HungerRush’s Latest Survey Uncovers Consumer Dining Trends Designed to Help Restaurants Prepare for the Holiday Rush

HungerRush, the leading POS software platform provider for quick-service and fast-casual restaurants, today announced a new consumer survey that uncovers dining trends and preferences to help restaurants prepare for the holiday season and the new year.

The HungerRush survey reveals trends and insights on consumers' preferences when it comes to dining in, ordering take-out and delivery, tipping trends, and more this holiday season. The data shows that diners are inclined to integrate restaurant dishes into their holiday meals. A total of 64% of respondents plan to order at least one food item from a restaurant to feature in their holiday meal, with 37% opting to order their entire meal. This underscores the desire to simplify holiday preparations and reduce stress by incorporating takeout options into festive meals.

HungerRush’s latest survey data also reveals that 64% of diners intend to choose casual dining establishments over other options. This preference is attributed to ongoing macroeconomic challenges and the desire for an affordable dining experience, which sets the stage for restaurants to attract more holiday traffic by catering to this trend.

Crafting a Desired Dining Experience

While most diners surveyed favor casual dining experiences over fine dining, quick-service restaurants, or drive-thru options, their culinary desires extend beyond the dining style. Despite external economic pressures, 40% of consumers are not planning to change their dining habits. Moreover, 49% of diners have singled out dining in as their preferred method for enjoying a meal, indicating a potential surge in restaurant foot traffic this holiday season.

Both Millennials (45%) and Gen-Z (45%) anticipate dining out less frequently due to economic impacts. However, both of these generations are also more inclined to use coupons for both dine-in and dine-out experiences, with 80% of Millennials and 84% of Gen-Z willing to take advantage of promotional offerings. This presents a unique opportunity for restaurants to not only attract more patrons but also to foster repeat business with the right combination of coupons and exceptional service.

“Our latest survey underscores consumers’ appetite for restaurant experiences, even amidst external economic challenges and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season,” said Shannon Chirone, SVP of Marketing at HungerRush. “This data identifies the continued strong trend for consumers to choose quick-service, fast casual restaurants during the holiday season. And restaurants can use these findings to double down on loyalty, marketing, and experiences that will cater to their patrons both on-prem and off-prem.”

Spreading Holiday Cheer Through Generosity

Amidst the backdrop of rising expenses and daily spending, diners are showing remarkable generosity when it comes to tipping. A resounding 58% of diners say they intend to maintain their tipping habits, while 38% plan to tip more during the holiday season. This generosity extends across income levels, with 49% of those earning over $200,000 annually and 47% of those earning between $50,000 and $75,000 planning to increase their tips during the holidays.

Even in states that have adjusted minimum wages for tipped workers, the spirit of holiday giving endures. Despite ongoing discussions of tip fatigue and tipflation, 77% of diners do not plan to change their tipping behavior due to these wage adjustments. Furthermore, 85% of Gen-X diners express their intention to continue tipping as a token of appreciation for hardworking restaurant staff.

“Recognizing that the holiday season is marked by economic pressures, the decision to tip generously during this time is a small but meaningful gesture of appreciation and gratitude for the hardworking restaurant staff,” said Shannon Chirone.

For more information on HungerRush’s holiday dining preferences survey, please see the key findings here. To learn more about HungerRush please visit our website.

Survey Methodology

The survey was commissioned by HungerRush and conducted by Dynata, the world's largest first-party data company. The survey was conducted in October 2023 of 1,000 U.S. consumers 18 years and older to understand dining habits and preferences surrounding the holidays.

About HungerRush

HungerRush is a leading provider of integrated restaurant solutions that make it easier to delight guests, drive loyalty, and manage restaurants from anywhere. HungerRush 360, our flagship all-in-one cloud POS system, integrates digital ordering, delivery, customer engagement, restaurant management, and payment processing features with flexible software designed to give operators of all sizes more insight into their customers, more control over their operations, and more power to profitably grow their business. For more information, visit HungerRush.com.

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