Understand where consumers are at, and where they want to go with foodservice in 2024 and beyond. This report enables laser-focused insight into exactly what your customers want, from their perspective, while providing a look into market projections.
Key Topics Covered
- Consumers’ dining needs and priorities in 2024.
- Diners’ comfort level with restaurant technologies.
- Restaurant dining as self-care and indulgence.
- Considerations when ordering for various occasions.
- Attitudes towards value and convenience in foodservice.
US Foodservice Market Trajectory
The foodservice industry saw supply, labor, and real estate challenges in 2023, pushing up the cost of menu items even as inflation relaxed. However, the industry has been protected by enthusiastic consumers: total foodservice industry revenue is estimated to have grown 9.5%. As restaurant industry players test emerging technologies, overall customer experience will become more personalized and efficient, driving steady growth over the next few years.
Insights into the Foodservice Consumer
Diners are prioritizing a sense of new experience in 2024. They’re also looking to treat themselves (57%), and although a healthy financial situation encourages dining out, it doesn’t stop those who are more financially constrained. Consumers want to be able to enjoy themselves and feel good in 2024.
Given the advent of new technologies, restaurants are adapting quickly. Overall, consumers welcome technology in the dining experience, leaning toward convenience. However, the application of such technologies must be clear. And, while newer technologies such as drone delivery are not implemented yet, the basics such as tablet payments and kiosks are key for a frictionless dining experience.
Gain forward-looking insight into the future of foodservice with this in-depth report. You can also browse our foodservice market research.
Expert Analysis from a Foodservice Industry Specialist
Leading foodservice industry analyst Varchasvi delivers expert insight into what consumers want from restaurants now and in the future.
Diners have proved resilient over a year of menu price increases, and are looking forward to novel dining experiences from the restaurant itself and on the menu.
Varchasvi
Foodservice Analyst
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Executive Summary
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Consumer Insights
- Restaurant ordering
- Graph 1: restaurant ordering, 2024
- Restaurant ordering in 2024
- Graph 2: anticipated ordering frequency in the next year – dining in, 2024
- Graph 3: anticipated ordering frequency in the next year – ordering takeout/delivery, 2024
- Graph 4: reasons for dining out more often in the next year, 2024
- Graph 5: reasons for cutting back on dining in the next year, 2024
- Considerations when dining out
- Graph 6: important dining attributes by occasion, 2024
- Restaurant technology
- Graph 7: restaurant technology usage and interest, 2024
- Graph 8: restaurant technology usage. 2024
- Graph 9: interest in restaurant technologies – Generation X and older, 2024
- Graph 10: interest in restaurant technologies – Millennials, 2024
- New concept interest
- Graph 11: interest in menu items and concepts, 2024
- Graph 12: interest in menu items and concepts, by parental status and gender, 2024
- Graph 13: interest in menu items and concepts, 2024
- Dining behaviors
- Graph 14: restaurant ordering behaviors, 2024
- Graph 15: restaurant ordering behaviors, by parental status, 2024
- Graph 16: restaurant ordering behaviors, by generation, 2024
- Dining attitudes
- Graph 17: restaurant ordering attitudes, 2024
- Graph 18: attitudes, by generation, 2023
- Graph 19: attitudes, by parental status and gender, 2024
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Competitive Strategies
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The Market
- Market context
- Market drivers
- Graph 20: consumer sentiment index, 2022-23
- Market size and forecast
- Market segmentation
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Appendix
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