Consumer Trends: Page 2

  • A waiter serves a table at a nice restaurant
    Image attribution tooltip
    Rawpixel via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Restaurant customer satisfaction grows despite rising prices, ACSI finds

    Consumers want premium experiences to help make the meal feel worth the cost, according to ACSI’s Forrest Morgeson.

    By Bryan Wassel • July 8, 2024
  • Several fast food items that are a part of Sonic's $1.99 value menu.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Sonic
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sonic launches $1.99 value menu

    The chain confirmed its value menu is permanent, in contrast to the temporary discounts offered by McDonald’s, KFC and Burger King this summer.

    By • July 1, 2024
  • The content of a Taco Bell $7 Luxe Cravings box spread out on a table.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Taco Bell
    Image attribution tooltip

    Taco Bell beefs up value with $7 Luxe Cravings box

    Six months after it launched its 10-item Cravings menu, the chain added a five-item meal that it says is 55% cheaper than buying the items separately.

    By • June 27, 2024
  • Two Starbucks Iced Energy drinks nearby shattered ice cubes.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    Starbucks adds caffeinated, sparkling iced teas to core menu

    The launch also includes two new food items, a Caramel Swirl Iced Coffee and new customizations for drinks, as the chain continues is multi-pronged effort to drives traffic by menu changes.

    By • June 26, 2024
  • A White Castle at night. The sky is dark. The store is not.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of White Castle
    Image attribution tooltip

    White Castle bolsters late-night staff to help drive and satisfy increased sales

    Orders placed between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. are an increased percentage of sales at the fast food chain, and it hopes to capitalize on growing demand. 

    By • June 26, 2024
  • A row of six sugary drinks served by Sonic.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Sonic
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sonic adds 6 beverages to permanent menu

    With photogenic twists on classic flavors like cola and lemonade, the chain appears to be aiming for Gen Z consumers.

    By • June 24, 2024
  • A jet pilot crashes into a restaurant as part of a Carl's Jr campaign
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Carl's Jr
    Image attribution tooltip

    How Carl’s Jr. is driving in-store visits with AI-fueled CTV advertising

    The QSR paired contextual targeting data with IRIS.TV’s private marketplace to engage young men with shared interests like anime and gaming.

    By Aaron Baar • June 21, 2024
  • An image of a cheeseburger, chicken sandwhich, chicken nuggest, fries and a drink on a blank background. The image includes "$5 Meal Deal" wording.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of McDonald's
    Image attribution tooltip

    McDonald’s to launch $5 Meal Deal next week

    The QSR giant will enter the summer value wars on June 25 with its national offer of a McDouble or McChicken, small fry, four-piece McNuggets and a drink.

    By • June 20, 2024
  • Guests play arcade games at Dave & Buster's.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mark Davis via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Dave & Buster’s sees customer satisfaction growth despite higher game prices

    Guest satisfaction scores are at historical highs, and CEO Chris Morris believes there is room to increase game prices without taking a hit.

    By Bryan Wassel • June 18, 2024
  • A leather bag with a Marriott Bonvoy tag beside a Starbucks cup and a smartphone.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    Starbucks, Marriott Bonvoy link loyalty programs

    The deal is the latest in Starbucks’ large, corporate rewards partnerships, which include link ups with Bank of America and Delta SkyMiles.

    By • June 18, 2024
  • A sign is posted in front of a McDonald's restaurant on April 28, 2022 in San Leandro, California.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Traffic at QSR chains in California declines following minimum wage increase

    Price increases meant to offset the cost of the sector’s $20 minimum wage in the state have significantly dented customer visits, data from Placer.ai shows. 

    By • June 13, 2024
  • A couple look at cupcakes displayed in a case. A man is pointing at one of the cupcakes.
    Image attribution tooltip
    doble-d via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Restaurant openings up 6%, but momentum slowing

    Sweets and snack concepts had the most openings with new dessert stores up 52%, followed by shaved ice outlets up 22%, according to a Yelp report. 

    By • June 5, 2024
  • A customer pays using a Clover device
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Fiserv
    Image attribution tooltip

    ‘They feel like they got tricked’: How tipping requests can hurt customer relationships

    Consumers are being asked to tip more often and for more services than they were in the past. It’s leaving them with a bad taste in their mouths.

    By Lisa Scherzer • June 3, 2024
  • Blaze Pizza's new signature pizzas.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Blaze Pizza
    Image attribution tooltip

    Blaze Pizza remakes its menu with 5 new signature pizzas

    Diners can expect eventual changes to all of the menu, including salads, desserts, folded pizza, toppings and drizzles, CMO Christian Kuhn said. 

    By • May 31, 2024
  • An image of several food items on a table from Jack in the Box's Munchies Under $4
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Jack in the Box
    Image attribution tooltip

    Jack in the Box joins value battle with Munchies Under $4

    The fast food chain hopes its snack-focused menu will act as a hook for customers after same-store sales fell last quarter.

    By • May 30, 2024
  • McDonald's Q1 Earnings Up On Higher Menu Prices, Overseas Growth
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fast food is too expensive, says a majority of Americans

    Sixty-two percent of U.S. consumers surveyed by LendingTree said they are eating fast food less due to rising prices. 

    By • May 28, 2024
  • People work at a restaurant at Chelsea Market in Manhattan on February 02, 2024 in New York City.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    4 restaurant industry forecasts from the NRA Show

    Gen Z’s demand for photogenic beverages and frustration over financing struggles loomed large over the event as operators strategized how to solve consumer pullback.

    By • May 23, 2024
  • Three fast food beverages stand in line.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Aneurin Canham-Clyne/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Inside CosMc’s: Slow drive-thru service may undercut customization’s perks

    McDonald’s spinoff brand, which targets Gen Z with highly caffeinated drinks and snacks, is a “learning lab” that needs work to compete with legacy QSRs.

    By • May 22, 2024
  • BurgerFi franchisee in Alpharetta, Georgia
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by BurgerFi
    Image attribution tooltip

    BurgerFi’s sales fell 10% in Q1

    The chain attributed some of its difficulties to a consumer pullback, but said weather accounted for its exceptionally poor performance.

    By • May 15, 2024
  • People communing at dining table
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by SupHerb Farms
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by SupHerb Farms®

    The global flavor craze

    Unlock the latest global flavor trends that will attract each generation to your operation.

    By SupHerb Farms • May 13, 2024
  • Two people at an event, one of them is using a Square kiosk to pay for something.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Square
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Square

    Get the most out of the National Restaurant Association Show with Square

    Whether you’re attending in person or tuning in from home, growth is on the agenda this year. Take a glimpse at what Square will cover.

    May 13, 2024
  • A photo of a variety of food on a wooden table on trays and in baskets and bowls.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by ezCater
    Image attribution tooltip

    Operators predict continued catering boom

    Return-to-office is increasing demand for business catering as employers use meal plans to draw workers in-person, according to a survey from ezCater. 

    By • May 9, 2024
  • An image of a blue sign with "IHOP" words.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Dine’s sales sour on virtual brand closures, slow traffic

    IHOP and Applebee’s promotions and LTOs weren’t enough to offset a dip in consumer spending during Q1.

    By • May 8, 2024
  • A view of a Wendy's restaurant on May 12, 2021 in Pinole, California.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Wendy’s credits loyalty program, mobile app investments for customer growth

    “The experience we deliver to our customers is the most impactful driver of our business,” CEO Kirk Tanner said.

    By Bryan Wassel • May 7, 2024
  • A closeup of beverage cups featuring the logo of Starbucks Coffee.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Stephen Chernin via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Starbucks’ late-night delivery pilot ‘doubled our business,’ CEO says

    A third-party partner prepared Starbucks orders for delivery offsite between the hours of 5 p.m. and 5 a.m., and the coffee giant aims to make a $2 billion business out of this model over the next five years.

    By • May 7, 2024