Consumer Trends: Page 20
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Chipotle accused of shortchanging customers in lawsuit
A complaint claims the chain isn't providing proper change to diners, potentially costing consumers upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 24, 2020 -
US Foods joins growing list of ghost kitchen services to help with off-premise push
The foodservice distributor and ShiftPixy both recently launched resources for restaurants to streamline operations and market toward delivery.
By Rosie Bradbury • Aug. 21, 2020 -
Trendline
Top 5 stories from Restaurant Dive
Check out a selection of articles about some of the biggest trends — from the rise of dessert concepts to a cohort of Mexican chains trying to overtake Chipotle — shaping the restaurant industry in 2024.
By Restaurant Dive staff -
Pizza Hut creates chief equity officer role, launches antiracism initiative for educators
In the newly created position for Pizza Hut U.S., Chequan Lewis will be responsible for developing processes and implementing policies that will create a more equitable workplace culture.
By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 19, 2020 -
Drive-thru usage up 43% since April, study finds
But added volume can decrease speed of service, and 81% of consumers believe that waiting more than 10 minutes is too long, according to a Bluedot and SeeLevel HX survey.
By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 12, 2020 -
Florida restaurant workers can get back to work sooner after COVID-19 infections
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order last week stating that restaurant employees no longer need to prove two negative COVID-19 tests before returning to work.
By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 10, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Food distributors, restaurants reinvent business models in a scramble to survive
From wine bar to mini grocery store, from restaurant distribution to direct to consumer — food sector firms are pivoting operations to keep business flowing.
By Gary Wollenhaupt • Aug. 10, 2020 -
64% of diners say staff wearing PPE is most important when eating out, survey shows
Consumers say restaurant staff taking safety precautions is a higher priority to them than efforts to add hand sanitizer and single-use menus at tables, according to a Toast report.
By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 7, 2020 -
DoorDash launches new online convenience store DashMart
The company's venture, which marks its first foray into managing its own inventory, will offer around 2,000 grocery and restaurant items and delivery in as little as 30 minutes.
By Jessica Dumont • Aug. 6, 2020 -
45% of consumers less likely to order from Starbucks because of initial BLM policy, study finds
Nearly 21% of consumers said they will actively try to avoid buying from brands that restrict employees from expressing support for the movement, and 51% said they are less likely to buy from these companies, according to DealAid data.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Aug. 5, 2020 -
25% of diners place online orders multiple times a week, study shows
Twenty-seven percent of guests surveyed by Toast said they plan to order more takeout and 23% said they plan to order more delivery compared to before the novel coronavirus pandemic, suggesting online ordering demand will only grow.
By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 4, 2020 -
Wawa to open first freestanding drive-thru by year-end
As it prepares for a post-COVID-19 world, the convenience store known for its sub sandwiches expects to start selling combos and value meals at the new Pennsylvania location.
By Alicia Kelso • Aug. 3, 2020 -
47% of operators say moving to online ordering is their biggest challenge
This is particularly true for the majority of fine dining and upscale restaurants that didn't offer online ordering prior to the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to an Upserve survey.
By Alicia Kelso • July 30, 2020 -
Breakfast continues to drag McDonald's sales
Much like other QSRs, a lack of commuters significantly impacted McDonald's morning daypart, but the chain plans to invest in the growing segment coming out of the pandemic.
By Julie Littman • July 29, 2020 -
Major QSRs hiking delivery menu prices by over 15%
Chains like McDonald's, Starbucks and Chick-fil-A, which offer low-ticket items, are among those more likely to charge higher prices for items ordered via delivery, according to Gordon Haskett analysis.
By Alicia Kelso • July 28, 2020 -
McDonald's pauses dining room reopenings, will require diners to wear masks
The chain's new face covering requirement will be effective Aug. 1 in its nearly 14,000 U.S. restaurants, and its dining room reopening plans have been delayed to Aug. 23.
By Alicia Kelso • July 27, 2020 -
Black business owners discouraged from applying for PPP loans, study says
Roughly 75% of all PPP loans did not include any demographic information because that information was not provided by the borrowers, but 41% of Black-owned businesses shuttered operations between February and April.
By Sheryl Estrada , Emma Liem Beckett • July 24, 2020 -
Coronavirus exacerbates racial wage gap for tipped workers, report finds
Black women tipped workers make almost $5 less than white men tipped workers in the U.S, a One Fair Wage study shows.
By Emma Liem Beckett • July 24, 2020 -
Coronavirus has already shuttered 16K restaurants, Yelp says
As restaurants grapple with trying to stay in business, Yelp's latest data shows that in states like Florida and Texas, a 50% rise in consumer interest in dining out in May preceded COVID-19 outbreaks in June.
By Alicia Kelso • July 23, 2020 -
Danny Meyer's restaurant group eliminates no-tipping policy
Union Square Hospitality Group is moving away from its controversial "Hospitality Included" model amid the pandemic so employees have the chance to access extra compensation from diner tips.
By Alicia Kelso • July 21, 2020 -
81% of operators say third-party delivery helped prevent layoffs
Ninety-two percent of restaurants plan to continue working with third-party delivery services beyond the COVID-19 crisis, according to an Uber Eats/Technomic survey.
By Emma Liem Beckett • July 21, 2020 -
96% of restaurants require staff to wear masks
Restaurants are increasingly mandating employee temperature checks, requiring staff to wear gloves and installing plexiglass shields, says Black Box Intelligence, but these features can be costly while sales are down.
By Alicia Kelso • July 20, 2020 -
Gen Z wants brands to be 'fun,' 'authentic' and 'good,' study says
With high expectations for digital experiences, 82% of the cohort say they trust a company more if it uses images of real customers in its advertising.
By Robert Williams • July 13, 2020 -
California recloses all indoor dining
Restaurants can continue to offer outdoor dining, takeout and delivery, but brewpubs, bars and breweries must cease all operations.
By Emma Liem Beckett • Updated July 14, 2020 -
Starbucks leads in forging emotional connections among fast food brands, study says
The impact of positive emotions on performance has been mixed during a crisis that's delivered an unprecedented hit to restaurants.
By Dianna Christie • July 10, 2020 -
53% of restaurants closed amid coronavirus have shuttered permanently, Yelp data shows
In early June, the number of diners seated across Waitlist and Yelp Reservations was down 57% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
By Alicia Kelso • July 6, 2020