What you need to know
Dining out is a nearly ubiquitous consumer activity; in a typical three-month period, nine in 10 consumers visit a quick-service or full-service restaurant. Yet the industry is facing an existential crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic ripple effects.
It is therefore necessary to not only assess the damage of the current crisis, but to understand consumers’ dining out behaviours overall. If restaurants hope to rebound from these unprecedented times, they will need to be more strategic than ever, using consumer insights to inform their tactical decisions and bring diners back to the struggling industry.
Overall, the analysis in this Report shows how difficult the current restaurant landscape is and some of the underlying reasons for its vulnerabilities. It also focuses on consumer behaviours and attitudes that will uncover opportunities for businesses to evolve and be more relevant in the future. Restaurants were among the first to close and the last to reopen, but the comfort and familiarity they offer guests can be an impactful experience amid this global crisis.
Key issues covered in this Report
The impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry.
QSR and FSR usage, leading brands and leading decision factors when choosing a restaurant.
Assessing QSR and FSR opportunities and vulnerabilities based on their typical daypart traffic.
Looking ahead to understand what role technology, environmentalism and plant-based meats can play in the future of dining out.
This Report was written from June 20-July 20, 2020. Consumer research was fielded March 26-April 1, 2020, and reflects consumer behaviour during the three months leading up to that field date (ie January-March).
Definition
This Report covers dining out at restaurants and uses the following definitions of these terms:
QSRs: quick-service restaurants that focus on speed and convenience. Typically involve ordering and picking up food from a designated counter area, without table service. Includes fast casual restaurants that deliver meals to tables, but do not designate a server to a party. Bills are usually paid up front.
FSRs: full-service restaurants that offer sit-down table service, typically including servers assigned to parties. Bills are usually paid at the end of the meal.
