, 2026
  • Four Cold Brews, three with flavored cold foam toppings.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    How Gen Z, millennials drive beverage-only restaurant visits

    Consumers want more coffee variety but seem bearish on dirty sodas, despite the fact that beverage-only occasions are concentrated in the afternoon, per a National Restaurant Association report.

    By • Aug. 27, 2026