prices

Consumer Trends

Value remains a top priority for restaurant customers, finds Yelp

Searches for "cheap eats" and "meal deals" have spiked this year, according to the platform’s 2025 State of the Restaurant Industry Report.

Operations

Sweetgreen's not-so-secret weapon in light of a potential $30 minimum wage

Labor costs are expected to continue to rise across the industry. But the fast casual's CEO Jonathan Neman sees room for 1,000 Sweetgreens domestically, tapping technology that he says will help beat competitors on price.

The fast-casual chain on Tuesday dropped prices and simplified the menu in an overhaul designed to drive traffic. CEO Mike Burns said it was time to stop nickel and diming guests.

The slowdown in consumer spending is to blame for negative same-store sales in the first quarter for the fast-casual chain. But outside data indicates Chipotle may have a value perception problem too.

The move by the diner chain comes as egg prices continue to skyrocket due to a nationwide shortage caused by avian flu.

Food away from home prices grew at less than half the rate as grocery prices. Egg prices took off in January.

The spread of avian flu is creating an egg shortage that has spiked prices. Restaurant operators are struggling to cope with higher costs.

Price increases at restaurant chains slowed to 1.41% in the fourth quarter, according to Technomic, as the industry shifted to a more normalized rate of inflation.

Consumer confidence, value and West Coast wildfires were on restaurants’ minds at the annual investor conference in Orlando this week.

Consumer confidence is improving and other economic indicators are trending up, operators said at this year’s ICR conference. But traffic remains a challenge.

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