Restaurant Loyalty Program Points and Rewards Redemption Increased by 26% 

Lingering inflation and higher food prices in the first quarter of 2023 had many foodservice consumers looking for a deal. Customer visits to restaurants and retail foodservice outlets that took advantage of a deal rose by 8% in the quarter ending March compared to a year ago, reports Circana, formerly IRI and The NPD Group. The increase in deal visits helped to grow total commercial foodservice visits by 1% over a year ago, a traffic gain after four consecutive quarters of flat or declining growth.

Although 73% of all foodservice...

State of the Restaurant Industry Report Points to Continued Growth in a New Normal

“A new normal.”

That term has become a staple in the American vernacular and according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2023 State of the Restaurant Industry report, it is also expected to define the restaurant industry.

Findings indicate that 70% of operators have begun to settle or are on a path to the new normal.

The report was described as an “authoritative look” at the restaurant industry and the opportunities before it based on nationwide surveys of restaurant owners, operators, chefs and consumers...

One in Five Meals Consumed at Home in Europe in 2023 Will Come from Restaurants

For the first time since the pandemic began, consumer spending in the food service industry in Europe bounced back to pre-pandemic highs in November 2022. This was a key finding of the latest “State of the European Food Service Industry”analysis, which was announced today by The NPD Group through its CREST consumer panel.

Continued hybrid working, spending more time at home, and the ease of both online shopping and ordering food for takeout and delivery has...

The NPD Group: Foodservice Traffic in Canada Grew by Double-digits in 2022

The past two years were about the recovery and revival of the Canadian foodservice industry. Visits to restaurants and foodservice outlets grew by 11% in 2022, over an 11% gain in 2021, reinforcing upward momentum, reports The NPD Group*. Consumer spending increased by 19% last year compared to the year before, primarily due to higher prices. NPD forecasts modest foodservice traffic growth in 2023 of just over 2%, which is the pre-pandemic growth rate.

Customer visits to quick service restaurants (QSR), representing 67% of total...

The NPD Group: Plant-based Beverages Food, Becoming Staple in Homes, Becoming Option at Foodservice

The recent buzz about plant-based foods at retail and foodservice has many questioning if interest in plant-based foods is a fad or a long-term trend. Plant-based is a small but expanding category, and as more innovations and products become available and accessible, consumer interest broadens. According to The NPD Group*, about 25 million consumers eat plant-based beverages and foods occasionally or regularly, consuming these foods as part of a meal or as an ingredient...

The NPD Group: Restaurant Industry Witnesses Stability Following Myriad of Headwinds

A pandemic, labor shortages and record inflation are just a few of the challenges that the foodservice industry has faced since early 2020.

The industry persevered and The NPD Group believes calmer seas may be ahead. Findings from The NPD Group show that U.S. commercial foodservice customer traffic to restaurants and other foodservice outlets ended 2022 flat compared to a year ago. Consumer spending at foodservice outlets was up 4%, thanks to higher prices.

“Looking forward to 2023, we anticipate improvements in supply chain disruptions, inflation deceleration...

Consumers Now Take a Holistic Approach to Their Health and Focus on Both Mental, Physical Well-Being

The focus on health and wellness evolved throughout the pandemic as consumers began seeking coping mechanisms for their altered lifestyles. The consumer’s need for normalcy at the height of the pandemic was the entry for a mental and physical health focus, reports The NPD Group. Compared to the pre-pandemic period, more consumers say that the amount and quality of sleep, work-life balance, and managing stress are important factors contributing to their health...

The NPD Group: Convenience Stores Are Attracting More Foodservice Visits

Convenience stores are the beneficiaries of more consumers looking for a beverage or a bite to eat on their way somewhere. Visits to convenience stores for foodservice items, like beverages and prepared foods, were up 2% in the three months ending November compared to a year ago, reports The NPD Group*. Consumer spending on foodservice menu items at convenience stores was up 8% for the combined months of September, October, and November versus a year ago. Units and dollars of foodservice products shipped from broadline...

Canada’s Foodservice Industry Posted Traffic and Dollar Gains in November

Canada’s foodservice industry recovery continued in November with an increase in consumer visits and spending, reports The NPD Group. November traffic to restaurants and foodservice outlets increased by 7%, and spending grew by 14% compared to a year ago. Full service restaurant visits increased by 17%, and quick service restaurant traffic grew by 7%. Retail foodservice, meaning prepared foods from convenience, grocery, and drug stores, declined by 9%, which turned the foodservice industry’s overall recovery trend slightly negative in November, down 1%, compared to the pre-pandemic level...

NPD Group Reports U.S. Consumers Will Host or Visit Family and Friends During the Holidays

Expect sales of barware tools and sets, alcohol-related beverageware, and appetizer serve ware to increase

COVID-19 put a damper on holiday entertaining the past two years, but this year is likely to be different. According to a survey conducted by The NPD Group, 52% of consumers are less concerned about COVID-19 this year compared to a year ago, up 20 pts from last year, and 55% said they plan to host or visit family/friends during the holiday season...

Black Friday Week Retail Sales Fell Short of Last Year, Reports NPD

Discretionary general merchandise retail sales revenue fell below 2019 levels for the first time this year

Black Friday week marked the sixth consecutive week of in-store sales revenue declines for U.S. discretionary general merchandise. During the week ending November 26, 2022, spanning Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Small Business Saturday, sales revenue was 5% lower than during the same week in 2021, while unit sales were down 8%, according to U.S. retailer point-of-sale information collected by The NPD Group. Total November 2022 general merchandise retail sales...

Most Thanksgiving Day Meals Are in a Home: Groceries and Foodservice Help Make the Meals Happen

Restaurants may not play the most significant role on Thanksgiving Day, but do the Wednesday before 

A Thanksgiving Day host’s dream is to have a perfectly prepared feast on a beautifully decorated table surrounded by happy family and friends. However, it takes a lot of planning and preparation to make the Thanksgiving Day dream come true, and grocers and foodservice operators help to make it happen. Most, 67%, of Thanksgiving meals occur at the eater’s home; the remaining meals happen at another house...

The Canadian Foodservice Industry’s Recovery Slows in Q3

Canada’s foodservice industry has shown promising recovery over the past year; however, growth slowed in the quarter ending September compared to a better-performing quarter last year, reports The NPD Group*. Visits to Canadian restaurants and foodservice outlets were up 6% in the quarter compared to a year ago, when traffic was up 12%. Consumer spending was up 10% in the quarter ending September 2022 compared to a 20% increase in the same quarter last year.

“The closer we get to full recovery of the foodservice visits lost during the pandemic..."

With Food Prices Rising, Consumers Pull Back on Other Retail Spending, Reports NPD

Pre-holiday declines in general merchandise sales emerge as grocery spending continues to rise

U.S. general merchandise retail sales revenue declined during the three weeks ending November 5, 2022. Year-over-year sales revenue in October fell 5% below a year ago, followed by a 14% decline in the first week of November. Several factors contributed to declining sales, with the rising cost of living at the forefront, according to The NPD Group, which recently merged with Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) to create a leading global technology...

Consumers Plan to Do More Holiday Shopping In Stores Than Online, Reports NPD

Consumers have relied more on e-commerce since the pandemic began, but that’s changing this year

The number of consumers planning to shop online for the holidays fell from 85% last year to 80% this year, which is the largest ever shift favoring stores, according to the annual holiday purchase intentions survey from The NPD Group. This is also the first year, since before the pandemic, that consumers expect to make more of their holiday purchases in stores (46%) than online (45%). Checkout receipt-based insights from...

France Foodservice: The Gap is Widening Between the Recovery in Spending, Boosted by Inflation

The NPD Group forecasts a 2022 market down 5% in spending and 9% in visits, compared to 2019

The average ticket has jumped by 7% since 2019, all consumption occasions combined in fast food and table catering

Four out of 10 French people say they will go to a restaurant less often in the coming months

The French preserve their family outings

On the occasion of the publication of a survey dedicated to out-of-home catering*, The NPD Group , which recently merged with Information...

America’s Eating Patterns Adjusted to a Pandemic and Are Now Adapting to Higher Food Costs

Six macro trends currently shaping food and beverage consumption behaviors

Historically, there has been a rhythm to eating patterns in America; somewhat predictable habits formed by daily routines and needs. The early stages of the pandemic disrupted this rhythm, and just as eating patterns were returning to pre-pandemic normalcy, food inflation set them on end again, reports The NPD Group* in its recently released 2022 edition of Eating Patterns in America.

“The rate of change in U.S. consumers’ eating behaviors continues at a dizzying..."

Canadian Restaurant Industry Continues Recovery in August with Traffic Up from a Year Ago  

Pent-up demand for dine-in visits slows, and carry-out increased after several months of declines

Consumers continued their return to restaurants in August, increasing visits by 5% compared to a year ago, reports The NPD Group. Restaurant dollars were up 9% in the month versus a year ago. Dine-in visits slowed in August to a 28% increase from the triple-digit growth realized in the first months after the pandemic lockdowns. On the other hand, carry-out orders, which have been down since...

Breakfast Was U.S. Restaurant Industry Bright Spot in August 

QSR breakfast visits increased by 5% in August, 1% above the pre-pandemic traffic level

Breakfast was the most important meal of the day for the U.S. restaurant industry in August based on its visit growth, reports The NPD Group. Breakfast restaurant traffic grew by 4% in August compared to the same month a year ago and is now within 1% of recovering pre-pandemic traffic levels. Quick service restaurant (QSR) breakfast, representing 87% of restaurant breakfast traffic, increased visits by 5% in the month compared to a year ago...