How Demographics, Lifestyle, and Technology are Changing Restaurant Consumer Trends

 

In general, demographics refer to quantitative characteristics such as age, gender, and geographic location used in marketing to segment large populations into small, marketable groups with similar characteristics and collectively influence many consumer trends, behaviors, and expectations. By understanding more about current and potential customers, restaurants gain insight into the types of food and services that are in demand and highly valued by consumers. Restaurant owners and operators who take advantage of these characteristics have an opportunity to adjust their offerings to keep current customers and gain new ones.

SERVING EVERYTHING WITH A SIDE OF TECH

Thanks to primarily technology, consumers are capable of locating restaurants anywhere, viewing menu offerings, prices, pictures of food, and reviews. Orders can be placed through platforms that deliver like the well-known Uber Eats or by simply texting a pizza emoji. Dine-in and fast food restaurants alike are almost expected to have free Wi-Fi access for guests, while some even offer paid table-top gaming experiences on a tablet or other device. Take into account that the Millennial generation makes up a massive chunk of the population. According to Pew Research, “Millennial’s are on the cusp of surpassing Baby Boomers as the nation’s largest living adult generation”. Technology is a critical component of every business and the dining experience offered by restaurants is no exception.

MENU OPTIONS FOR MULTIPLE DIETS

Aside from trendy diets that seem to come and go, there has been a general shift in the population towards health conscious diets for a number of reasons. One example is special diets due to food allergies. According to FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education), “the prevalence of food allergy in children increased by 50 percent between 1997 and 2011” and also states that certain allergies like those to nuts and fish are usually lifelong. This implies there will also be an increased number of young adults with food allergies if the allergies are not outgrown. Not having gluten-free (wheat allergen), nut-free, or dairy-free options is not just a preference, it’s a vital component of gaining certain consumers. Need help revamping your menu options or managing your restaurant? Contact The Restaurant Group to see how our products and services can benefit your business today.