BY THE NUMBERS:
The state of the restaurant market…and what operators plan to do about it.
84%
Of operators say the restaurant market is the toughest it’s been since the pandemic.
89%
Have to compete harder for every guest this year.
63%
Are concerned their restaurant (or a location) won’t survive another year if market conditions don’t improve.
Restaurants reported net declines in customer traffic for 18 months.
Source: National Restaurant Association, Restaurant Industry Tracking Survey.
Labor costs continue to rise
2023-2024
2022-2023
How are operators preparing for a potential recession or economic hardship in 2025?
63%
Consolidating costs
63%
Increasing marketing activity
How do operators plan to bring in more guests online and on-premise?
78%
Increase frequency of social media outreach
54%
Increase frequency of guest emails or texts
52%
Optimize their website to rank higher on Google
52%
Increase photos of dishes on online menus
49%
Offer more discounts or specials
46%
Gather and promote more reviews on their own website
Source: Popmenu’s nationwide study of 365 U.S. restaurant owners and operators in September 2024.
Check out The Restaurant Growth Playbook for marketing tips and examples.
