Making sure a dish is delicious and craveable is only a small part of the equation. Here’s a look at what menu-making teams need to consider today, based on insights from Technomic's Generational Consumer Trend Report.
About two-thirds of Gen Zers and millennials say they follow foodservice via social media sites. Millennials’ preferred sites are Facebook and Twitter, while younger diners favor Instagram, Snapchat and Tumblr.
Social responsibility—for example, sourcing of ingredients and fair treatment of animals—is equally important to Gen Xers, millennials and Gen Zers, though the younger two are most likely to cite sustainability as a driver.
More than any other group, Gen Z is drawn to brands offering healthy options, but definitions of health differ. Younger generations view “natural” and “organic” as healthy, compared to older diners who value “low-sodium” and “trans-fat-free.”
Of all the food consumers order from restaurants, only 46% is for dine-in consumption; 38% is for takeout and 16% is for delivery. Millennials lead takeout orders and tie with Gen Zers for above-average reliance on delivery.
The Bottom Line: This week’s edition of the weekly restaurant finance newsletter looks at the growing number of bankruptcy filings by multi-unit franchisees.
The restaurant chain operator is closing 68 corporate locations, including up to 50 of its take-and-bake pizza chain, amid a choppy consumer environment.
Taste Tracker: Luckin Coffee, Juice It Up, Just Salad, Dunkin’, Dutch Bros, Gong cha, Jack in the Box, Moe’s, Gott’s Roadside, Burton’s Grill & Bar, Fuzzy’s, and Go Greek Yogurt headline restaurant menu news and trends.
