Consumer Trends: Page 13

  • Four McDonald's figurines designed by Cactus Plant Flea Market encircle a Happy Meal placed on a red table against a sky-blue backdrop.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by McDonald's USA
    Image attribution tooltip

    Deja vu? McDonald’s adult Happy Meals raise specter of past promos run awry

    Kotaku pointed to posts from overwhelmed employees on Reddit and TikTok, while a budding resale market underpins strong demand for the meals.

    By Peter Adams • Updated Oct. 10, 2022
  • A woman sitting at a table using her phone as a calculator. On the table there are financial charts.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Hispanistic via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    Why ‘tipping fatigue’ isn’t impacting restaurant servers the way you’d think it is

    Diner tips were 9.9% higher in Q2 2022 compared to the year-ago period, and digital payments hold opportunity for robust gratuity, says Kelly Esten, SVP & GM of enterprise at Toast. 

    By Kelly Esten • Oct. 5, 2022
  • A photograph of chefs in a kitchen. Explore the Trendline➔
    Image attribution tooltip
    sam edwards via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    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 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Square
    Image attribution tooltip
    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.

    Oct. 3, 2022
  • Starbucks sustainable cups
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    Report: Starbucks’ smaller formats report higher traffic counts

    The chain’s smaller units drove 15% more visits per square foot in the past year compared to larger units, Placer.ai finds. 

    By Alicia Kelso • Sept. 30, 2022
  • A picture of a woman holding up a credit card in front of a laptop.
    Image attribution tooltip
    wichayada suwanachun via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    DoorDash to offer first credit card via Chase, Mastercard

    Co-branded cards have been proven to increase customer frequency, which could also deepen loyalty. 

    By • Sept. 27, 2022
  • An image of various pumpkins in green, white, orange and various sizes.
    Image attribution tooltip
    IvanMikhaylov via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Report: Pumpkin-flavored menu items flood restaurants

    In the last 30 days, SpotOn’s restaurant clients have added nearly 2,000 pumpkin-flavored menu items, 40% of which are pumpkin-flavored beers.

    By • Sept. 26, 2022
  • 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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Square
    Image attribution tooltip
    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)
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Atlas Restaurant Group
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • Dunkin's digital store
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Dunkin'
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Square
    Image attribution tooltip
    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of White Caslte
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Au Bon Pain
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Starbucks
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Baja Fresh
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Rubio's Coastal Grill
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Burger King
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by IHOP
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • Image attribution tooltip
    yaoinlove via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    kali9 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    pilipphoto via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Hispanistic via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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