Consumer Trends: Page 16

  • A group of people are enjoying their meal at around a table in a restaurant while one holds a smartphone to a QR tablet in the middle of the table.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Sponsored by Square

    How QR code ordering is improving guest experience and your bottom line

    Overall, restaurants have seen overwhelmingly positive results by providing more ordering channels like QR codes, and their customers are happy with the technology, too.  

    Sept. 26, 2022
  • Atlas Restaurant Group reopens for outdoor dining with social distancing measures in place. (May 2020)
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    Chicago Mayor proposes to make city’s outdoor dining program permanent

    The proposal includes some changes to the Windy City’s program, which was initially introduced in 2020 and has been extended twice.

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 23, 2022
  • 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
  • Dunkin's digital store
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    Dunkin’ promotes architect behind next-gen push to CMO

    Jill McVicar Nelson, who’s been with Dunkin’ since 2011, has spearheaded several menu offerings targeted at the “next generation of guests.”

    By Peter Adams • Sept. 22, 2022
  • Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Report: Starbucks, Dunkin’ score traffic bump from pumpkin spice lattes

    Placer.ai finds visits at Starbucks and Dunkin’ rose nearly 26% and nearly 10%, respectively, in the week following their fall menu launches.

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 20, 2022
  • A worker at a restaurant with a face mask on hands over a bagged order while an offscreen person taps their credit card on a Square card reader.
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    Permission granted by Square
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    Sponsored by Square

    Square’s Future of Restaurants report: 2022 Edition

    The Square Future of Restaurants report explores what restaurants care about today and tomorrow, along with the top strategies they’re using.

    Sept. 19, 2022
  • White Castle launched a loyalty program nationwide September 2020.
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    Courtesy of White Caslte
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    Study: Consumers return to dine-in and want loyalty programs

    Nearly 90% of diners are interested in joining a loyalty program, especially if it offers savings, as inflation impacts spending, a TouchBistro survey finds. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 15, 2022
  • A Starbucks Store
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    The 4 biggest takeaways from Starbucks’ Investor Day

    The coffee chain laid out plans to target loyalty growth, labor efficiency and international openings, with a goal of reaching 45,000 stores by 2025.

    By • Sept. 14, 2022
  • Chipotle Garlic Guajillo Steak metaverse
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle launches its Garlic Guajillo Steak in the metaverse

    The chain says the menu item, which will debut in the Chipotle Grill Simulator on Roblox, is the first from a restaurant brand to launch in the metaverse.

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 13, 2022
  • Au Bon Pain interior rendering
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    Courtesy of Au Bon Pain
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    Au Bon Pain to roll out modernized store design companywide in 2023

    The chain’s cafes will feature a self-serve bakery and to-go areas to add efficiencies for off-premise customers.

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 7, 2022
  • A person holds a smartphone showing the Starbucks app
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    What Starbucks’ bet on NFTs says about the future of loyalty

    The chain's renowned rewards program adds a buzzy new value-grab, potentially laying a course for other marketers to follow.

    By Aaron Baar • Sept. 6, 2022
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Survey: 88% of restaurant operators have neutral or positive outlook for 2023

    Most operators say customers haven't reacted much to price changes, though 91% have raised prices, according to a Rewards Network report.

    By • Sept. 6, 2022
  • An image of several plant-based meat items from Baja Fresh
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    Courtesy of Baja Fresh
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    Baja Fresh makes plant-based items permanent

    The Impossible Meat taco, burrito and bowl received positive customer feedback during the yearlong test at the fast casual chain.

    By • Sept. 1, 2022
  • An image of a building with "Rubio's Coastal Grill" on the outside.
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    Permission granted by Rubio's Coastal Grill
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    Rubio’s Coastal Grill introduces a new rewards program

    Rubio’s Rewards allows customers to cash in points in exchange for free menu items, with diners earning 10 points for every dollar spent. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 31, 2022
  • Burger King Impossible Chicken Sandwich
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King’s original chicken sandwich goes plant based

    The brand’s Impossible Original Chick’n Sandwich pilot follows two Impossible Whopper launches and last year’s Impossible Nuggets test.

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 22, 2022
  • An image of a table and several plates with a burger and breakfast items
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    Permission granted by IHOP
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    IHOP’s new menu serves up customization

    The Choice menu, which includes made-to-order griddle combos, steakburgers and chicken sandwiches, will be available any time of day.

    By • Aug. 22, 2022
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    yaoinlove via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s will test a Chicken Big Mac in Miami

    The Chicken Big Mac received positive diner reviews when it launched for a limited time in the U.K. earlier this year, according to McDonald’s. 

    By • Aug. 18, 2022
  • A family of four eating pizza, corn dogs and other fast food items.
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    kali9 via Getty Images
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    Study: A quarter of low-income households have stopped eating out

    Frequency among families with household income under $45,000 declined 6% during the second quarter, data from The NPD Group shows.

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 17, 2022
  • Fresh organic avocado on the wooden table
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    pilipphoto via Getty Images
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    Whole Foods co-founder plans to launch vegetarian restaurant chain

    John Mackey’s past success scaling a business promoting healthy lifestyles could attract more investor attention as plant-based diets grow in popularity.

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 9, 2022
  • A woman sitting at a table using her phone as a calculator. On the table there are financial charts.
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    Hispanistic via Getty Images
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    Study: Over 66% of independent restaurants seeing sales declines from inflation

    Seventy-six percent of operators surveyed by Seated said they have increased menu prices to deal with current economic conditions.

    By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 5, 2022
  • A person holds a smartphone showing the Starbucks app
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Despite menu price increases, Starbucks Rewards members keep coming back

    Guest counts reached an all-time high during the quarter, with loyalty customer growth outpacing non-members. 

    By • Aug. 3, 2022
  • A male server serves four customers sitting at a table with a bowl of pasta and a hamburger
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    monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images
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    Study: Consumers spending 40% of food budget on restaurants despite inflation

    As inflation squeezes budgets, consumers say they would more likely cut spending on clothes and gym memberships before decreasing going out to eat, Popmenu finds.

    By • Aug. 1, 2022
  • Jamba by Blendid kiosk at the Walmart in Dixon, California
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    Jamba by Blendid expands to UCLA

    The University of California Los Angeles marks the third college campus to open a Jamba by Blendid kiosk this year, and fifth overall for Blendid. 

    By Alicia Kelso • July 26, 2022
  • An exterior shot of a beige brick building with the words "Jamba," "drive-thru" and "Auntie Anne's."
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    Permission granted by Auntie Anne's
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    Why Auntie Anne's wants to become a drive-thru destination

    The soft pretzel chain opened its first co-branded drive-thru with Jamba in 2021. It now plans to have 15 such units by spring 2023.

    By • July 20, 2022
  • A group of people are enjoying their meal at a bright restaurant while one looks on a smartphone.
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    Geber86 via Getty Images
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    Study: Dine-in tips have increased despite inflation

    Tip percentage growth has slowed, however, and tips on online orders have shrunk even as the number of online orders has risen, Lightspeed data finds. 

    By Alicia Kelso • July 12, 2022
  • Metaverse and Blockchain Technology Concepts. Person with Glasses try to Touching Object for Experiences of Metaverse Virtual World. Futuristic Tone
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    BlackSalmon via Getty Images
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    Report: 38% of consumers interested in metaverse would add restaurant purchases to experience

    Twenty percent of consumers are familiar with the metaverse and 18% have participated in the virtual environment, Paytronix and PYMNTS research finds. 

    By Alicia Kelso • July 7, 2022