Food & Inventory Costs Cited as the
#1 Source of Financial Strain

Like last year, this year’s restaurant research revealed that food costs continue to eat into restaurants’ profits. More than a quarter (26%) of respondents said that food costs have been their biggest source of financial strain this year and 18% reported that higher food costs were the number one obstacle to growing their business right now.

Operators Report a 33% Increase in Off-Premise Sales

Even during a time of high inflation, one of the most notable restaurant trends uncovered in our restaurant industry report is that FSRs experienced a noticeable bump in takeout and delivery sales. A whopping 82% of operators surveyed reported seeing an increase in takeout and delivery sales compared to last year.

And among those who said they had experienced an increase, operators reported that off-premise sales increased by an impressive 33% on average. In other words, even during a period of high inflation, takeout and delivery has become a habit that consumers simply aren’t going to break and it’s likely to remain one of the biggest restaurant trends in 2025.

More Productive Staff Cited As the #1 Benefit of Automation

While restaurateurs used to take a more cautious approach to new technology, FSRs today appear to be embracing automation with open arms. About half of the operators surveyed reported automating everyday business operations, with online ordering being the most common automation, followed by invoicing and email marketing. Though certainly one of the biggest trends in restaurants right now, automation is also delivering tangible benefits for operators. Virtually all operators report seeing some benefits from automation, with 42% reporting more productive staff, 41% reporting an increase in sales, and 40% reporting business growth.