Top 10 gastronomic trends for 2021

Around 110,000 restaurants throughout the country they were victims of the gastronomic restrictions imposed due to the pandemic, closing temporarily or permanently.

According to the Association's research, the industry lost about $ 240 billion in sales and is still 2,5 million jobs below pre-pandemic levels.

However, restorers persevere. By rapidly switching to all off-site services, innovating operations, and adapting contactless technology, they continue to show resilience, doing everything they can to keep their businesses open and employees on payroll.

Some restaurants converted enclosed dining rooms into grocery store prep areas so customers could pick up grocery store essentials and hard-to-get supplies along with grocery orders. restaurant. Working through a different supply chain, operators often had access to supplies that grocery stores couldn't keep in stock.

La technology That might have been "nice to have" before the pandemic suddenly became "necessary" to allow contactless transactions.

To-go alcoholic beverage service became the best-selling option for many restaurants with difficulties, as many state and local jurisdictions temporarily maintained the regulations that prohibited the sale.

Many of the innovations implemented not only helped keep restaurants afloat in 2020, but also signal the trends that will shape 2021.

We now know three things are for sure: The pandemic tested the limits of operator creativity and insight, accelerated technology adoption and emerging trends, and confirmed that customers deeply miss their restaurant experiences.

As the Association prepares to publish its new report The State of the Restaurant Industry, based on survey results of 6,000 operators (and customer preferences from a survey of 1,000 adult consumers), we are sharing the top 10 trends of restaurants that helped restaurants survive and serve as a sign of things to come.

Menu trends

Simplified menus

Full-service operators quickly grew thin, cutting inventories and developing items that they could make well with fewer staff. The selections also had to travel well and satisfy customer cravings.

Off-site meal service has priority

Before the pandemic, 80% of full-service restaurant traffic was on premises, but that all changed in March 2020, when restaurants were forced to close and quickly switch to takeout and delivery only. (Photo courtesy of Taco Bell)

Mixed meals, a team effort

Restaurants helped homebound customers add variety to home-cooked meals. Diners can order appetizers, sides, or desserts and serve them with homemade dishes, for example.

Combination meals are considered specials

Restaurants began selling meals consisting of an appetizer and / or side, main course, and dessert, available in family packages or individual meals.

Meal kits make cooking fun

Half of the adults surveyed said they would likely purchase a meal kit (with pre-measured ingredients and cooking instructions) offered by one of their favorite restaurants. The number jumped to 75% among millennials and Gen Z. (Photo courtesy of Cooper's Hawk)

Meal subscriptions

Customers sign up to receive a set number of meals during the month, either delivered or ready to pick up, at a discounted price. More than half of the adults surveyed for this year's report said they would sign up if their favorite restaurants offered them.

Sell ​​groceries

More than half of the consumers surveyed would buy groceries (fresh, uncooked foods such as meat, dairy, bread or pasta) if restaurants offered them. (Photo courtesy of Founding Farmers)

Alcohol to go

A third of off-site patrons age 21 and older said they would order an adult beverage to accompany their takeout meals and to planthey would continue the practice in the future.

Comfort foods

Consumers said that menus offering a good selection of comfort foods (such as hamburgers and pizzas) influenced their choices of food. restaurant. (Photo courtesy of Aussie Grill)

Healthy and diet foods

The availability of healthy foods also influenced consumers' choice of restaurants. But special diet menu offerings, such as gluten-free or vegan, had less influence on the choice of restaurant.

If you're wondering which foods customers craved the most, we asked operators to name their # XNUMX selling item on this moment and 6,000 of them told us. Here are full-service and limited-service restaurant best sellers.

Full service (elegant, family and informal dinners)

1. Burgers
2. Seafood
3. Pizza
4. steak
5. Chicken (excl. Wings)
6. Breakfast products
7. Pasta
8. Mexican food
9. Sandwiches / sandwiches / wraps
10. Chicken wings

Limited service ( the service quick, quick casual, coffee and snacks)

1. Sandwiches / sandwiches / wraps
2. Pizza
3. Burgers
4. Chicken (excl. Wings)
5. Ice cream / cookies / cake
6. Baked goods
7. Breakfast products
8. Mexican food
9. Grill
10. Seafood