Report Summary
This report provides comprehensive and current information and analysis of trends in foodservice including Foodservice market size, anticipated market forecast, relevant market segmentation, and industry trends for the Foodservice market in the US.
Current market landscape
Consumers are eager to dive into a variety of food experiences in 2022, including cooking more at home and dining out. The pent-up demand for dining out has left consumers wanting new and unique offerings from restaurants through flavors, dishes, and experiences. Many want to use restaurants as a way to socialize, and operators that are able to create space at the table for interaction, celebration, and indulgence will win consumers’ loyalty.
The foodservice industry continues to battle several pandemic-related headwinds that will determine its future. Due to the US labor crisis and supply chain issues, restaurants are struggling to provide pre-pandemic levels of service. Inflation and the emergence of COVID-19 variants continue to add uncertainty to restaurant visitation. Still, the industry is showing signs of recovery, and Mintel estimates foodservice revenues will continue to grow over the next five years.
Future market trends in the future of the foodservice industry
While the explosive growth of takeout, delivery, and online access to restaurants has been crucial for operators’ survival, it also poses a challenge. Operators now need to maintain a balance between serving both off-premise and on-premise consumers. To that end, new and innovative physical layouts are enabling restaurants to operate more efficiently. Automation is also helping curate the best dining experience for consumers, whether they choose to dine in or enjoy meals at home.
The foodservice industry is increasingly becoming accessible online, and operators are finding new ways to connect with their consumers in the online space. Restaurants are evolving to meet consumers where they are and enabling them to enjoy not just food and service, but also apparel, cookware, experiences, and more.
Read on to discover more about the future of foodservice, read our US Foodservice Alcohol Trends Market Report 2021, or take a look at our other Drinking Trends and General Alcohol Market research reports.
Quickly understand
- The impact of COVID-19 on consumer behavior and the foodservice market.
- The foodservice industry’s move towards off-premise and digital experiences.
- Restaurant visitation drivers and deterrents and expected consumer behavior in 2022.
Covered in this report
Brands include: McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Panera Bread, Shake Shack, Blaze Pizza, Starbucks, Dutch Bros Coffee, First Watch, Krispy Kreme, Portillo’s, Sweetgreen, The Capital Grille, Morton’s Steakhouse, Dunkin’, Applebee’s, Olive Garden, Popeye’s, Little Goat Diner, P.F. Chang’s, IHOP, Denny’s, Carl’s Jr.
Expert analysis from a specialist in the field
This report, written by Varchasvi, a leading analyst in the Foodservice sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends and add expert context to the numbers.
The foodservice industry has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, but also saw operators rapidly evolve to serve changed consumer needs related to value, safety, and convenience. Even amid continued labor, supply, and inflation challenges, the foodservice industry is beginning to recover. After accelerating technological advancements that make digital restaurant engagement possible, operators now face the challenge of serving a consumer base that is eager to return to dining and is hungry for new and unique experiences designed to foster connection, socialization, and celebration.
Varchasvi
Analyst, US Foodservice and Mintel Menu Insights
Table of Contents
-
Overview
- What you need to know
- This Report looks at the following areas
- Definition
- Market context
- COVID-19: US context
- Economic and other assumptions
- What you need to know
-
Executive Summary
-
- Top takeaways
- Market overview
- Figure 1: Total US revenues and forecast of full-service restaurants and limited-service eating places*, at current prices, 2016-26
-
- Figure 2: Market share of total US sales and forecast of restaurants and eating places*, by segment, 2020-26
- Impact of COVID-19 on foodservice
- Figure 3: Short-, medium- and long-term impact of COVID-19 on foodservice, December 2021
- Opportunities and challenges
- Disruptive restaurant technology can aid restaurants in battling the labor crisis
- Figure 4: Quit levels, accommodation and foodservices, 2020-21
- Consumers eager to return to dining out, a positive sign especially for FSRs
- Figure 5: Restaurant visitation, 2020-2021
- Active marketing and engagement will be crucial to maintaining consumer interest
- Figure 6: Foodservice plans for 2022, 2021
- Unique experiences, socialization among key drivers of restaurant visitation in 2022
- Figure 7: Dine-in motivators, 2021
- Operational changes to foodservice catering are key to increasing consumer comfort and confidence
- Figure 8: Foodservice Attitudes, 2021
-
-
The Market – Key Takeaways
- Foodservice continues to face headwinds due to the pandemic
- FSRs to begin a slow journey to recovery
- Consumer interest in off-premise drives further operator improvements, expansion
- Foodservice continues to face headwinds due to the pandemic
-
Market Size and Forecast
-
- Foodservice continues to battle headwinds that compromise recovery
- Figure 9: Total US revenues and forecast of full-service restaurants and limited-service eating places*, at current prices, 2016-26
- Figure 10: Total US Revenues and forecast of full-service restaurants and limited-service eating places*, at current prices, 2016-26
-
-
Market Breakdown
- Strong off-premise services enable LSRs’ growth
- Figure 11: Total US sales and forecast of restaurants and eating places, by segment, at current prices, 2016-26
- Figure 12: Market share of total US sales and forecast of restaurants and eating places*, by segment, 2020-26
- Strong off-premise services enable LSRs’ growth
-
Market Factors
- Covid-19 variants compromise foodservice industry’s recovery
- Figure 13: Dining out comfort level, 2021
- Hiring remains a challenge for restaurants
- Figure 14: Quit levels, accommodation and foodservices, 2020-21
- Restaurants plan 2022 growth through IPOs and franchising
- Streamlined menus, takeout and delivery to remain strong
- Covid-19 variants compromise foodservice industry’s recovery
-
Companies and Brands – Key Takeaways
- Foodservice operators are evolving into lifestyle brands
- The digital restaurant is here to stay
- Foodservice operators are evolving into lifestyle brands
-
Competitive Strategies
- Balancing digital with on-premise
- Enhancing cultural footprints by evolving into lifestyle brands
- Packaged foods and cookware
- Apparel and Accessories
- Unique Experiences
- Digitizing catering to serve changed consumer needs
- Balancing digital with on-premise
-
Market Opportunities
- Subscription programs hugely popular, key to consistent traffic through winter
- Expand off-premise presence through virtual brands
- Subscription programs hugely popular, key to consistent traffic through winter
-
The Consumer – Key Takeaways
- Consumers are hungry for socializing and dining experiences
- Delivering on value is crucial to encourage Gen Zs to spend on dining out
- Millennials, parents want comfort foods and a break from cooking
- Consumers are hungry for socializing and dining experiences
-
Restaurant Visitation
- FSRs recovering as consumers return to dining out
- Figure 15: Restaurant visitation, August 2020-2021
- FSRs recovering as consumers return to dining out
-
Anticipated Dine-in Frequency
- Four in 10 diners hope to increase on-premise dining in 2022
- Figure 16: Anticipated dine-in frequency in 2022, 2021
- Four in 10 diners hope to increase on-premise dining in 2022
-
Dine-in Motivators
- Need for socializing and indulging will drive dine-in frequency
- Figure 17: Dine-in motivators, 2021
- Parents are interested in experimenting, while non-parents will enjoy indulgence on a budget
- Figure 18: Dine-in motivators, by parental status, 2021
- Married couples will spend on travel
- Figure 19: Dine-in motivators, by marital status, 2021
- Need for socializing and indulging will drive dine-in frequency
-
Dine-in Deterrents
- COVID-19 continues to deter consumers from dining
- Increased grocery and foodservice prices force consumers to curb discretionary spending
- Figure 20: Dine-in detractors, 2021
- COVID-19 continues to deter consumers from dining
-
Important Dining Out Factors
- Consumers continue to prioritize value, experiences
- Figure 21: Important dining out factors, 2021
- Gen X want value, while Millennials and Gen Z want an indulgent experience on the go
- Figure 22: Important dining out factors, by generation, 2021
- Safety and healthy options more important to women
- Figure 23: Important dining out factors, by gender, 2021
- Consumers continue to prioritize value, experiences
-
Foodservice Plans for 2022
- Delight pandemic-fatigued consumers with new offerings
- Figure 24: Foodservice plans for 2022, 2021
- Restaurant-branded meal kits that draw on multicultural flavors will resonate with Black consumers
- Figure 25: Foodservice plans for 2022, by race, 2021
- Gen Zs are most likely to curb spending on foodservice in 2022
- Figure 26: Foodservice plans for 2022, Generation Z, 2021
-
- Figure 27: Foodservice plans for 2022, Generation Z, 2021
- Delight pandemic-fatigued consumers with new offerings
-
Foodservice Attitudes
- Parents are eager for a break from cooking
- Figure 28: Foodservice attitudes, by parental status, August 2021
- Parents are eager for a break from cooking
-
Catering Attitudes and Interest
- Consumers look to grocery stores for at-home celebrations, restaurants for others
- Figure 29: Anticipated work situation in 2022, 2021
- Foodservice catering must visibly demonstrate safety
- Figure 30: Foodservice attitudes, 2021
-
- Figure 31: Catering attitudes, by location, 2021
- Consumers look to grocery stores for at-home celebrations, restaurants for others
-
Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
- Data sources
- Sales data
- Forecast
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Data sources
-
Appendix – The Market
-
- Figure 32: Total US revenues and forecast of full-service restaurants and limited-service eating places*, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2016-26
- Figure 33: Total US revenues and forecast of full-service restaurants, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2016-26
- Figure 34: Total US revenues and forecast of limited-service eating places*, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2016-26
-
About the report
This market report provides in-depth analysis and insight supported by a range of data. At the same time, introductory and top-level content is provided to give you an overview of the issues covered.
Market
Mintel provides a range of market information, frequently through the category level, including market size and forecasting, complete with market drivers that illustrate the forces that shape a category or market.
Consumer
Mintel’s proprietary consumer research provides our analysts with the attitudinal and behavioral data used to provide valuable insight to topical issues.
Brand/Company
Mintel provides overviews of the top brands and manufacturers, and uses consumer research to explore attitudes and reactions to brands, as well as insight into what will resonate with consumers.
Data
Market reports provide appendices of data to support the research and insight produced. Our databooks* are easily manipulated and downloadable to support your research needs and covers factors from consumer attitudes to market forecasts.
*databooks not available with UK B2B Industry reports.
Below is a sample report, understand what you are buying.
Please Note: This is a sample report. All of the figures, graphs, and tables have been redacted. Our reports are available to download in PDF and PPT formats.
Trusted by companies. Big and small.
