Industry Forecast Reveals Major Shifts in Restaurant Menus and Consumer Taste Preferences

Key points

• Global comfort foods featuring bold spice blends from North Africa and East Asia are expanding onto mainstream menus.
• Functional beverages and zero-proof drinks are driving higher profit margins during non-peak afternoon hours.
• Operators are relying on ingredient cross-utilization to reduce labor costs and streamline kitchen inventory.
• The line between grocery prepared foods and quick-service dining continues to blur across all market segments.

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Sources and methodology

Reported from the public datasets below.

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - Consumer Price Index, food away from home
• Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) - Food services and drinking places series
• U.S. Census Bureau - Monthly Retail Trade, food services

All sources Foodie Pundit reports from

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