A latest study by Popmenu, an organization serving over 10,000 eating places with its expertise, reveals key developments anticipated to form the U.S. restaurant trade in 2025. The research concerned 359 U.S. restaurant operators and 1,000 shoppers, and it highlights the methods that eating places are prone to make use of to have interaction prospects and enhance their backside line.

In response to the research, restaurant operators wish to improve visitor engagement in 2025 by implementing new pricing, ordering, and advertising and marketing methods. In addition they goal to create distinctive eating experiences and to undertake synthetic intelligence (AI) and automation to fill labor gaps and improve customer support.

Within the wake of rising meals and labor prices and intense competitors, most restaurant operators (62%) are cautiously optimistic about their enterprise prospects in 2025. There are additionally growth plans, with almost a 3rd (32%) planning to open a brand new location or increase current ones.

From the standpoint of shoppers, restaurant visits and takeout/supply orders have barely declined, all the way down to 69% from final yr’s 75%. Nevertheless, a majority (62%) anticipate their restaurant spending to remain regular in 2025, and 23% anticipate a rise.

As for the developments shoppers can anticipate from eating places, there are plans for fewer worth will increase and ordering charges. Whereas 57% of operators anticipate some enhance in menu costs, it is a vital drop from final yr’s 71% and 93% in 2022. As well as, 75% of operators intend to scale back on-line ordering charges.

The usage of AI in restaurant operations can be anticipated to extend, with 34% of operators having already adopted AI expertise and 48% planning to take action in 2025. Moreover, the research reveals that 54% of operators consider AI will turn out to be a restaurant staple over the following three years.

Eating places additionally plan to supply extra personalised provides and wider menu choices. Three out of 4 operators plan to extend their advertising and marketing actions and develop detailed profiles of friends’ preferences to ship tailor-made messages and provides.

By way of eating experiences, operators want to differentiate themselves by providing limited-time menus, traditional dishes with a twist, worth meals, and distinctive eating experiences. 74% plan to supply standout eating experiences.

The survey was performed anonymously from November 20, 2024, to January 10, 2025, for restaurant house owners and on November 17 to 18, 2024, for shoppers.