Hungry for Growth: The Restaurant Industry in 2022

Some pandemic trends, consumer behaviors are here to stay.While restaurants continue to mitigate impacts caused by COVID-19, many have pivoted and found new ways to redefine the dining experience. Some have even developed lucrative new business models that they will continue to apply and scale in 2022. 

Consumers are showing similar signs of permanent behavioral change. According to the National Restaurant Association’s State of the Industry report, 68 percent of customers say they are more likely to purchase takeout or delivery of food than they were before the pandemic. And many will continue to do so in new ways. A survey by RTi Research found that of the 30 percent of consumers who used contactless payment for the first time during the pandemic, 70 percent reported they plan to continue using this technology. 

Several other pandemic-related trends will continue into 2022 and beyond, and new trends will also emerge. Here's a summary of what to expect and what…