Consumer Trends: Page 12


  • 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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    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 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
  • 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
  • A woman orders food in the touch screen terminal with electronic menu in fast food restaurant
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    frantic00/Shutterstock.com

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    Study: Gen Z diners visit restaurants less often than older demographics

    Pandemic pressure and higher menu prices driven by inflation have discouraged Gen Z from dining out, NPD Group finds.

    By Alicia Kelso • July 6, 2022
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    chameleonseye via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s franchisees ditch Dollar Drinks as inflation stings

    Some stores have dropped the long-standing beverage promotion and are marketing value meals instead, The Wall Street Journal reports.

    By July 5, 2022
  • A promotional image for Subway's new menu
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    Permission granted by Subway
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    Subway launches biggest menu update in its history

    A year after its Eat Fresh Refresh menu debut, the chain unveiled 12 signature subs that customers can order by name or number instead of customizing.

    By July 5, 2022
  • A help wanted sign is displayed at a boardwalk restaurant the day before the Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, in the shore community of Wildwood on May 28, 2021 in Wildwood, New J
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Survey: Most restaurants are still short-staffed even as demand recovers

    Thirty percent of restaurant owners said business has returned to pre-pandemic levels while 25% said it has surpassed them, per Popmenu. 

    By June 30, 2022