This version of Trendy Restaurant Administration (MRM) journal’s Analysis Roundup options rewriting the foundations of seasonal advertising and marketing, snack wrap visitors driver, GLP-1 use impression on F&B, and restaurant advertising and marketing challenges.
The 2025 Numbers, So Far
Restaurant leaders representing greater than 5,000 areas shared 2025’s prime challenges and alternatives alongside their priorities for the remainder of the yr, together with elevated advertising and marketing and gross sales to drive income, coaching to enhance visitor expertise and buyer loyalty, and balancing price controls with menu value will increase in Restaurant365’s biannual business survey.
Contributors reported continued meals and labor price will increase, with 89 p.c experiencing rising employees bills, effectively exceeding the 79 p.c of final yr’s survey who predicted labor price will increase. 82 p.c of these experiencing labor will increase noticed a 1 p.c to five p.c enhance, whereas 15 p.c skilled a six to 14 p.c leap. Meals price will increase additionally surpassed expectations, with 91 p.c of respondents reporting an increase, up from the 82 p.c who had anticipated will increase at first of the yr. Greater than half of these dealing with meals price inflation this yr are seeing a 1 p.c to five p.c enhance.
In response to rising meals prices, 56 p.c of respondents mentioned they deliberate to extend menu costs, down from 61 p.c earlier within the yr, and 18 p.c mentioned they doubled down on stock and waste monitoring, up two proportion factors. The overwhelming majority, 65 p.c, of these companies experiencing rising labor and recruiting price challenges mentioned their major response has been working under full capability, whereas 19 p.c mentioned they restricted working hours to handle the scarcity and elevated price.
With elevated gross sales as the highest precedence, greater than 40 p.c of operators plan to extend their budgets for promotions and advertising and marketing, notably for off-premise eating, which stays some of the important shifts in client preferences post-pandemic.
Restaurant leaders anticipate continued challenges this yr, notably with the looming menace of tariffs hanging over the worldwide financial system. 78 p.c of respondents mentioned they anticipated to be impacted by tariffs, with 64 p.c anticipating a one p.c to 10 p.c enhance in meals price costs attributable to international commerce boundaries.
On the identical time, operators stay centered on the fundamentals, with meals prices, labor prices, and gross sales quantity as the highest three issues for eating places for the rest of the yr. Notably, 52 p.c of respondents cite gross sales as their major concern.
With elevated gross sales as the highest precedence, greater than 40 p.c of operators plan to extend their budgets for promotions and advertising and marketing, notably for off-premise eating, which stays some of the important shifts in client preferences post-pandemic. A further 35 p.c of respondents reported seeing extra takeout and supply orders than in earlier years, which correlates with 33 p.c of individuals reporting a lower in dine-in visits.
Operators are additionally making ready to spice up worker coaching to drive each retention and the general visitor expertise, with 30 p.c of survey individuals reporting they already elevated pay. One other 30 p.c mentioned they spent extra on enhanced coaching thus far this yr. For the rest of 2025, improved coaching seems to be the main focus, with 40 p.c of individuals pegging it as their prime precedence, adopted by 27 p.c working to supply staff higher work-life steadiness, and 19 p.c setting apart assets to extend pay.
Lastly, enhancements in employees coaching, which instantly results in improved visitor experiences, will likely be important this yr. Greater than half, 58 p.c, of respondents mentioned they do not plan to open any extra areas this yr, that means that every one extra income should come from present areas. Of these seeking to broaden, 19 p.c of individuals mentioned they’re planning one extra location, and 20 p.c mentioned they’re engaged on opening two to 5 extra areas earlier than the tip of the yr ends.
Pumpkin with a Function
New knowledge from SpotOn reveals that unbiased eating places are rewriting the foundations of seasonal advertising and marketing with daring, early, and modern pumpkin-themed menu rollouts. By evaluating menu knowledge from January 1 to July 21 in each 2024 and 2025, SpotOn uncovered a major year-over-year shift—not simply in timing, however in technique, creativity, and regional dynamics.
Earlier Than Ever And Extra Strategic
Pumpkin objects are exhibiting up sooner and in smaller, extra strategic portions.
In 2025, unbiased eating places launched over 1,000 pumpkin objects between January and March, flipping the script on conventional fall timelines. In contrast to 2024, when most pumpkin choices didn’t seem till late spring or summer season, this yr’s early rollouts have been no accident. However the change wasn’t nearly timing. It was about technique.
SpotOn’s knowledge exhibits an almost 40 p.c lower in whole pumpkin-themed objects in comparison with the identical interval final yr. That drop doesn’t sign declining curiosity, however moderately indicators smarter planning. Operators are shifting from amount to high quality, selecting leaner menus with high-performing, low-lift seasonal objects like pumpkin beers that ship stronger ROI.
Pumpkin choices and LTOs are being deployed not simply to fulfill seasonal cravings, however to:
Beat nationwide chains to market and seize early visitor pleasure
Clean out operational transitions post-holiday and pre-fall
Drive repeat visits by leveraging nostalgia in new codecs
Pumpkin Menu Tendencies
Operators are leaning into consolation staples whereas exploring new purposes throughout the menu.
The decline means that some operators could also be decreasing LTO frequency amid price pressures, labor shortages, or ingredient availability. However whereas eating places could also be pulling again on the sheer quantity of pumpkin choices, they’re churning out tighter, extra strategic choices. Baked Items and N/A Drinks noticed progress in 2025. Beverage numbers held regular, reinforcing the endurance of pumpkin espresso, lattes, and cocktails. Relating to taste profiles, candy menu objects have been up 5 p.c in 2025, whereas savory grew by 1 p.c with extra objects like pasta and soups hitting menus.
Most Standard Pumpkin Gadgets: Classics are Holding Sturdy
Pumpkin Pie stays the #1 pumpkin dessert merchandise in 2025, with Pumpkin Cheesecake shut behind, underscoring continued demand for comfort-first desserts with nostalgic worth.
Pumpkin drinks proceed to diversify, with scorching lattes, iced chilly brews, ales, crushes, and inventive cocktails.
To this point, variations on the ‘pumpkin martini’ are the most well-liked this yr, knocking Pumpkin White Russians out of final years #1 spot.
2024 noticed extra alcohol-forward range with scotch ales, espresso-tinis, whereas 2025 has much less cocktails, and extra beers, presumably pushed by labor prices or prep complexity. N/A Drinks grew by 4 p.c as effectively.
Notably, Eating places are including Sloop’s No Pumpkin to the menu, a seasonal IPA that guarantees fall flavors with out the usage of pumpkin or spices.
Rising Favorites and Distinctive Choices
In 2024, operators experimented inside acquainted classes, like an Outrageous Pumpkin Dessert Dip. In 2025, choices broadened to new classes:
Pumpkin Pastas like Pumpkin Ravioli, Pumpkin Mac and Cheese, and Pumpkin Seed Pesto Pasta signaled a rising urge for food for savory, cross-category innovation.
Pumpkin Bread, Rolls, and Muffins launched a homestyle, cozy really feel, bridging nostalgia with menu versatility.
Regional Taste: The place Pumpkin Reputation is Rising and Declining
Pumpkin tendencies differ broadly by area, reflecting native tastes and operational pressures.
In 2024, pumpkin menus skewed extra Mid-Atlantic and Southern. In 2025, the pattern shifted west and northeast, with Missouri (150 objects), Pennsylvania (88), California (76), Connecticut (73) rising within the rankings, presumably attributable to stronger early-year promotions or multi-location group testing.
California continues to be a standout in 2025, rating among the many prime 5 states with essentially the most pumpkin menu objects added. From raviolis to martinis, operators listed below are embracing daring, surprising fall flavors.
The Midwest, particularly Missouri, held robust with early releases of acquainted favorites like pumpkin cheesecake and white russians—proving consolation sells year-round.
Northeast cities like Pennnsylvania, New York and Connecticut favored elevated indulgence. Impartial eating places curated menus with pumpkin martinis and dessert dips putting a steadiness between nostalgia and class. Notably, SpotOn discovered a 43 p.c lower in menu objects added in New York in 2025.
Southern states, together with Florida and Texas, proceed to adapt pumpkin taste for heat climate, with chilled lattes, iced pumpkin cocktails, and lighter desserts designed to really feel seasonal with out being heavy.
What It All Means for Operators
The pumpkin craze isn’t fading – it’s evolving.
Much less is extra: Operators are scaling again amount and specializing in high quality, margin, and operational effectivity.
Savory is rising: Pumpkin is transferring past lattes and pie, with savory purposes the one class to extend year-over-year (+21 p.c).
Drinks keep dominant: Drinks stay a low-lift, high-return technique to function seasonal flavors.
Pumpkin isn’t going anyplace: However unbiased operators are getting smarter, extra versatile, and higher timed to satisfy each enterprise wants and visitor expectations.
The Snack Wrap Pleasure
Contemporary knowledge from Placer.ai (see under) exhibits that McDonald’s foot visitors spiked considerably on Snack Wrap relaunch day (July 10) and the next days. Visits have been up 15 p.c on Thursday, July 10, in comparison with the year-to-date every day common, up 22.3 p.c on July 11, and 16.1 p.c on July 12.
R.J. Hottovy, Head of Analytical Analysis at Placer.ai, had this to say concerning the foot visitors knowledge:
“Shoppers responded favorably to the return of McDonald’s Snack Wrap, with Placer.ai visitation knowledge indicating a significant elevate in every day visits in the course of the first three days of the relaunch in comparison with year-to-date averages,” R.J. Hottovy, Head of Analytical Analysis at Placer.ai, mentioned concerning the knowledge. “This pattern is much more spectacular contemplating the launch is lapping final yr’s standard $5 Meal Deal promotion. The snack wrap’s profitable comeback is the most recent instance of a revived product discovering success, reinforcing the facility of nostalgia in immediately’s QSR limited-time gives.”
McDonald’s Snack Wrap Launch Weekend | ||
*All Credit score to Placer.ai **Placer.ai Methodology (briefly): Placer.ai leverages a panel of tens of hundreds of thousands of gadgets and makes use of machine studying to make estimations for visits to areas throughout the nation. | ||
Snack Wrap Launch Weekend | In comparison with YTD Every day Common | In comparison with YTD |
Thur, Jul 10, 2025 | 15.0 p.c | 11.4 p.c |
Fri, Jul 11, 2025 | 22.3 p.c | 7.0 p.c |
Sat, Jul 12, 2025 | 16.1 p.c | 9.0 p.c |
The Impact of Financial Volatility
Sq. unveiled new knowledge on the restaurant business in 2025, which is discovering its footing amid financial uncertainty.
As client confidence dips, so does tipping
In Q1 2025, Sq. discovered that the typical tip on meals and beverage transactions was 15.17 p.c, and this continued to fall into Q2 with the typical tip coming in at 14.99 p.c, aligned to dropping client confidence within the financial system.
Bars recurrently obtain the best ideas; in Q1 their common tip was 17.36 p.c on every transaction, although this too fell to 16.96 p.c in Q2. Cafés and quick-service eating places obtained 14.72 p.c and 14.64 p.c in Q1, respectively, and dropped to 14.57 p.c and 14.2 p.c in Q2. Ideas at full-service eating places additionally declined from 14.76 p.c in Q1 to 14.64 p.c in Q2.
“As earlier Sq. analysis has underlined, ideas make up a serious a part of staff’ wages – the typical restaurant worker earned practically 23 p.c of their earnings in ideas in 2024,” mentioned Ming-Tai Huh, Head of Meals and Beverage at Sq.. “As client confidence within the financial system shifts and ideas fall, staff are taking residence much less which might result in a return to labor uncertainties for the business – including to the crunch native eating places are persevering with to really feel.”
As value of oat milk falls, it’s a best choice for espresso orders in coastal states – however dairy nonetheless wins in center America and the South
Oat milk has had a meteoric rise as a selection for espresso drinkers, and earlier Sq. analysis confirmed that it was the highest milk different in 2024, comprising 33 p.c of orders in the US and Canada.
Now, in 2025, practically half of espresso orders in some states like New Mexico, Maine, and Oregon embody the vegan different:
The highest states that desire oat milk with their espresso are New Mexico (48.6 p.c), Maine (47.41 p.c), Oregon (45.94 p.c), and Vermont (45.59 p.c).
The states the place individuals stick most with dairy and order oat milk the least are Wyoming (18.83 p.c), Mississippi (21.99 p.c), Louisiana (23.17 p.c), and West Virginia (25.36 p.c).
And whereas the dairy different could be a pricier add-on, the fee has fallen steadily because the starting of the yr – in January 2025, deciding on oat milk for a espresso drink price a further 67 cents, however in June 2025, this upcharge fell to a mean of 65 cents.
Fast-service eating places rule with regards to profitability, with effective eating leaning into experiences
Sq. and Paperchase have partnered to mix Sq.’s transaction knowledge and Paperchase’s restaurant accounting and monetary companies knowledge to judge how hospitality profitability is faring in opposition to the backdrop of 2025’s financial volatility. The info weighs the variations between quick-service and quick informal eating places versus effective eating eating places throughout gross sales, margins, progress, and value effectivity.
General, QSRs and quick informal ideas persistently outperform effective eating in consistency, effectivity, and scalability, with customers persevering with to hunt worth for his or her buck amid financial uncertainty:
By way of gross sales progress, quick informal eating places peaked at 9.3 p.c in This fall 2024, with a moderation all the way down to .9 p.c in 2025. QSRs peaked at 15.8 p.c in This fall 2024 with continued energy into 2025 between 8.7 p.c and 9.1 p.c.
As Sq. analysis has beforehand proven, labor margins are steadily trending downward for each quick informal and quick-service ideas, indicating improved labor effectivity or price discount, probably enabled by funding in know-how like self-serve kiosks. Quick informal eating places utilizing Paperchase see a lean and constant margin between 17.4 p.c and 21.2 p.c amid 2024 and early 2025, whereas QSRs trended down from 21.1 p.c in 2024 to 18.8 p.c in 2025.
EBITDA margins are robust and regular for each QSRs and quick informal companies, at 18.9 p.c and 23.6 p.c in Q1 2025, respectively. Each varieties of companies present resiliency, scalability, and flexibility, underscoring the benefits of working standardized and leaner restaurant enterprise fashions amid financial uncertainty.
Alternatively, effective eating excels in experience-driven differentiation, albeit with price and margin trade-offs:
Gross sales at effective eating eating places declined by 13 p.c in early 2024 in comparison with late 2023, probably attributable to lowered discretionary spending, however recovered to between 2.1 p.c and three.1 p.c progress by early 2025, signaling renewed curiosity in premium eating experiences.
Labor margins ranged from 19 p.c to 26 p.c amid 2024 and early 2025, they usually peaked throughout vacation intervals, reflecting the intensive and variable staffing wants of effective eating.
EBITDA margins for higher-end eating places are extremely risky – rising from 1 p.c in early 2024 to a peak of 19 p.c in Q2 2024 earlier than falling to 12.2 p.c in early 2025 – demonstrating the sector’s sensitivity to exterior elements.
Up to now few years, omnichannel ordering has develop into important for operating a restaurant, whether or not that’s by first-party on-line ordering or by third-party supply platforms. Based on Sq.’s 2025 Way forward for Commerce report, 78 p.c of restaurant house owners mentioned on-line ordering is the channel that drives essentially the most orders to their enterprise – so making certain this ordering possibility is streamlined is vital to a profitable enterprise.
The margins on this may be tough – Sq. discovered that whereas on-line order income continues to extend each through first-party ordering and through third-party supply companions, supply charges are additionally rising. General, leaning into first-party ordering is extra worthwhile for sellers, with the revenue margins being 64 p.c larger than third-party supply.
Menu Innovaton and Worth Notion
Menu innovation and operational enhancements are serving to full-service restaurant chains overcome worth notion challenges, Chatmeter’s 2025 Full-Service Repute Rating Report discovered.
“Multi-location full-service eating places have struggled to compete with quick meals eating places on worth, however we’re beginning to see them adapt to buyer suggestions and drive constructive enterprise momentum,” mentioned John Mazur, CEO of Chatmeter. “Clients are now not simply searching for a very good deal–they’re rewarding manufacturers which might be delivering menu creativity and operational excellence. By leveraging AI to investigate evaluations at scale, eating places can flip insights like these into actions that hold clients coming again.”
Chatmeter used its Pulse Ai: Alerts to investigate multiple million evaluations throughout 10 of the most important informal eating chains from June 16, 2023 by June 15, 2025, and located that:
Menu innovation is driving constructive sentiment: Manufacturers that launched important menu updates, like TGI Fridays, Olive Backyard and The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility, noticed notable engagement and constructive suggestions. Opinions more and more talked about more healthy choices, reflecting an uptick in demand, however some manufacturers confronted criticism for missing such choices.
Worth stays a battleground, however much less of a prime precedence for customers: Mentions of worth dropped by 18 p.c over the previous yr, indicating that customers are prioritizing different facets of the eating expertise. Offers like Chili’s “3 for Me” and Olive Backyard’s By no means-Ending Pasta Bowl sustained constructive worth perceptions, however dialogue of portion sizes instantly impacted clients’ perceptions of worth throughout all eating places.
Operational enhancements and know-how upgrades improved buyer expertise at some eating places:Investments in digital ordering, loyalty applications and tabletop know-how drove larger satisfaction for manufacturers like Outback Steakhouse, Chili’s and Applebee’s. Nevertheless, sentiment round service declined at many chains, with wait time and order accuracy as frequent ache factors.
Buyer evaluation quantity dropped throughout the sector: Full-service eating eating places skilled an almost 6 p.c drop in on-line evaluations over the previous yr, probably attributable to location closures, decreased visitors or a scarcity of buyer engagement. Solely Pink Robin (+18 p.c) and Cracker Barrel (+10 p.c) noticed important will increase in evaluations.
Primarily based on evaluation quantity and sentiment, Chatmeter ranked 10 of the most important informal eating chains on Buyer Expertise, Menu and Worth.
Buyer Expertise Repute Rankings
Outback Steakhouse
Pink Robin
TGI Fridays
Applebee’s
Olive Backyard
Texas Roadhouse
Chili’s
Cracker Barrel
The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility
Buffalo Wild Wings
Menu Repute Rankings
The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility
Olive Backyard
Pink Robin
Chili’s
Outback Steakhouse
TGI Friday’s
Texas Roadhouse
Applebee’s
Cracker Barrel
Buffalo Wild Wings
Worth Repute Rankings
Chili’s
Applebee’s
Texas Roadhouse
Olive Backyard
Cracker Barrel
Pink Robin
Outback Steakhouse
TGI Fridays
The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility
Buffalo Wild Wings
The Beyonce Increase
Beyoncé’s “COWBOY CARTER” tour did not simply convey music to Atlanta. New knowledge from restaurant know-how platform Toast reveals that the tour additionally served up a major financial enhance to the native eating places within the neighborhood of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Highlights from the four-night tour cease in Atlanta embody:
↗️ The “COWBOY CARTER” Money Injection
Eating places noticed a 14 p.c common enhance in gross sales, with the typical verify measurement additionally rising by 3 p.c.
🌜 A Late-Night time Renaissance
The live performance’s power spilled over into the early morning, driving a 26 p.c gross sales leap at 1 a.m. and an enormous 40 p.c surge at 4 a.m.
🍳 The Beyhive’s Brunch Increase
Morning-after cravings led to a 26 p.c gross sales enhance for each burritos and breakfast platters.
🥂 Followers Raised a Glass to Queen B
The celebratory temper drove a 35 p.c surge in onerous seltzer gross sales and an 18 p.c enhance in gin gross sales.
Menu Pricing Tendencies
Toast additionally launched its newest Menu Worth Monitor, which gives a real-time, transactional have a look at value modifications and what they imply for client habits.
Among the many findings:
☕️ Espresso Costs Maintain Regular however premium cups get pricer
In June 2025, the median value of a daily espresso was $3.50, unchanged from Might 2025, however noticed a 3.6 p.c YoY enhance.
Whereas the median stayed flat, the seventy fifth percentile value rose to $4.50—a 1.1 p.c enhance month-over-month and a 9.5 p.c leap year-over-year.
🥶Chilly Brew Creeps Up
In June 2025, the median value of a chilly brew was $5.42, up 0.4 p.c in comparison with Might 2025.
12 months-over-year value will increase for chilly brew stay round 4 p.c, per current months.
🍻Beer Costs Bubble Up
In June 2025, the median value of a beer was $6.46, up 0.3 p.c in comparison with Might 2025.
12 months-over-year value will increase have remained underneath 3 p.c since February 2024.
🌯Burrito Costs Flatten
In June 2025, the median value of a burrito was $13.37, down 0.1 p.c in comparison with Might 2025.
12 months-over-year value will increase have remained under 4 p.c since February 2024.
🍗 Wing Costs Take a Tiny Dip
In June 2025, the median value of an order of wings was $13.75, down 0.1 p.c in comparison with Might 2025.
12 months-over-year value will increase have continued to remain under 3 p.c since February 2024.
🍔 Burger Prices Nonetheless Stacking Up
In June 2025, the median value of a burger was $14.39, up 0.1 p.c in comparison with Might 2025.
12 months-over-year value will increase proceed to hover round 3 p.c.
GLP-1’s Affect on F&B
A new report by OC&C Technique Consultants reveals how the fast progress in use of GLP-1 drugs is impacting the Meals and Beverage business, driving reductions in consumption habits throughout key demographics and disproportionately impacting particular product
GLP-1 drugs are poised for sustained progress, pushed by a big addressable market linked to rising weight problems and wellness tendencies. Accessibility is bettering by product innovation with new supply codecs and broader insurance coverage protection, which is decreasing the monetary burden on the patron.
OC&C reveals that whereas there are early indicators that adoption charges could sluggish, excessive churn and restart cycles are anticipated to gasoline ongoing disruption. Because of this, buyers and F&B companies should put together for continued volatility and long-term shifts in client consumption patterns.
Key Themes for 2025
- Structural shift in client habits
- Three dimensions of disruption
- Biking & reengagement volatility
- Strategic implications for manufacturers & buyers
Key insights and details from the 4 tendencies
Structural Shift in Client Conduct
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are altering how individuals eat by decreasing urge for food, meal frequency, and cravings, resulting in materials reductions in F&B consumption, notably amongst high-fat, high-sugar, and impulse-driven classes.
Three Dimensions of Disruption
Probably the most important consumption declines amongst GLP-1 customers are occurring in classes like salty snacks, baked items, and cookies. Whereas there’s little proof of a corresponding rise in more healthy class spending, protein-rich and useful meals are exhibiting notable resilience within the shifting panorama.
GLP-1 drugs are impacting consuming habits by decreasing meal frequency, portion sizes, and general meals consumption. Non-essential consuming events, like late-night snacking and social dinners, have seen notable declines. Away-from-home (AFH) eating has been particularly affected, with early analysis indicating a 6 p.c drop in spending in the course of the first six months of use.
GLP-1 utilization is presently concentrated amongst higher-income, middle-aged adults (35+), who very seldomly symbolize “tremendous customers” – high-frequency and high-value customers – in key F&B classes. Because of this, numerous meals & beverage classes are considerably insulated from the impression of adjusting behaviors of GLP-1 customers.
Biking & Reengagement Volatility
60 p.c of customers discontinue inside six months, however usually regain weight and categorical curiosity in restarting, that means it is troublesome to foretell quantity and demand.
Strategic Implications for Manufacturers & Buyers
GLP-1s usually are not a brief fad, however a structural headwind for the F&B business. Nevertheless, they’re navigable with sensible, adaptive technique. As utilization turns into extra widespread, regulatory and labelling shifts are additionally more likely to reshape how merchandise are marketed and offered.
Advertising and marketing Challenges
A brand new restaurant business survey from Imaginuity reveals that restaurant entrepreneurs are going through important challenges with multi-system knowledge integration, buyer perception visibility, and measuring return on advertising and marketing funding.
Solely 20 p.c of the restaurant advertising and marketing professionals surveyed mentioned their metrics have been absolutely automated throughout platforms like POS, loyalty, and paid media programs, whereas 38 p.c reported inconsistent metrics and definitions as the highest barrier to delivering helpful advertising and marketing insights. The survey gathered responses from greater than 200 restaurant advertising and marketing professionals throughout the U.S., representing a variety of titles, organizational sizes, and promoting budgets.
When requested what would make investing in a knowledge integration device a “no-brainer,” the highest response (35 p.c) was a major discount in handbook hours spent compiling reviews. A 3rd of respondents (31 p.c) cited the shortage of a unified buyer view as their greatest knowledge blind spot, whereas 43 p.c reported that it’s reasonably difficult to measure the ROI of their media and promoting efforts.
Sauces Are a Actual Draw
In 2025, sauces aren’t simply supporting the meal, they’re the meal. Operators are leaning into daring, customizable and snackable sauces as a quick monitor to loyalty, LTO buzz and social shareability. From KFC’s new Saucy spinoff idea to TikTok’s sauce-dipping craze, particularly amongst Gen Z, sauces have gotten the canvas international flavors, low-commitment trials and standout worth in a aggressive market.
Fries, the beloved and endlessly customizable aspect, are proving to be the proper automobile for flights, build-your-own pairings and snackable moments that match pleased hour or off-peak dayparts.
Lamb Weston partnered with influencers to conduct a ballot on social media of 300 customers and located that just about half of the respondents would eat fries anytime, anyplace. This positions fries not simply as a aspect, however as a shareable, snackable platform for sauce experimentation and regional taste storytelling. Rubix Meals is intently following this sauce-first momentum. Their NEXT Taste Report, based mostly on 45,000+ Gen Z responses through influencer-led polls, highlights the obsession:
- 91 p.c would go to a restaurant simply to strive a sauce they preferred
- One in 5 particularly need pickle-flavored sauces
- 56 p.c say Dr Pepper needs to be a sauce taste
For operators, sauces ship massive impression with minimal elevate, from driving LTO visitors and retail spinoffs to fueling scroll-stopping social content material.
Standard Pops
Extra Individuals contemplate buying Coca-Cola (35 p.c) than another smooth drink or beverage, in response to a brand new YouGov report.
Primarily based on surveys from greater than 24,000 Individuals, YouGov’s US smooth drink rankings 2025 highlights essentially the most thought of manufacturers throughout nonetheless & glowing water, power & hydration manufacturers, and carbonated smooth drinks.
Coca-Cola beats longtime competitor Pepsi (27 p.c) within the carbonated smooth drink class, but additionally tops the class leaders for nonetheless & glowing water (Aquafina) and power & hydration (Gatorade).
The report additionally identifies leaders for every class throughout technology and class.
52 p.c of Individuals drink bottled water weekly, and 15 p.c drink glowing water weekly. The report finds that amongst nonetheless & glowing water manufacturers:
Aquafina (21 p.c), Smartwater (19 p.c), and VitaminWater (16 p.c) are most thought of with the US basic inhabitants
Smartwater is essentially the most thought of water model by ladies (21 p.c), whereas males (16 p.c) rank them second
31 p.c of Gen Z Individuals contemplate ingesting Aquafina, the best of any technology for any water model
Millennials are 27 p.c extra probably than different generations to contemplate ingesting LaCroix
Pure Life (+1.0), Aquafina (+0.9), and Vita Coco (+0.9) grew most in consideration since 2024
Thirty-six p.c of Individuals drink common carbonated drinks weekly, and 28 p.c drink eating regimen carbonated drinks weekly. The report finds that amongst carbonated smooth drink manufacturers:
Coca-Cola (35 p.c), Pepsi (27 p.c), and Sprite (25 p.c) are most thought of with the US basic inhabitants.
Coca-Cola’s dominance is pushed by excessive consideration amongst males (40 p.c) and Gen Z (51 p.c), although the soda additionally ranks first with ladies (31 p.c), Millennials (45 p.c), Gen X (34 p.c), and Child Boomers+ (25 p.c)
Coca-Cola additionally improved essentially the most year-over-year, growing buy consideration by 2.7 percentage-points since 2024. Pepsi adopted intently behind, bettering 2.3 percentage-points.
Pepsi ranks second with males (30 p.c), whereas Sprite ranks second with ladies (25 p.c)
Canada Dry ranks second with Child Boomers+ (23 p.c), however decrease with Gen Z (#9), Millennials (#8), and Gen X (#5)
The report finds that amongst power & hydration manufacturers:
Gatorade (31 p.c), Powerade (18 p.c), and Pink Bull (13 p.c) are most thought of with the US basic inhabitants.
Gatorade leads with all generations, however Pink Bull supplants Powerade as #2 amongst each Gen Z and Millennials.
Pink Bull is far more thought of amongst US males than ladies (19 p.c vs 9 p.c), a pattern mirrored by Monster (16 p.c vs 9 p.c)
Pink Bull (+3.2), Celsius (+1.4), and Liquid IV. (+1.4) improved most year-over-year with the US basic inhabitants.
In whole, the report mentions 45+ smooth drinks and drinks which might be main their classes.
Beer Insights
BeerBoard launched its Q2 2025 On-Premise Insights Report.
All comparisons are identical areas for the Q2 2025 (April 1 – June 30, 2025) vs Q2 2024 (April 1 – June 30, 2024).
BeerBoard’s proprietary knowledge uncovers highly effective tendencies and shifts in client habits, giving key stakeholders — from brewers and distillers to chain operators — a real-time pulse on what’s occurring on the faucet and past.
Highlights from the Report
Draft Beer Quantity: -5.7 p.c
Packaged Beer Quantity: -9.3 p.c
Past Beer (RTDs, Seltzers, NA Beer): +10 p.c
Spirits Quantity: -7 p.c
Wine Quantity: Flat
Q2 2025 Tendencies
Lager and Gentle Lager types (imported and home) led gross sales throughout each draft and packaged. IPAs on draft have been the third hottest fashion poured.
Whereas nonetheless a small share in comparison with beer, Laborious Seltzers and RTD cocktails are rising in share of on-premise packaged.
Whisky continues to be the most well-liked subcategory of Spirits, with Agave / Tequila not too far behind.
White wine led the Wine class in quantity share.
Draft Beer
Draft Beer noticed a -5.7 p.c quantity decline YoY in Q2.
Prime Draft Manufacturers
Michelob Extremely
Miller Lite
Coors Gentle
Modelo Especial
Bud Gentle
Prime Draft Kinds
Gentle Lager
Lager
IPA
Euro Ales
Amber Ale
Packaged Beer
After a powerful Q1, Packed Beer slipped in Q2, declining -9.3 p.c
Prime Packaged Beer
Corona Additional
Michelob Extremely
Modelo Especial
Miller Lite
Coors Gentle
Past Beer (RTDs, Seltzers)
Past Beer elevated general quantity share of the packaged class by +10 p.c however decreased in items offered by -0.5 p.c in Q2 2025 vs. Q2 2024.
Prime RTDs
Excessive Midday Solar Sips Pineapple
Surfside Iced Tea and Lemonade + Vodka
Nutrl Vodka Seltzer Watermelon
Solar Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka
Excessive Midday Solar Sips Peach
Prime Laborious Seltzers
White Claw Laborious Seltzer Black Cherry
White Claw Laborious Seltzer Mango
Really Laborious Seltzer Wild Berry
Topo Chico Strawberry Guava
Blissful Dad Fruit Punch
Wine & Spirits
Wine was flat in Q2. Efficiency was as follows:
White: 54.4 p.c quantity share (-1.2 p.c YoY)
Pink: 29.8 p.c quantity share (-0.8 p.c YoY)
Glowing: 7.7 p.c quantity share (+0.3 p.c YoY)
Sangria: 4.8 p.c quantity share (+2.3 p.c YoY)
Rose: 3.3 p.c quantity share (-0.6 p.c YoY)
Spirits decreased in general quantity with a -7 p.c decline in quantity. Prime classes by share:
Whisky: 28 p.c share (+1.4 p.c YoY)
Tequila: 27 p.c share (+0.3 p.c YoY)
Vodka: 19 p.c share (-0.4 p.c YoY)
Prime Spirits Manufacturers
Tito’s Vodka
Lunazul Blanco Tequila
Sauza Gold Tequila
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Jack Daniel’s
Prime Cocktail
Prime Waste States
A current examine by Escoffier revealed the highest ten states that produce essentially the most meals waste within the U.S. The examine analyzed meals waste throughout all 50 states by taking a look at family, restaurant, and grocery retailer waste – together with mitigation efforts like composting and meals banks. The info was mixed right into a relative wastefulness rating that reveals which states are doing the worst job managing meals waste.
Arizona is essentially the most wasteful state within the nation, with a prime rating of 100.00. The common individual wastes 1,025 kilos of meals yearly, and the everyday family throws away 8 cups of meals every week. Eating places add one other 115 kilos per individual in waste, and grocery shops contribute 70 kilos. Arizona has no composting amenities and simply seven meals banks to serve over 7 million residents.
Maryland comes subsequent with a rating of 87.89. It has the best grocery retailer waste within the nation, greater than double Arizona’s. Households additionally waste practically 10 cups of meals every week, among the many prime within the U.S.
Arkansas is available in at 81.06, with households losing over 10 cups of meals weekly, essentially the most within the nation. Grocery retailer waste is 91 kilos per individual, and the state manages all of it with only one composting facility and 4 meals banks.
Kentucky takes the fourth spot with a rating of 79.14. The common family right here throws out over 8 cups of meals every week. Restaurant waste is round 132 kilos, and grocery waste is over 102 kilos per individual.
Illinois earns a rating of 78.60 and has a number of the highest retail-level meals waste within the nation, with 146 kilos from eating places and 120 kilos from grocery shops per individual. It stands out for having higher infrastructure than its friends, with 21 composting facilities.
Alabama ranks sixth with a rating of 74.41. Residents waste 8.1 cups weekly, with 132.2 kilos from eating places and 97.4 kilos from grocery shops per individual. The state has no composting amenities and 4 meals banks, mirroring Arizona’s lack of infrastructure.
Tennessee ranks seventh with a rating of 73.92. A typical family wastes practically 9 cups of meals weekly. Restaurant waste is excessive at 137 kilos per individual, and grocery waste exceeds 100 kilos. Tennessee has solely two composting amenities and 6 meals banks for over 7 million individuals.
Mississippi takes eighth place and scores 71.39, with restaurant waste at 139 kilos per individual, larger than in Arkansas and Alabama. Grocery retailer waste provides one other 107 kilos, however the state solely has three composting facilities and two meals banks to reply.
Georgia ranks ninth with a rating of 68.56. The common family wastes greater than 8 cups of meals weekly. Eating places waste 144 kilos per individual, and grocery shops waste about 148 kilos, among the many highest within the nation. Georgia operates only one composting facility and has eight meals banks.
Nevada rounds out the highest ten with a rating of 67.40. The state has the best restaurant waste within the group at practically 148 kilos per individual. Households waste simply over 8 cups weekly, and grocery shops add 96 kilos per individual. Nevada has no composting websites and solely two meals banks to handle these ranges.
Water, Water
Culligan’s new knowledge exhibits how little diners actually find out about what they’re ingesting. And the numbers inform a shocking story.
Listed below are a couple of fast takeaways:
86 p.c of Individuals drank faucet water the final time they dined out. However at residence, solely 16 p.c drink faucet water recurrently, whereas 57 p.c say they hardly ever or by no means do.
Midwesterners are the probably to go along with faucet, at 92 p.c. The West (86 p.c), South (84 p.c), and Northeast (80 p.c) observe intently behind.
Youthful generations, particularly Gen Z, usually tend to request bottled or filtered water at eating places over faucet than older generations.
58 p.c of restaurant-goers assume faucet water at eating places is secure to drink, however the Environmental Working Group’s faucet water report confirms important water contamination points throughout the U.S., corresponding to lead and ceaselessly chemical compounds.
Restroom Expectations
Just one in 5 public restrooms meet hygiene, cleanliness expectations, a new Tork survey finds.
Fifty-two p.c of individuals take motion after a poor restroom expertise, impacting enterprise income and repute
Public restrooms are failing hygiene expectations globally – and it’s costing companies
The analysis, which surveyed 11,500 individuals throughout 11 nations, exhibits there are excessive expectations for hygiene and cleanliness within the public restroom. 74 p.c anticipate average or excessive ranges of hygiene. But, solely 20 p.c of restrooms ship on these expectations 1. 40 p.c of the final inhabitants is “very involved” with hygiene and cleanliness of public areas and that quantity jumps to 60 p.c for individuals with situations like germaphobia.
A poor restroom expertise can set off highly effective feelings and measurable enterprise penalties. When expectations for cleanliness usually are not met, customers really feel disgusted (27 p.c), uncomfortable (26 p.c) and pissed off (22 p.c). And 52 p.c of individuals take motion after a poor restroom expertise, together with:
28 p.c have spent much less time at a venue due to the state of the restroom
23 p.c have restricted how a lot they eat or drink, to be able to keep away from needing the restroom – exhibiting a direct impression on enterprise income
11 p.c have advised their pals to keep away from the placement and seven p.c have left a poor on-line evaluation
one in 4 individuals spent much less time at their office attributable to poor restrooms, and 15 p.c labored from residence greater than they in any other case would – affecting worker satisfaction and productiveness
Moreover, within the U.S., youthful generations are holding venues to larger requirements. 21 p.c of 18–34-year-olds mentioned they might not return to a venue due to the restrooms, in comparison with 14 p.c of the final inhabitants and 16 p.c of 35– 44-year-olds. That quantity goes down as individuals grow old:
12 p.c of 45 – 54-year-olds mentioned they wouldn’t return to a venue due to the restroom
10 p.c of 55 – 65-year-olds mentioned they wouldn’t return
8 p.c – 9 p.c of 66 – 70+ yr olds mentioned they wouldn’t return
Past the seen: the true hygiene boundaries in public restrooms
Though public amenities present lodging for some prevalent bodily circumstances and situations, corresponding to individuals who use wheelchairs, the analysis reveals that many wants stay unrecognized in restroom upkeep and design.
Throughout the 11 nations surveyed, 54 p.c of venue guests deal with some type of bodily or cognitive problem that may impression their public restroom expertise. That quantity will increase to 59 p.c in Canada and 60 p.c within the U.S.
Bodily situations embody:
Pores and skin sensitivities
Incontinence
Continual ache
Mobility points
Cognitive situations embody:
The place public restrooms fall quick
Survey respondents throughout nations cite that they keep away from restrooms as a result of they’re “unhygienic” (#1 purpose), have disagreeable smells or odors (#2 purpose), cleaning soap and bathroom paper are unavailable (#3 purpose) or the restroom supplies inadequate privateness (#4 purpose).
The survey additionally requested respondents to establish the sorts of public areas that almost all usually fail to satisfy their restroom expectations. Respondents in the US recognized the next venues because the probably to fall wanting restroom expectations:
Comfort shops – 30 p.c say these hardly ever or by no means meet expectations
Prepare and bus stations – 25 p.c
Purchasing malls – 25 p.c
Sports activities stadiums and arenas – 24 p.c
Quick meals eating places – 19 p.c
The truth of cleaner burnout
The analysis additionally explored the challenges that cleaners face when working inside the restroom setting, together with:3
80 p.c reported psychological well being points because of their jobs;46 p.c of these people say they really feel harassed.
70 p.c cite insufficient employer assist.
38 p.c have left a cleansing job because of not feeling acknowledged or attributable to burnout (unrelated to pay/compensation).
Lowered worker wellbeing and worker turnover can instantly impression facility cleanliness, the restroom person expertise, and end in expensive hiring and onboarding. Assembly the wants of cleansing employees – for instance, offering simple to refill high-capacity dispensers – can assist inclusive hygiene and enhance the underside line of companies.
