Top Restaurant Trends 2023

The evolution of restaurant practices points to the integration of labor, technology, marketing, and culinary emerging trends. Delivery services, sustainability, and eco-friendly food packaging have become crucial components of the restaurant ecosystem, making them the principal restaurant trends. Many restaurants are turning to QR menus, delivery drones, and more restaurant automation. With so many changes taking place, it's essential to monitor restaurant trends to stay competitive and provide a better experience for customers

Restaurant Trends - Labor

The restaurant industry is poised to face various labor shifts that will significantly impact the restaurant industry in 2023-2025. That means restaurants have to plan ahead and prepare for the changes.

• Automation is expected to continue to increase within restaurant trends, with robots taking on more of the tasks that traditionally were done by human employees. This will increase efficiency and cost savings for restaurants while also allowing them to maintain higher levels of cleanliness and safety.
• A tipped wage increase is expected in the restaurant industry as the minimum wage continues to rise. This will provide restaurant workers with better pay and job security while also increasing the costs.

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Restaurant Trends - Technology

With the advancements in technology, the restaurant industry is projected to grow significantly in 2023 - 2024, with a focus on trends such as augmented reality (AR) and QR code use:

• Augmented reality (AR) provides customers with a virtual experience of the restaurant, allowing them to easily customize their orders and virtually explore the menu before deciding what to order.
• QR codes are great for providing customers with a contactless ordering and payment experience. QR codes also allow customers to scan for digital menus, order food and beverages, and redeem rewards and discounts. These codes avail an effective way for restaurants to streamline the customer experience and reduce wait times.
• Digital and mobile ordering and rewards programs are growing massively, as customers now prefer to order ahead of time and take advantage of discounts and rewards.
• Furthermore, more restaurants are turning to AI-powered chatbots to provide customers with personalized assistance.

All of these new trends are set to revolutionize the restaurant industry in the next few years. Learn about all these trends and the use QR code menus for restaurants and stay miles ahead of the competition.

Restaurant Trends - Supply Chain

The restaurant industry is constantly evolving, and supply chain trends are no exception! the adoption of vendor-supplier portals is becoming increasingly common in the restaurant industry trends. Vendor-supplier portals offer several benefits for restaurants. Here are some of them:

1. Streamlined communication: A vendor-supplier portal can provide a centralized platform for communication between restaurants and their suppliers. This can streamline communication and reduce the risk of miscommunication or delays in placing orders or receiving deliveries.
2. Simplified ordering process: A vendor-supplier portal can allow restaurants to place orders easily and quickly. This can reduce the time and effort required to manage orders, freeing up staff to focus on other tasks.
3. Improved inventory management: A vendor-supplier portal can provide real-time inventory updates and order tracking. This can help restaurants better manage their inventory and avoid stockouts or overstocking.
4. Cost savings: By streamlining communication and simplifying the ordering process, vendor-supplier portals can help reduce administrative costs associated with managing suppliers.
5. Increased transparency: A vendor-supplier portal can provide visibility into pricing, delivery schedules, and order history. This can help restaurants make more informed decisions about their suppliers and ensure they are getting the best value.

Learn more about fulfillment web portals that allow your restaurant stores to get all your branded merchandise, custom products, and supplies from your custom web portal.

Restaurant Trends - Marketing

Restaurants must adjust their traditional and digital marketing strategies to keep up with the emerging restaurant trends 

• User-generated content is one of the top restaurant trends for marketing. Such as reviews and testimonials will become increasingly important as customers rely more heavily on online sources of information.
• Third-party delivery advertising and offering discounts or promotions to customers.
• Social media customer service will become an essential part of operating a restaurant. In a word, responding quickly to customer inquiries and responding with professionalism will be necessary for success in this competitive market.

To stay ahead of the curve, restaurants should focus on developing their marketing strategies and leveraging the latest trends.

Restaurant Trends - Culinary

In 2023, the restaurant industry is expected to see a surge in global influences, with chefs incorporating ingredients and cooking techniques from around the world. Emerging trends, such as plant-based options and new culinary techniques, will be seen by diners as restaurants strive to keep up with changing food preferences.

• Menu customization will become increasingly popular as customers want dishes tailored to their specific tastes.
• Local and regional ingredients are expected to be paramount as chefs focus on creating unique flavors from their local area.
• Plant-based options are also likely to become increasingly popular, with more restaurants offering vegan and vegetarian options to cater to health-conscious diners.

Tip: To keep up with emerging restaurant trends, your restaurants need to stay ahead of the game and be creative with their menus.

Restaurant Trends - Food Delivery 

In 2023, the restaurant industry is expected to experience a surge in demand for delivery technology and food delivery management solutions due to how people live and work. Hybrid work schedules are becoming more popular, and this trend is driving more food deliveries.

• Third-party delivery services are eyeing a massive boom as restaurants strive to meet the growing demand.
• Delivery technology allows restaurants to manage orders, track inventory, analyze customer data, and provide a seamless delivery experience for customers. This technology is not only cost-effective but also allows restaurants to streamline their orders, making it easier to focus on customer service. Moreover, it allows restaurants to automate the delivery process, which ensures orders arrive on time. The rise in popularity of third-party delivery services has increased the demand for delivery personnel. These companies are making it easier for restaurants to connect with delivery partners as well as manage their orders. Such systems also allow restaurants to focus on what they do best while ensuring their customers get their orders on time. And with the rise of food delivery, custom tamper-evident labeling for food delivery will help customers identify the authenticity of their food.
• Delivery Drones: Drone delivery is one of the innovative restaurant trends for food delivery that has already been tested by several restaurant chains, and it's expected to become more common in the near future. Drone delivery offers many advantages, including faster delivery times and reduced costs. Restaurants can also use drones to reach remote or hard-to-reach areas, increasing their reach and customer base.
•  Eco-friendly food delivery packaging: As consumers become more environmentally conscious, restaurants will need to adopt sustainable packaging options for food delivery. Biodegradable or compostable containers, utensils, and packaging materials will become more prevalent, reducing waste and helping restaurants appeal to eco-conscious customers.

For better insights on the efficiency of the delivery apps, check out this list of the top 5 food delivery apps compared

Restaurant Sustainability Becomes a Necessity

In 2023, sustainability is expected to become a necessity and one of top restaurant trends

• Restaurants will have to minimize food waste through the proper food safety rotation system. This system helps efficiently organize food items and their timely rotation so that fresh food is always served and nothing goes to waste.
• Eco-friendly and sustainable food delivery packaging will be the norm. This kind of packaging will help reduce the carbon footprint of the restaurant. Next, restaurants should focus on online marketing to reach a broader customer base.

Tip: The use of eco-friendly containers and packaging is a must for sustainable practices in the restaurant industry of 2023.

Restaurant Trends Final Thoughts  

With the restaurant industry continuing to evolve, sustainability is and will be necessary for restaurants. Inflation, supply chain shortages, and labor costs are all significant factors driving the restaurant industry to embrace sustainability. Restaurants must find ways to minimize their environmental impact, reduce waste, and promote sustainability in their operations. Restaurateurs’ will also have to be cognizant of the potential costs associated with these changes, such as increased costs for sustainable products and services. For a savvy restaurant owner/operator, this means you must find creative ways to offset these costs while still providing high-quality food and service.