Restaurants Pivot to the new ‘Post-COVID’ Consumer Behavior Patterns

4 Min Read By Joe Vernon

The restaurant industry took the brunt of the pandemic’s economic and societal impact and is now being asked to respond to the permanently changed consumer landscape. As the world grapples with the next wave of COVID-19, businesses are confronted with product and labor shortages, a sudden increase in ecommerce and a variety of shifting consumption patterns.  It’s not enough just to recover, retail and specifically restaurants and the food industry are compelled to pivot, adapt and create a model that will endure.

Here are five trends in the restaurant industry to consider post-COVID:

Labor Supply, Wages and AutomationRestaurant and bar employment (as of July 2021) remains down by 1.5 million since the start of the pandemic. Many companies are offering signing bonuses, iPhones and higher wages to entice employees. One hotel in upstate New York increased salaries of kitchen staff to $20 from $12.50 an hour. Signs of difficulties are reflected in some restaurants reducing hours…