Consumer Trends: Page 3

  • An image of the interior of a Dirty Dough location.
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    Courtesy of Craveworthy Brands
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    Craveworthy Brands buys major stake in Dirty Dough Cookies

    This deal marks Craveworthy’s first investment in a snack brand, and reflects growing restaurant interest in concepts and menus that target diner spending between traditional dayparts. 

    By • Jan. 24, 2024
  • Interior of a grocery store
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    Catherine Douglas Moran/Restaurant Dive
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    Inside the store: Wegmans’ foodservice paradise in Manhattan

    The grocer’s first Manhattan location devotes nearly an entire floor to “restaurant foods selections” including fresh sushi, pizza and poke bowls.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Jan. 24, 2024
  • An image of a waitress serving three people at a table. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from Restaurant Dive

    Check out a selection of articles about some of the biggest trends — from personalized loyalty programs to a growing catering boom — shaping the restaurant industry during the first half of 2024.

    By Restaurant Dive staff
  • Two flags flown by fast food workers demonstrating in support of AB 257.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    California’s $20 fast food wage poses risk and reward, execs say at ICR

    Operational changes, value offerings and pricing are key tools in preserving traditional margins as wages rise, leadership from major chains shared. 

    By • Jan. 23, 2024
  • An image of an indoor mini golf course with neon lighting
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    Permission granted by Puttshack
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    How Puttshack and Pinstripes sustain AUVs over $8M

    At the ICR Conference in Orlando, Florida, company executives discussed how post-pandemic consumer trends are driving traffic in the eatertainment space.

    By • Jan. 22, 2024
  • Photo of a young woman in a kitchen during a cooking class, preparing bruschetta
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    AleksandarNakic via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Tock

    Unique dining experiences are the secret sauce to your restaurant’s success

    Reconsider dining ‘experiences' as a unique value-add that’s different from everyday service.

    Jan. 22, 2024
  • An image of the bar at Marriott's Ritz-Carlton Portland
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    Retrieved from Ritz-Carlton on January 16, 2024
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    3 trends that will shape hotel restaurants in 2024

    Gone are the days of “Cheesecake Factory”-size menus as hotels prioritize a la carte and plant-forward food and beverage options, according to Marriott International’s senior director of culinary for the U.S. and Canada.

    By Jenna Walters • Jan. 18, 2024
  • A rendering of a Mr. Gatti's pizza franchise with a c-store.
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    Courtesy of Mr. Gatti's Pizza
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    Mr. Gatti’s Pizza develops c-store franchise model

    The pizza chain will initially focus on expanding in Texas and the Southeast, with plans to eventually target the Southwest and Midwest, as well.

    By Jessica Loder • Jan. 16, 2024
  • Woman standing behind counter and cash register serves ice cream cone.
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    Permission granted by Lynne Marek
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    Will Toast raise prices this year?

    The restaurant point-of-sale provider may give clients a choice when it makes price adjustments, following a fee flub last year.

    By Caitlin Mullen • Jan. 12, 2024
  • An in-store bar.
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    Retrieved from Maizano on November 27, 2023
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    Deep Dive

    7 restaurant industry trends to watch in 2024

    Development costs will remain high and service fees could frustrate diners, but personalized offers and labor-saving tech may give brands an edge.

    By , , • Jan. 10, 2024
  • A promotional image for Taco Bell's new vegetarian combo deal.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell expands value menu

    In a bid to boost value and increase digital engagement, Taco Bell is adding six value items and a veggie combo.

    By • Jan. 8, 2024
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    LeoPatrizi via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Personalization will rule restaurant loyalty programs in 2024

    Major chains are using real-time consumer data and artificial intelligence to provide more personalized perks, which may grow engagement even as diners’ emotional attachment to brands dips. 

    By Danielle McLean • Jan. 4, 2024
  • A Starbucks worker pours a beverage into a cup meant to represent a customer's personal drinkware.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks will accept diners’ personal mugs for drive-thru, app orders

    The chain has implemented new equipment and standardized its process for fulfilling personal cup orders following a 200 drive-thru-store test last year. 

    By • Jan. 3, 2024
  • Chipotle logo recreated in Strava app
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Chipotle curates workouts on Strava to support New Year’s resolutions

    Fitness enthusiasts can run or walk various route segments on Strava that end at Chipotle restaurants for a chance to win free Lifestyle Bowls.

    By Aaron Baar • Jan. 2, 2024
  • a Burger King burger and a person's face being scanned by facial recognition tech
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    Retrieved from Burger King Brazil on December 21, 2023
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    Burger King turns hangovers into discounts with facial recognition

    In the tradition of its “Whopper Detour” and “Burn that Ad” campaigns, the chain’s latest stunt uses mobile technology to drive engagement.

    By Chris Kelly • Dec. 21, 2023
  • 7-Eleven
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    Retrieved from 7-Eleven.
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    How c-stores are using food, merch and more to boost holiday traffic

    Whether it’s festive coffees, ugly sweaters or even a seasonally themed pic from Wally’s photo booth, c-stores are taking a variety of approaches to engaging customers.

    By Christine Blank • Dec. 19, 2023
  • An image of a customer entering a Cava restaurant.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Cava is bolstering customization through catering, loyalty strategy

    The Mediterranean chain is testing restaurant models with expanded kitchen space to support catering and a new, bankable points rewards program to deepen engagement, said CEO Brett Schulman.

    By • Dec. 14, 2023
  • An image of CosMc's Berry Hibiscus Sour-Ade beverage
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    Permission granted by McDonald's
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    CosMc’s service model, pricing unlikely to hurt Starbucks, analysts say

    The concept’s drinks and snacks are similar to Starbucks and Dutch Bros’ offerings, but CosMc’s comparative discount may not make up for a “lack of human interaction,” per a William Blair report.

    By • Dec. 12, 2023
  • An image of six people at a table in a restaurant wearing Santa hats
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    SolStock via Getty Images
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    NRA: 63% of adults plan to eat out during holidays

    Millennials are the top demographic to visit restaurants during the holidays as a way to avoid crowded grocery stores, per a National Restaurant Association survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults. 

    By • Dec. 8, 2023
  • Two hands holding up gift cards from Cheesecake Factory
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    Courtesy of The Cheesecake Factory
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    Restaurant gift card sales rose during Thanksgiving holiday weekend

    Guests spent 7.3% more on restaurant gift cards during the Thanksgiving weekend compared to the same period in 2022, per Paytronix data. 

    By • Dec. 4, 2023
  • Happy friends cheering for their team while watching sports game on TV in a bar.
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    Drazen Zigic via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS

    Make your restaurant the entertainment go-to place with DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS

    Ensure your restaurant is set up to keep your guests coming back week after week, season after season.

    Dec. 4, 2023
  • Influencer Kerwin Frost poses with McDonald's Happy Meal
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s reinvents McNugget Buddies for streetwear-minded adults

    For its latest nostalgia play, the chain teamed with multifaceted artist and influencer Kerwin Frost to put a new spin on the iconic collectibles.

    By Chris Kelly • Nov. 30, 2023
  • An image of a waitress serving three people at a table.
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    3 ways restaurants can drive traffic in 2024

    Operators are reaching a price hike ceiling as diners worry about their spending, but deep discounts can hurt margins, making it tricky to offer meaningful value, Deutsche Bank analyst Lauren Silberman said at RFDC.

    By • Nov. 28, 2023
  • A photo of meatloaf from Travel Center's of America's dinner menu.
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    Permission granted by TravelCenters of America
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    Can c-stores become dinner destinations?

    While the industry is better known for beverages and snacks, a growing emphasis on meals can open big opportunities for retailers with the right offers.

    By Jessica Loder • Nov. 28, 2023
  • Four Starbucks cold coffees topped with holiday themed cold foams.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks adds 4 holiday cold foam flavors

    Starbucks’ new holiday cold foam could help drive year-round consumption of cold coffee, even as customization strains store-level labor.

    By • Updated Nov. 29, 2023
  • A smiling female barista hands two warm takeout coffee cups to a waiting customer.
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    Maksym Belchenko via Getty Images
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    Coffee, tea QSRs report traffic bump from return to office

    Category operators opened 3,500 new units as of March 2023 compared to March 2022 following a spike in consumer demand, according to Circana data.

    By • Nov. 27, 2023