Below are some dining trends that have revamped the restaurant industry.
Millennials are taking over the food service industry. And not just as restaurant guests; food delivery, mobile ordering, and ghost kitchens have all been made popular thanks to millennials. According to Verdict Foodservice, millennials currently account for nearly a third of restaurants’ annual revenue and spend 13 percent of their total time eating out. This also means that restaurateurs have had to fine tune their businesses to cater to these 20 and 30-something year-olds as their dining preferences are far more precise than what the demand once was. Below are some millennial dining trends that have revamped the restaurant industry.
Uniqueness
Restaurants not only are competing based on the taste of their dishes, but on creating a unique dining experience for their customers as well. Millennials are attracted to the presentation and entire ambiance of a restaurant foremost before they even begin to review the menu. This explains why many restaurateurs have gone to great lengths to create some over-the-top extravagant menu options including fancy ice cream sundaes and rainbow-colored bagels. Even interesting décor and lighting catches the eye of guests, providing them a fresh and new environment to eat in. Pretty much, the more a photo will stand out on Instagram, the better chance guests will frequent the restaurant.
Affordable Pricing
While millennials are some of the hardest customers to please, one thing they will not budge on is the quality and affordability of their food. Good, healthy food at a reasonable cost are important factors when choosing where to spend their Saturday night. And if there is only one option on the menu that suits them, they would opt to dine elsewhere.
Healthy/Organic Options
Instead of reaching for the take-out menus comprised of greasy cheese fries and juicy hamburgers, many people are opting for healthier and organic options these days. According to The Balance Small Business, the American consumer is more concerned about eating healthier than ever before, with 30 percent of millennials eating foods that are organically certified. To reach their demands, restaurants are now offering more plant-based choices and additional fruits and veggie side options as opposed to the traditional French fries and potato chips.
Convenience
Having the option to eat a good quality food from the comfort of your couch has trumped the desire for many consumers to venture to a restaurant for dinner. Why bother sitting at an eatery when you can order fast food that can be served to you within minutes at home with the click of a button? Whether it’s getting their food from delivery services, food trucks or self-service kiosks, millennials are all about the convenience factor, and the more restaurants can cater to that, the more likely they are to eat there.
If there are any customers that you want to impress, it is that of millennials. Despite their specific interests in dining options, they are eating out more than anyone else. And it doesn’t hurt that they usually have a considerable Instagram following.
About the Author: Courtney Ciandella has been the sole Marketing liason for Bielat Santore & Company since 2013. She is also the conductor behind the Who’s Who in the Restaurant Industry and Restaurant Tip of the Month series.
