MRM EXCLUSIVE: Consumer Data Analytics Reveal Dining Patterns to Attract Customers 

The last few years have not been easy for several key industries in the U.S., including restaurants. According to CNN, there are fewer U.S. restaurants today than in 2019 and it is not clear when —if ever — they’re coming back.  In 2022, there were about 631,000 restaurants in the United States. That’s roughly 72,000 fewer than in 2019.

More closures in 2023 could reduce the number of restaurants to about 630,000 locations. Restaurant research firm Technomic says they don’t foresee the number of restaurants in the U.S. returning to pre-COVID levels even by 2026.

With those stats in mind, Causeway Solutions conducted consumer research* on today’s dining trends compared to our research over the past few years.  

Remember 2020? At that time, we used our online survey* of U.S. Adults 18+ to ask how COVID was impacting people’s comfort levels with eating out. Only 34 percent said they were comfortable eating out at a restaurant, which translates to more than 60 percent…