Consumer Trends

  • Pedestrians walk by a Chipotle restaurant in San Francisco, California
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Chipotle’s same-store sales wobble on economic uncertainty

    The fast casual giant — a sales overperformer in 2024 — said its comparable transactions fell in what could be an early warning of anemic diner spending.

    By • April 24, 2025
  • The exterior of a Del Taco with several empty parking lots out front
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Del Taco’s new meal boxes mirror Taco Bell deal

    The value bundles — which are priced between $5 and $9 — come as the chain battles shrinking same-store sales.

    By • April 23, 2025
  • A photograph of chefs in a kitchen. Explore the Trendline➔
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    sam edwards via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Menu development

    Restaurants big and small are experimenting with their menus to align with the preferences of on-the-go diners and mitigate the impact of rising food costs, supply chain disruption and shrinking consumer discretionary funds. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • Omar Epps as the Sauce Boss in a Zaxbys campaign
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    Courtesy of Zaxbys
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    Q&A

    Zaxbys’ CMO on breaking through the chicken category with ‘sauce’

    The chain’s first work from Goodby Silverstein & Partners introduces a brand character that speaks to both signature sauces and cool charisma.

    By Chris Kelly • April 23, 2025
  • A view of a KFC restaurant in Vallejo, California.
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
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    How KFC’s customer listening program helps it nail the first experience

    The program is designed to collect data from a range of sources, disseminate findings across the company and coordinate teams to solve customer pain points, KFC COO Rob Swain said.

    By Bryan Wassel • April 22, 2025
  • An image of a Cava logo
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Cava is poised to outperform restaurant industry, analysts say

    The Mediterranean fast casual chain is the clear segment leader, and is on course for 1,200 stores by 2033, TD Cowen estimated.

    By • April 21, 2025
  • Kentucky Fried Chicken's 2024 $5 value deals: A chicken nuggets combo, a famous bowl with mashed potatoes and nuggets, and a 2-piece combo.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC’s US sales fall behind Raising Cane’s, Wingstop

    Sales at most American QSR chicken chains rose in 2024, but fell 4% at KFC, according to a Circana report on the 50 largest U.S. restaurant brands.

    By • April 21, 2025
  • A waiter holding a plate of salmon on mashed potatoes, ready to be served to guests.
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    SolStock via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute

    Always in season: Frozen wild Alaska seafood delivers fresh taste and flexibility

    Consumers seek to increase seafood consumption, and they prefer wild-caught products from Alaska.

    April 21, 2025
  • Four people eat and talk in a restaurant brown, wood-paneled restaurant booth.
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    kali9 via Getty Images
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    Circana: Restaurant traffic stalled in 2024, but diner spending rose 2%

    Starbucks, McDonald’s and Burger King all had flat spending, but Circana’s David Portalatin said “flat is the new up” given current macroeconomic trends.

    By • April 18, 2025
  • A person holds out a hand to take a brown bag from a person holding it out.
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    Antonio_Diaz via Getty Images
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    NRA: Consumers want more takeout, but lack the cash

    Millennials and Gen Z consumers largely view takeout as a vital part of their lifestyles, per a National Restaurant Association report.

    By • April 16, 2025
  • An image of a sign with a red apple and the word Applebee's
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    How Applebee’s designed its customer insights program

    The restaurant chain incorporated feedback from a range of stakeholders to ensure its customer insights are actionable and readily available.

    By Bryan Wassel • April 8, 2025
  • Diesel Cafe, in Davis Square in Somerville, Mass.
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    Permission granted by Shane Woolley
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    Starbucks and Dunkin’s competitors reap rewards as visits grow

    As small coffee brands see their share of longer visits increase, legacy chains are looking to recapture their own on-premise magic.

    By • April 7, 2025
  • A woman with brown curly hair looks down at a Caeser Salad on her table. She is holding a fork and knife. She is in a restaurant.
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    milorad kravic via Getty Images
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    Solo dining is on the rise, report finds

    Younger diners like to eat alone, with 49% of millennials and 46% of Gen Z consumers preferring to do so, according to a TouchBistro report.

    By • April 3, 2025
  • A hand holds a smartphone with the screen showing different rewards available from Sweetgreen's rewards program.
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    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen abandons tiered loyalty for points-based program

    Executives previously predicted the loyalty program would be a traffic driver, as the salad chain faces a competitive fast casual environment.

    By • April 3, 2025
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Why Shake Shack’s founder ties employee experience to CX

    Employees won’t offer customers consistently good experiences unless they like their job and coworkers, according to Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer.

    By Bryan Wassel • March 25, 2025
  • A Chili's Burger framed by fries and a drink.
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    Courtesy of Brinker
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    The restaurant industry’s Q4 2024 winners and losers

    Consumer price sensitivity has hit brands unevenly, with Applebee’s and Starbucks suffering extended traffic declines while Chili’s pumped its traffic up with a strong value offer. 

    By • March 20, 2025
  • A gray and beige fast food building with red and white brand markings for the chain Jollibee
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    Courtesy of Jollibee
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    Jollibee to ramp up US growth with franchising program

    With an AUV of about $4.3 million, the Filipino chicken chain’s unit economics could make it compelling for multi-unit operators.

    By • March 11, 2025
  • A person walks into a women's bathroom.
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    goldhafen via Getty Images
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    Gross bathroom? It can cost your customer experience

    Dirty restrooms, out-of-stock paper towels and stalls with gaps can flush away an otherwise positive customer experience and send sales down the toilet.

    By Kristen Doerer • March 10, 2025
  • An evening shot of a building with white and red coloring and signage that says "Portillo's."
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s launches loyalty without an app

    The hot dog chain hopes its loyalty program, based in digital wallets, can offer personalized options for guests and businesses without causing app fatigue.

    By • March 4, 2025
  • A rendering of a Subway restaurant with tables and green walls.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    NRA: Restaurants are prioritizing on-premise in 2025

    About 80% of diners say they would eat at full-service spots if they had the cash, per the National Restaurant Association, incentivizing brands to create welcoming dining rooms.

    By • Feb. 28, 2025
  • A Starbucks barista pours foamed milk into a cup.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks cuts less popular drinks, plans 30% menu reduction

    Several Frappucinos, the Royal English Breakfast Latte and the White Hot Chocolate are getting the axe next month to reduce complexity and make space for experimentation.

    By • Feb. 26, 2025
  • Wooden seats and tables inside a Cava. In the background there is a make line with digital menu boards.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Cava’s traffic growth streak continues

    CFO Tricia Tolivar attributed its sales success to a mix of factors ranging from improved in-store experience to low price increases.

    By • Feb. 26, 2025
  • A building with a drive-thru that is blue and white. Signage says Just Salad.
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    Courtesy of Just Salad
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    Just Salad raises $200M to boost unit growth

    The salad chain, which has about 90 units and a $1 billion valuation, is looking to expand beyond its core markets.

    By • Feb. 25, 2025
  • A photograph of a yellow sign with Denny's in red.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Denny’s adds surcharge to meals with eggs

    The price of this additional charge will be determined on a market-by-market and restaurant-by-restaurant basis reflecting the bird flu’s regional impact.

    By • Feb. 25, 2025
  • Dutch Bros Coffee's president, Christine Barone will replace Joth Ricci as CEO. Pictured is a Dutch Bros unit.
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    Permission granted by Dutch Bros
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    Dutch Bros’ mobile ordering is booming

    The new digital channel already accounts for 8% of sales just a year after initial testing, executives said, and is available at 96% of stores.

    By • Feb. 13, 2025
  • A McDonald's restaurant sign between trees. The sign reads, "McDonald's"
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s looks to loyalty to recapture traffic after disappointing quarter

    The chain aims to reach its goal of 250 million 90-day active MyMcDonald’s Rewards users and $45 billion in annual systemwide sales by 2027.

    By Bryan Wassel • Feb. 10, 2025