The 2024 Foodservice Forecast

Lizzy Freier, Director, Menu Research & Insights at Technomic discusses restaurant traffic, international cuisines, LTOs and more.

‘Gen Z’s Most Magnetic Brands’ Report Praises McDonald’s, Starbucks

McDonald’s has nearly as much brand magnetism with Gen Z as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Ariana Grande. And in 2023, the purple-hued force of attraction that connected the burger giant with young consumers was …

Teens’ Top 5 Restaurant Chains

Teens are trendsetters. They are typically early to the next big thing and most of their spending is discretionary, making them a lucrative demographic to study.

FI Fast Break audio news: Nov. 29, 2023

The latest Food Institute news podcast discusses which food and beverage brands resonate with Gen Z consumers.

California Wage Law: The Dominos Are Poised to Fall

QSR jobs will be in high demand once the law passes as workers try to reduce their dining expenses in lieu of high food costs and an inflationary environment. More importantly, however, California just bolstered the prospects of hundreds of thousands of current and (more importantly) future fast-food workers.

American Restaurant Chains Thriving in India


While 40% of India’s residents are vegetarian, there’s still a large addressable market open to omnivore cuisine. Plus, much of the country is infatuated with western culture – a fact QSRs are taking note of.

Rock the Block(chain): NFTs in Food and Beverage

The heck is an NFT? Their precursors in the ‘90s were called pogs – often cheap and of limited variety for the average consumer, easily tradable and without much long-term staying power. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) …

What Will 100% Digital Sales at Fast-Food Chains Look Like?

On a recent earnings call, Yum Brands announced its goal to make 100% of its global system sales digital transactions.

Top 5 Highest-Grossing U.S. Fast-Food Chains

Average unit volume (AUV) speaks to a chain’s operational efficiency and overall success, indicating the average annual sales that a brand earns per restaurant—a reflection of how consumers feel about the brand itself. These are the top five highest-grossing fast-food chains in the U.S. by AUV.

The Grimace Effect – How Marketing & Memes Drive Sales

Audacious, sublime, organic – these are the hallmarks of profit for brands wise enough to be confident in their values and lucky enough to thread the needle between quality-controlled seriousness and edge-of-the-internet frivolity.

Why McDonald’s is in the Midst of a McCafé Makeover

Though McDonald’s McCafé Bakery concept worked to an extent, it didn’t translate to more snack and coffee sales between mealtimes.

Research Shows Gen Z Welcomes Loyalty Programs, Sharing Data

Gen Z and millennials may be coming into their own, but those aged 18-43 differ markedly from both Gen Xers and baby boomers when it comes to restaurant habits, and attitudes toward loyalty programs. A …

COLUMN: Resilient Consumers Aren’t Going Anywhere – Yet

With price hikes easing and food company earnings strong, it appears resilient consumers aren’t going anywhere – yet.

FI Fast Break audio news: April 26, 2023

The latest Food Institute news podcast touches on the uptick in alcohol purchases by consumers of late.

FI Newscast (April 07, 2023) – Featuring Jennifer Bartashus, Bloomberg Intelligence

Welcome to the FI Newscast! Each week, we note the latest industry trends and consumer insights, with guest appearances by the foremost industry experts. This week’s guest was Jennifer Bartashus, Senior Analyst of Bloomberg Intelligence. …

Gen Alpha Kids Are Already Influential Consumers

Gen Alpha kids – comprised of children with birth years starting in 2013 – have already developed powerful brand affinities, according to the latest survey from Morning Consult. By 2025, Gen Alpha will number more …

Despite Challenges, St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations are Back

As the pandemic wanes, the National Restaurant Federation says 61% of consumers expect to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, spending an average of about $44.

Fast Food Tech Evolves

The biggest names in global fast food are adjusting to the new market realities by innovating with cutting-edge technology.

Smart-Voice Technology: Coming Soon, to a Drive-Thru Near You

In a world of fast-changing consumer demands, the classic fast-food drive-thru window is evolving. From doubling lanes to fully digital menu boards, restaurants have made all kinds of improvements to the drive-thru service. With technology …

Placer.ai Exec: How Grocers Must Evolve in 2023

The grocery space has been upended over the past three years and leaders must face new challenges with patience, according to Placer.ai’s Retail Trends Forecast 2023 report.

Survey Reveals Four Ways Americans are Cutting Food Costs

Inflation is hitting Americans hard and is causing most to cut back everyday items. A recent survey from Attest proves that food and beverages are not immune to necessary cutbacks. Dr. Lin Carson, CEO of …

Experts’ Top 3 Flavor Trends to Watch in 2023

New flavor trends are emerging at the intersection of persistent food inflation and pent-up consumer demand leftover from COVID lockdowns.

Survey: Tracking Gen Z Food Preferences

Here are key stats on what, and where, Gen Z is eating these days, according to Piper Sandler’s Fall Taking Stock with Teens survey.

Gen Z Expert: Authenticity Key to Effective Influencer Endorsements

Six months into the Kim Kardashian Chief Taste Consultant experiment for Beyond Meat, the stock is trading lower than ever. In today’s truth- and value-centered market, do influencer endorsements help or hinder a product?

QSRs Lamenting ‘Line Balk’ Trend

Much like remote working and zoom conferencing, long waits at the drive-thru line are a pandemic vestige that just won’t go away. And that’s causing line balk among consumers. As COVID-19 took hold in the …

Recession Still Looms as a Risk to F&B Stocks

Many investors believe that food and beverage stocks are safe places in which to hide when the stock market turns towards recession. That belief centers on a simple thesis: people still have to eat. The …

Amid Labor Shortage, Gen Z Demanding ‘EWA’ Pay

Companies like McDonald’s are allowing workers to access hourly pay on demand in the hopes of shoring up the ongoing labor shortage.

Analysis: After McPlant Struggles, What’s Next for Beyond Meat?

Beyond Meat shares made a slight recovery after falling on news McDonald’s may ditch its McPlant burger amid tepid results.

FI Fast Break audio news: July 13, 2022

This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine food companies’ sustainability initiatives, growing economic pessimism, and more. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – July 13, 2022 The …

Plant-Based Meat Growth Expected to Continue Despite Obstacles

The plant-based meat category is experiencing some growing pains. Through the early weeks of the pandemic, alt-meat sales grew some 200% at retail outlets, and the hype around that helped the category secure more than …

FI Fast Break audio news: May 18, 2022

This week, in The Food Institute’s quick-hitting, audio news podcast, we examine the struggles of many ghost kitchens and update the baby formula shortage. The Food Institute Podcast · FI Fast Break News – May …

Is Beyond Meat Beyond Repair?

Investors appear to have soured on Beyond Meat, sending its stock price from a $160.28 to as low as $35.74 in the last year, as competition in the alternative-meat sector has increased and the company’s …

Analysis: Companies stand to lose millions in pulling out of Russia

Burger giant McDonald’s led the way among fast-food chains, suspending operations in Russia less than two weeks after the Kremlin began its invasion of Ukraine and the West began imposing sanctions on Moscow. The likes …

What Will the Key Restaurant Tech Investments Be in 2022?

From robots to scheduling software, restaurants are implementing all types of new technology into their operations of late. With so many new developments this year, The Food Institute decided to take a closer look at …

How Will Fast-Food Value Deals Look Different This Year?

Fast-food value deals are back, but they’re not quite the same as before. Over the past several weeks, brands such as McDonald’s have returned to value messaging for the first time in several years, noted …

Plant-Based Alternatives Push Further into Fast-Food

Plant-based offerings continue to expand across restaurant menus, as major players like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat broaden their partnerships with fast-food chains. McDonald’s recently announced plans for a major U.S. expansion of its plant-based …