With consumer expectations and competition at an all-time high, foodservice operators are under more pressure than ever to deliver best-in-class service, quality and dining experiences. By carefully planning restaurant design and the proper equipment to go along with it, you can help businesses keep up with sales-driving trends and delight their customers.
Here are a few of the hottest consumer trends to consider for your next design:
All-day breakfast
Breakfast is known as the “most important meal of the day,” but among many, it’s also considered “the best meal of the day,” and restaurants are taking note. Gone are the days when pancake lovers could only satisfy their cravings in the wee hours of the day — now they can have what they want when they want it. By extending breakfast hours, many restaurants see an uptick in sales (we see you, McDonald’s). As a bonus, breakfast ingredients are often cost-effective, so by doing more breakfast business, restaurants can increase their profit margins. By designing a versatile space that's outfitted with the right foodservice equipment, such as multi-product warming stations, you can help business owners keep in-demand breakfast items hot n' ready.
Off-site purchases
We’re in the age of convenience, and not only do people want what they want when they want it, they want it where they want it. Sure, takeout service is nothing new, but the advent and growth of virtual restaurants and food delivery apps has made it even easier to enjoy dining out from the comforts of home. This growing trend is one to consider in your design since the overhead is low. Instead of worrying about high rent and wait staff, foodservice operators can benefit from an industrial kitchen layout that streamlines their operations and meets the rise in off-site orders.
Fine casual dining
It might be the food court, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be quality. From the food to the atmosphere, consumers expect more from their dining experiences, regardless of the restaurant type. Many restaurant owners today are offering more unique menu options with high-quality ingredients. To make sure they can expand their menu offerings while still maintaining the convenience of a quick and easy sit-down meal, evaluate how to incorporate smart kitchen equipment into your design. And while it may be casual, atmosphere is everything, so get the lighting right to create an ambiance that keeps customers coming back.
Healthy grab-n-go options
Whether you call it the “health and wellness trend,” the “clean and green living trend,” or some other health-inspired name, there’s no doubt about it — the healthy eating trend is here to stay. And in an on-the-go society, health-conscious consumers won’t always settle for fast food options. They want fast, but they also want fresh. Restaurants are responding by adding more local fruit and veggies into their grab-n-go menu. To accommodate this trend, plan for cold shelving in your design to keep healthy foods their freshest.
Set up for success.
To stay relevant with today’s consumers, it’s essential to figure out how you can incorporate the right foodservice equipment into your designs. But, while keeping up with the latest and greatest trends is important, you also want to ensure that your designs and the equipment you incorporate in them can stand the test of time. For the best of both worlds, check out Hatco’s innovative and reliable product line!
