- Contents
- *Overview
- What you need to know
- Key issues covered in this Report
- Definition
- COVID-19: Market context
What you need to know
Burgers are a good opportunity for operators looking to drive traffic, especially in uncertain times. Not only are they popular with consumers on taste, as a means of flavor exploration and comfort, they solidly deliver on portability and customization, which allows operators to maintain and deliver on product integrity while facilitating off-premise operations. Still, there are challenges: product shortages, rising beef prices and supressed consumer spending mean operators must prove the value of their offerings through ongoing promotions and LTOs. Cost-effective menu innovation can help operators navigate these challenges, while durable, flavorful and unique ingredients can lend value and keep consumers engaged even at home.
Key issues covered in this Report
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The impact of COVID-19 on consumer behavior and the foodservice burger market
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How foodservice burgers will fare in a recession
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Burger menu trends and innovation opportunities
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Which innovations are driving the plant-based burger market forward
Definition
This Report covers burgers at both LSRs (limited-service restaurants) and FSRs (full-service restaurants). Burgers can refer to traditional beef burgers, non-beef meat burgers (eg turkey, bison, chicken burgers), and vegetarian or plant-based burgers (eg black bean, soy burgers). This Report focuses on both burger-specific restaurants (eg Wendy’s, Shake Shack, BurgerFi) and restaurants that sell burgers but are NOT burger-specific (eg Denny’s, Chili’s, Applebee’s). While burgers in retail are mentioned, retail burgers and packaged red meat are not the focus of this Report. This Report builds off of Burger Trends – US, April 2018.
COVID-19: Market context
The first COVID-19 case was confirmed in the US in January 2020. On March 11, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global health pandemic, and on March 13, President Trump declared a national emergency in the US.
Across the US, state-level stay-at-home orders rolled out throughout the months of March and April and remained in place through May, and in some cases June. During this time, referred to as lockdown, nonessential businesses and school districts across the nation closed or shifted to remote operations.
During reemergence, all 50 states have relaxed stay-at-home orders and allowed businesses to operate with varying levels of social distancing measures in place. This included reintroducing dine-in service both indoors and outdoors at limited capacity in most states. The continued spread of COVID-19 infections has driven some states to slow down or reverse course on reopening plans, such as major urban markets re-suspending or delaying indoor dining service. Mintel anticipates the US will remain in a state of flux through 2021, until a vaccine is available.
