Restaurant trends on a platter—a preview of spending + tipping attitudes

First it was the pandemic, then the recovery, then inflation. Now… what’s next?

To stay ahead in the restaurant industry, you need to know what customers are thinking and what their expectations are before it affects your business.

Our latest restaurant trends report is a crystal ball into recent activity and future trajectories for customer behavior around spending + tipping that can help you plan and strategize for what’s coming.

So, what’s bubbling up for restaurants?

Trend #1: A shift in restaurant spending

There’s been a compelling shift in how consumers are spending at restaurants. Nearly 80% of consumers who spent less in the last six months cited that they did so because they were eating more at home. Yet, a different story unfolds for those spending more, because while 56% pointed out they’ve been spending more because of rising prices, an encouraging 50% report dining out more frequently. This data paints a multifaced picture of customer behavior, revealing both challenges and opportunities for brands.

Trend #2: Spending plans for 2024

How can you plan for what your customers might be planning for 2024? Unfortunately, 44% of consumers plan to tighten their belts on restaurant spending over the next year. However, this is still better than the 54% who anticipated spending less at the same time last year. When combined with recent historical trends, a complex dance of consumer sentiment + economic forces emerges. Applying CX insights to understand the motivations behind these trends is key to effective planning and positioning.

Looking deeper: Customer insights on prices + tipping

This isn’t the last course we have to feed your brain. Because your customer is the best source of guidance, our full report dives deeper into how you can respond—exploring suggestions customers have for you to address rising costs. We’ve also dug into customer reactions to the recent expansion of tipping options in the QSR space. What do customers think, and are they participating?

Are you ready to empower your brand to think proactively about the coming year? The full report is just a click away—discover the insights and strategies that will keep customers coming back whatever happens.