Here are some results of this study:
Beverages, including wine , cocktails , coffee and soft drinks , saw the strongest growth in 2022.
Sandwiches and wraps accounted for the majority of sales at U.S. restaurants .
Restaurant owners have expanded menus in 2022 after restricting them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to trends in items ordered, we’ve seen in 2022 that restaurateurs have begun to replenish menus to their pre-pandemic form. In 2021, 23% of merchants surveyed globally by Lightspeed said they reduced poland number for whatsapp the number of menu items to reduce ingredient costs or focus only on items that maintained their quality during delivery.
However, when restrictions on welcoming customers were lifted across the country in early 2022, restaurants began to replenish their menus again, and the median number of unique items increased from around 150 in January 2021 to over 200 in July 2022.
Download the full report to find out which other menu items were ordered the most in 2022.
Automation: A Major Global Technology Trend
Due to the macroeconomic conditions that govern our current world, owners and managers in the restaurant and hospitality sector find themselves having to produce more with fewer resources to ensure the smooth running of their establishments.
More and more businesses are using automation technologies to optimize their operations and run their facilities with reduced staff.
The most widely adopted tools this year include new or improved online ordering, contactless payments and QR code ordering systems , as well as new point-of-sale or restaurant management systems.
Online ordering tools have improved sales more than any other technology adopted by restaurant and hospitality businesses.
For hotels, it is the adoption of technologies that automate more tasks that has most improved business operations.
Download the full report to see the impact of technology adoption in North America compared to companies in the sector in Europe and Australia.
Industry-specific challenges: inflation, sustainability and personnel management
Across all business types and geographies, 37% of retailers surveyed said rising food and supply costs are their biggest challenge right now. Most often, restaurateurs are combating this issue by increasing menu prices .
Among restaurant and hospitality owners surveyed, 47% agree or strongly agree that implementing environmentally friendly initiatives will attract more customers .
In addition to adopting automation techniques to make it easier for the staff they manage to hire and retain, respondents said they have increased salaries and benefits to attract and retain employees and restricted opening hours to avoid overburdening them.
Download the full report to learn about the tactics being used to address the industry’s ongoing challenges.
Eating habits trends: Inflation may affect expectations and the type of restaurants patrons frequent
In the coming year, restaurateurs will have to focus on their most loyal customers, but also ensure that each new customer who walks through the door has an exceptional experience that will keep them coming back.
Restaurants are the preferred places for socializing around the world, with the exception of the United States and the Netherlands.
Nearly half of the customers surveyed cannot go to a restaurant because of inflation .
But the news isn't all bad: In 2023, most diners plan to frequent restaurants at the same frequency or more than in 2022 .
Download the full report to learn more about how customers are returning to local restaurants in the year ahead.
Payment trend: contactless still on the rise
Overall, debit or credit cards remain the preferred payment method worldwide. Cash has lost its top spot , except in Germany where almost half of respondents named it as their preferred payment method.