Top Consumer Trends News

Consumer Spending, Foot Traffic on the Rise

The American restaurant industry is starting to simmer. Consumers are spending more on meals, and foot traffic at establishments is improving, albeit from a diminished base, according to the 22nd edition of the Chain Restaurant Industry Review, released at this week’s Restaurant Leadership Conference by GE Capital, Franchise Finance. As sales trends recover, operators are […]

Market Research Goes Virtual with New Tool

A market research firm is using realistic, three-dimensional simulations to help restaurant companies test changes to their stores. InContext Solutions, based in Chicago, offers 3D environments through an online portal that collects data from test participants. Bob Gillespie, CEO of InContext Solutions, says the tool can help restaurants test anything from menuboards and pricing to […]

Arby’s Partners With Plink’s Facebook Loyalty Program

Plink, a Facebook credits-based loyalty program that rewards Facebook members for dining and making purchases at their favorite restaurants and stores, announced a partnership with Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc., the second largest quick-service sandwich chain in the U.S. Through this partnership, Plink members can now earn Facebook credits at more than 3,500 Arby's restaurants. "Arby's […]

Technomic Finds Growth in Soup and Salad Sales

Away-from-home soup and salad purchases are on the rise, as consumers seek light, healthy and affordable fare.  A variety of portion sizes featuring soup/salad options on different areas of the menu allows consumers to tailor their meal specifically to their needs.  Whether it's a cup or bowl, side or entree, 62 percent of consumers now […]

Food and Beverage Amusement Park Sales Bring In $2.9 Billion

Thanks to improving attendance and in-park spending, U.S. amusement park foodservice sales have surpassed prerecession levels, according to Packaged Facts' just-released report, "Amusement Park Foodservice Trends in the U.S." Make no mistake: food and beverage sales at amusement parks are big business, whether the parks are large or small; national, regional, or local; sedate or […]

TCBY Goes Greek for the Health of it

TCBY, The Country’s Best Yogurt and frozen yogurt pioneer, today announced the launch of the TCBY Greek Challenge, a Facebook contest designed to encourage consumers to incorporate into their diets the company’s Greek frozen yogurt, which exceeds the nutritionals of its industry-leading Super Fro-Yo.  Participants who take on the Challenge are eligible for a chance […]

Dairy Queen is No. 1 in Buzz About Ice Cream

What do women want? Following an analysis of 27 billion online conversations over a 12-month period, NetBase, the enterprise social intelligence platform company, found the No. 1 thing women say “I want” about is ice cream, and the No. 1 buzzed about brand is the Dairy Queen brand. “The Dairy Queen brand captured 41 percent […]

Survey Reveals Popularity of Ethnic Salads

A Mediterranean-style salad holds the most appeal as a new flavor for diners at casual dining restaurants, according to a Culinary Visions Panel study done by Chicago-based Olson Communications.  “When restaurants want to add new salads they should look to the Mediterranean for inspiration,” says Sharon Olson, president of Olson Communications in Chicago.   “We […]

Starbucks Debuts First Evolution Fresh Store

Four months after acquiring Evolution Fresh, Inc., Starbucks Coffee Company today announced the opening of the first Evolution Fresh store and the transformation of the brand’s look and feel to better reflect the pure, natural ingredients in each beverage and its strategic expansion and growth. The Bellevue, Washington, store opening and refreshed branding positions Evolution […]

Louisiana Crab Fishery Earns Sustainable Certification

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified the Louisiana Blue Crab Fishery as a sustainable and well-managed fishery. This great news affects 3,000 Louisiana blue crab commercial fishermen, represented by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board (LSPMB), who can tell buyers and consumers about the fishery’s positive development. The independent, third-party certification body, Scientific Certification […]

Garbanzo Goes Compostable With Plates, Recyclable Lids

Denver-based Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, a fast-casual restaurant concept specializing in quality Mediterranean cuisine, announced today the introduction of compostable entrée plates and Level 1 recyclable plate lids as part of its ongoing eco-friendly initiative. The 24-ounce entrée plates are made from bamboo pulp and are similar in size to the restaurant concept’s previous plates. A […]

Restaurants Adapt to Snacking Trend With Smaller Portions

Consumers are snacking significantly more now than they were just two years ago. Almost half (48 percent) of consumers polled say they’re now snacking at least twice a day, compared to 25 percent in 2010. Restaurants are capitalizing on the growing snacking occasion by offering quick, portable, smaller-portioned, low-priced food and drink in a myriad […]

What Food Saw 95 Billion Servings in 2011?

As interest in Asian cuisine grows among American diners, HackCollege.com puts numbers behind the popularity of Ramen noodles. See the site's infographic below. “Asian food tends to be a little more interesting, especially for the growing number of consumers tired of the same old thing—burgers and deep fried,” says Arnold Shain, founder of Costa Mesa, […]

“Eat This, Not That!” Gets the Skinny on Arby’s

Arby’s, the restaurant famous for classic and Angus roast beef, thinly-sliced in store daily, announced today an agreement with Eat This, Not That!, the popular Men’s Health magazine book franchise, to license “Eat This” approved menu items via Rodale Inc.’s custom content group. Arby’s will feature Eat This approved items, including sandwich and salad options […]

With Ethnic Food on Rise, Diners Seek Authenticity

Ethnic food preparation and consumption has been on the rise over the past several years and according to Mintel’s latest research, it will continue its growth. What’s most important to consumers when it comes to their favorite ethnic fare? Authenticity. Two-thirds of Mintel respondents who eat ethnic food at home say authentic or traditional flavors […]

In a First, Sweet Potato Tots Come to Sonic

Sweet potatoes are making a grand entrance on the SONIC menu. SONIC is expanding its tots offering by introducing new Sweet Potato Tots to its menu for a limited time. According to data from the USDA Economic Research Service, sweet potato U.S. per capita consumption has been on the rise, even as white potato consumption […]

Restaurant Beer Sales Shot Up 9 Percent in 2011

The Beer Institute today released new data that show that value of beer sales in restaurants rose more than 9 percent in 2011 totaling about $23.6 billion in sales. With restaurants responsible for nearly 24 percent of total beer sales in 2011, they represented the largest share of the on-premise sales last year. Beer retail […]

Paymedia UAP Offers Mobile Wallet Acceptance Management

VeriFone Systems, today announced the Paymedia Universal Acceptance Platform (UAP), a complete suite of services and software that enables Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to manage mobile wallet acceptance at merchant systems.   Paymedia UAP closes the loop between wallet providers and merchants, providing everything needed to deliver the benefits of advanced mobile payment, promotions, and […]

Ben & Jerry’s Goes Greek With Frozen Yogurt

Being a flavor developer–internally known as a “Flavor Guru”–at Ben & Jerry’s isn’t just about proving that you can play with your food at the home base in Vermont. The team also must travel the world identifying the latest culinary trends, flavors, and ingredients. Tough job. The latest inspiration for the company that has come […]

“Social Media Show + Tell” Episode Explores Foursquare

American Express today launched a new exciting chapter of its "Social Media Show + Tell" series for small businesses. The latest tutorial videos explain how small businesses can put the power of popular social media platform foursquare to work for them. Accessed through American Express' new enhanced LinkedIn user group for small-business professionals, Business Knowledge […]

Pizza Patrón Promotes Lent-Friendly Pizzas

Pizza Patrón announced today that it is seeking to reverse the average 4 percent drop in sales that it sees during Lent each year by launching its “Pizzas de Cuaresma” campaign. The promotion features two Lent-friendly pizzas, the Spinach Clásico (a customer favorite) and La Vegetariana. Pizza Patrón’s Spinach Clásico pizza is a creamy blend of […]

Consumers Trading Restaurant Lunches for Brown Bags

Spurred by the lingering effects of the recession, consumers are cutting back on away-from-home lunch purchases.   More than a third of respondents (37 percent) say they've cut back on foodservice spending at lunch over the past year, and 31 percent say they are eating lunch at home more often. Lunch remains an important daypart […]

Restaurant Sales Expected to Grow 4.2% in 2012

While the U.S. economic recovery remains fragile, there is much for the restaurant industry to celebrate, according to market research firm Packaged Facts. "The Foodservice Landscape in the U.S.," its outlook report for the restaurant industry, projects that sales will grow 4.2 percent to $487 million in 2012, on the heels of 6.1 percent market […]

National Turkey Federation Awards Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s

The National Turkey Federation (NTF) named Carl's Jr. and Hardee's recipients of its 10th Annual "Turkey on the Menu" (T.O.M.) Award in the fast food category. The award honors the chains for introducing a variety of charbroiled turkey burgers on their menus, offering healthier options to consumers. The T.O.M. Award was presented Feb. 16 during […]

Lion’s Choice Upholds Healthy Legacy With New Kids’ Menu

Lion’s Choiceis introducing a new Healthy Kids’ meal menu that showcases its 45-year legacy for offering health-conscious St. Louisans tasty food that is high in nutrition and naturally low in calories and fat.   “Only recently have national chains begun to embrace the menu philosophy that Lion’s Choice has championed continuously since 1967,” says Mark Disper, […]

Grocery Retailers are Winning Over Restaurant Customers

Recent consumer research by food industry consultants Technomic indicates that retailers' prepared food offerings have evolved to the point that they are viable alternatives to all types of restaurants. Forty percent of consumers surveyed in Southern California agree that "prepared foods from retailers are restaurant-quality foods at better prices." Nearly two-thirds say they've seen significant […]