Consumer Trends: Page 2

  • An empty Starbucks redesigned with lots of green and open space.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    Starbucks stanches the same-store sales bleeding

    Comparable sales growth was driven by an increase in average ticket, but investments in service helped turn U.S. transactions positive in September. 

    By • Oct. 30, 2025
  • An aerial view of a building with white "Chili'"s sign alongside a red pepper.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chili’s dramatic sales growth continues with 13% traffic jump

    Chili’s marketing, which sets the chain in direct price competition with QSRs, delivered a sixth-straight quarter of double-digit same-store sales growth.

    By • Oct. 29, 2025
  • An image of several people eating hamburgers and french fries from a generic fast food restaurant. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    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
  • Hands hold up colorful drinks.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Taco Bell
    Image attribution tooltip

    Taco Bell brings Live Más Café to Texas

    A Taco Bell with a Live Más Café in Irvine, California, that opened in September is already selling upwards of 900 drinks a day. 

    By • Oct. 28, 2025
  • An image of a happy hour sign at a restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Majority of US diners think menu prices are too high

    Buy-one-get-one offers as well as discounts are among the top incentives helping drive guests back to restaurants, according to a YouGov report.

    By • Oct. 28, 2025
  • An image of a digital menu board that says "Extra Value Meals are back" on the other panel there is a photo of an egg sandwich and a $5.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by McDonald's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Toast: Burger, burrito, cold brew prices on the rise

    Football season staples like beer and wings saw slower price increases, which could play to the advantage of casual chains, according to a Toast analysis.

    By • Oct. 27, 2025
  • Person walking down street drinking hot drink
    Image attribution tooltip

    Sergey Sokolov / Unsplash

    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Talon.One

    Brewing loyalty at speed: Scooter’s Coffee redefines rewards for the modern guest

    QSR loyalty is evolving—data-driven personalization is turning fast service into lasting connection.

    Oct. 27, 2025
  • A man stands at a bar checking out.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Hospitality guests’ No. 1 AI concern: the loss of human touch

    “When consumers express concern about losing the human touch in hospitality, they aren’t rejecting the technology; they’re rejecting cold service,” Reputation’s Liz Carter said.

    By Kristen Doerer • Oct. 24, 2025
  • An image of Layne's Chicken Fingers menu items.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Layne's Chicken Fingers
    Image attribution tooltip

    Layne’s Chicken Fingers signs agreements for 68 stores

    Layne’s is the latest brand to bet on chicken fever and franchising to catapult it to national status — but the competitive landscape may be shifting.

    By • Oct. 22, 2025
  • An exterior photo of a Taim restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Taim Mediterranean Kitchen
    Image attribution tooltip
    Deep Dive

    4 brands growing in Cava’s shadow

    As the Mediterranean fast casual segment grows, franchised chains like Taim and Taziki’s are competing to see who will emerge as Cava’s main challenger.

    By • Oct. 20, 2025
  • An orange background with simulated phone screens showing how Philz Coffee's loyalty system works.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Philz Coffee
    Image attribution tooltip

    Philz Coffee launches points-based loyalty program

    Fresh off its acquisition by Freeman Spogli, the coffee brand is adding a new system meant to reward frequency and deepen consumer connections.

    By • Oct. 17, 2025
  • Four colorful drinks on a table.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Panera Bread
    Image attribution tooltip

    Panera Bread tests 4 premium drinks

    As QSRs eat into beverage occasions with refreshers, menu innovation could become an important defensive move for fast casual and coffee brands.

    By • Oct. 15, 2025
  • Sprouts employee restocking Heat & Meat meal offerings
    Image attribution tooltip
    Peyton Bigora/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Grocers continue to gain ground on restaurants, FMI survey finds

    Twenty-eight percent of shoppers said they buy deli-prepared foods from grocers as a replacement for going to a restaurant, up from 12% in 2017.

    By Sam Silverstein • Oct. 9, 2025
  • Toast for Hotel Restaurants
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Toast
    Image attribution tooltip

    Restaurants battered by inflation, turnover: report

    Improving profits and traffic are the main strategic goals for restaurant leaders in 2025, according to a Toast survey.

    By • Oct. 9, 2025
  • An image of a customer entering a Cava restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mario Tama via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Cava adds tiers, status matching to rewards program

    Consumers who can prove elite status in some other brands’ loyalty programs will be able to slot into the higher tiers of Cava’s system.

    By • Oct. 9, 2025
  • Domino's rebranded assets
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Domino's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Inside Domino’s first refresh in a decade — including its ‘cravemark’

    With younger consumers in mind, the pizza chain has a new look and sound, including an audio-visual expression voiced by singer Shaboozey.

    By Chris Kelly • Oct. 8, 2025
  • An image showing some of Dunkin's branding pasted on the side of a building.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Dunkin'
    Image attribution tooltip

    Dunkin’ changes its rewards redemptions, again

    A Restaurant Dive analysis of new discount rates shows the coffee chain has largely made it more expensive to redeem items.

    By • Oct. 6, 2025
  • A promotional image of one of Starbucks' AmazonGo Locations
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    Why mobile-order and pickup-only restaurants fail, according to experts

    Starbucks learned the hard way that customers care more about experience than efficiency. 

    By Michael Brady • Oct. 6, 2025
  • A car sits underneath Taco Bell's new drive-thru camera stations, which are decorated in neon signage
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Taco Bell Corp.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chick-fil-A wins on order accuracy, experience at the drive-thru

    QSR speed of service improved slightly, but mobile orders, app payments and customizations have created more complex transactions, Intouch Insight’s yearly drive-thru report revealed.

    By • Oct. 2, 2025
  • A photograph of a brick building with signage that says "Krystal"
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Krystal
    Image attribution tooltip

    Krystal launches first loyalty program

    Consumers will earn 10 points for every dollar spent, as the QSR brand looks to drive frequency and increase check.

    By • Oct. 1, 2025
  • A sandwich, a bag of chips, a coke, a red background.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Jimmy John's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Jimmy John’s moves to points-based rewards

    Switching from a surprise-and-delight program to JJ Rewards could help drive frequency and incentivize the chain’s most loyal guests.

    By • Sept. 29, 2025
  • Young people laughing together
    Image attribution tooltip

    iStock/ Monkey Business Images

    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by GS1 US

    Satisfying demanding diners: How global standards deliver trust on the plate

    Today’s guests expect faster service, top-quality food and seamless tech experiences — without compromising on cost or hospitality.

    Sept. 29, 2025
  • A burritio, chips, drink, side of queso and some salsas.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Moe's Southwest Grill
    Image attribution tooltip

    Moe’s Southwest Grill adds value meal for under $10

    The fast casual sector is facing value pressure from both directions, as QSRs cut combo prices and casual dining emphasizes holistic value.

    By • Sept. 24, 2025
  • An image of several food items on a table from First Watch's LTO menu with two people partially in view in the background
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by First Watch
    Image attribution tooltip

    Morning meal traffic grows as food spending stays high

    Protein-heavy items, the breakfast daypart and dishes without artificial colors are the big winners from H1 2025, according to a Circana report.

    By • Sept. 22, 2025
  • A photograph of a menu with Cracker Barrel branding
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Cracker Barrel forecasts 8% traffic drop from logo backlash

    The chain saw 5.4% same-store sales growth in the quarter, but its recent logo controversy derailed ongoing performance improvements.

    By • Sept. 18, 2025
  • Plates of breakfast food.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of IHOP
    Image attribution tooltip

    IHOP offers $6 value menu daily

    The breakfast chain could be looking to replicate sister brand Applebee’s success in using expanded value offerings to drive traffic.

    By • Sept. 15, 2025