Toast is out today with its third Voice of the Restaurant Industry Survey and the results show that operators know that off-premises may be where their bread is buttered.
From May 17 through June 2, Toast asked 755 restaurant decision-makers a series of questions about how they’re feeling about the industry. For the most part, they feel good. And many are pinning hopes on off-premises.
When Toast asked if they anticipated changes to the level of importance in off-premises dining, half said they expected it to increase in importance.
When asked the same about catering, 48 percent said it will grow in significance.
On the teeth-gnashing question of dynamic pricing, 70 percent of operators said the quiet part out loud: despite the Wendy’s backlash, they’re into it.
While guests may still be feeling the pain of rising menu prices at restaurants, fewer restaurants said that they raised prices this year compared to last year.
Operators also say they are open to using AI to manage their business, with 40 percent saying they would use it to optimize menu performance, 39 percent to make recommendations for guests, and 35 percent to analyze business performance.
Read the full results here.
