Texas Foodservice Industry Surpasses $100 Billion in Sales for the First Time

According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Texas foodservice industry has achieved two major milestones, crossing the $100 billion sales threshold for the first time and graduating to the largest private sector employer in the state, surpassing the healthcare industry. These milestones and new data collected from a diverse group of restaurants across Texas reflect the resiliency of the industry that continues to grapple with the economic shock waves caused by the COVID-19 pandemic...

2023 Restaurant & Delivery Data Report by Otter

2023 was a year of mixed performance for the global restaurant industry. While restaurants generally recovered from pandemic-era losses, record-breaking inflation took a bite out of many eateries’ profit margins. Now more than ever, restaurant tech is critical to help eliminate redundant costs and maximize returns on every order served. That’s what more than 275,000 businesses have been doing with Otter’s Restaurant Operating System.

In this report, you’ll find the most vital (and most timely) data points for the success of today’s restaurants across the United States and Canada...

Consumer Spending in U.S. Restaurants Continued to Rise in November

Household spending is being supported by consumers' positive sentiment about their local economies.

Restaurant sales rose steadily in recent months, as resilient consumers maintained their willingness to spend on experiences.

Eating and drinking places* registered total sales of $94.7 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis in November, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Census Bureau. That was up a solid 1.6% from October’s upward-revised volume of $93.2 and represented the ninth consecutive month of sales growth...

OpenTable Debuts Annual Top 100 Restaurants List Alongside 2023's Biggest Dining Trends

As 2023 comes to a close, bringing holiday and year-end celebrations, OpenTable is helping diners select the perfect venue with the debut of its Top 100 Restaurants in America list for 2023. Featuring an updated methodology using OpenTable diner reviews and new metrics, the list uncovers some of the most in-demand restaurants by OpenTable diners this year.1

Additionally, OpenTable insights from the year (January 1 – September 30) compared to 2022 reveal shifts in diner behaviors and cravings. Highlights include...

The Freedonia Group Launches New Report on Consumer Insights and Trends in the US Shopping & Dining

The Freedonia Group, a leading provider of market research and business intelligence, has released US Shopping & Dining Consumer Insights 2023. The report examines consumer habits and attitudes about shopping and dining in the US, with a focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic accelerated a number of existing trends in the shopping and dining market, including the growth of e-commerce and foodservice delivery. The report also finds that consumers are increasingly looking for...

Get Ready to Choose Your Spot! Waitbusters Table Selection Feature is Back in Action

In a game-changing move, Waitbusters, LLC, has relaunched its “Select Your Table” feature, which allows diners to choose their table at a restaurant, much like how airline passengers select their seats on a flight. This novel approach promises to enhance the dining experience for guests while providing a lucrative opportunity for restaurant operators.

With the “Select Your Table” feature, guests now have the autonomy to pick their preferred spot, whether it’s a cozy corner for a romantic date, a window seat for the best view, or a large table for group dinners. This eliminates the unpredictable nature of seating arrangements and ensures that guests have a tailored dining experience.

Bringing Menus to the Digital Age

Dive deep into the modern-day dining experience with Tabmeal – a trailblazing digital platform that’s making waves on Kickstarter. Forget those monotonous QR codes that lazily lead to a standard PDF menu. With Tabmeal, we’re redefining how restaurants engage with their patrons in our tech-savvy era.

The driving force behind this culinary revolution? Konstantin Vishnikin. “Here we are, in 2023, at the pinnacle of technological evolution. Yet, diners like me with dietary restrictions still grapple with deciphering menus, especially when traveling abroad. That’s not just taxing for the...

US Foods Diner Dispatch Survey of American Dining Out Habits Reveals Casual Dining

US Foods Holding Corp. one of America’s leading foodservice distributors – released the results of its 2023 Diner Dispatch survey showcasing the state of America’s relationship with dining out. The findings display valuable insights into dining preferences, favorite restaurant types, ordering habits, tipping practices, and what this means for foodservice operators across the country.

“As one of the largest foodservice distributors in America, we are excited to share a variety of diner trends shaping the future of the restaurant industry today,” said Jim Osborne, senior vice president...

Tattle Releases Receipt Scanning Feature Offering Restaurants an Additional Method of Engaging Guest

Tattle, the industry-leading Customer Experience Improvement (CXI) platform for restaurants to collect feedback data and generate algorithm-driven improvement recommendations, recently released a receipt scanning feature to further enhance the platform’s ability to collect menu item level feedback.

Traditionally, through Tattle’s robust integrations with 35+ ordering, POS and loyalty providers in the hospitality industry, Tattle surveys can automatically bring in order details from each transaction and ask customers to provide menu item specific feedback. With the new receipt scanning capability, even for restaurants...