In 2025, the consumer foodservice industry remains vibrant despite pressures on discretionary spending. Wellness-aligned menus, flavour exploration and beverage personalisation are all considerable drivers for consumer excitement and operator innovation. On top of this, third-party and first-party fulfilment providers are vying for loyalty through a wide and evolving toolset of value propositions.
Delivery
This report comes in PPT.
Key findings
Foodservice operators tapping into the wellness economy
The search for longevity and agency coupled with scrutiny over ultra-processed foods is accelerating. On top of this, increasing access to GLP-1 agonist drugs is changing the dietary needs of many consumers. Restaurants are racing to meet the moment through menu extension.
Consumers excitedly searching for variety and intensity in flavour
Digital discovery is cultivating an expanded interest in culinary exploration. Dubai chocolate, matcha, ube and sweet heat are just a small subset of the food and beverage trends disseminating rapidly from local specialities to global foodservice phenomena. The runway is long for similar gastronomical successes to spread overnight.
Cold drinks are generating heated competition
Agnostic of a tea, coffee, dairy or juice base, beverage-focused concepts are a fervent ground for business growth and rivalry. Gen Z is especially influential on the future of this foodservice segment, seeking personalisation, novel flavours and aesthetically evocative format preparations. Global brands are trying to stay ahead of smaller and more agile upstarts.
Third-party fulfilment continues to boom despite fee fatigue
Online delivery value sales for third-party services have grown a staggering 239% since 2019, only be outdone by 322% growth of delivery fees in that same period. Convenience remains steadfast despite sticker shock, but the persistent stress on overall consumer spending is likely to test the ceiling for this form of foodservice fulfilment.
Restaurants seeking the next phase of loyalty success
In the fight to capture a ration of attention and brand devotion, foodservice operators are stepping up their game beyond transactional rewards and promotions. Personalisation, choice-based programmes, iterative programme retooling and exclusive or bespoke rewards are all emerging as differentiators in creating a loyal community of brand advocates.
Our expert’s view of Consumer Foodservice in 2026
Key findings
Consumer foodservice recovery plateaus as discretionary spending is stressed
Top five trends in Consumer Foodservice
Top five trends uncovered
Foodservice operators are taking operational cues from the packaged food playbook
Ital'in Green: Balance without sacrificing flavour or convenience
Sweetgreen: Embracing macronutrient maximalism
Organic growth possible by prioritising healthy menus
Broader palates are proving more adventurous and inquisitive
FlavourTok : How a smaller world circulates food trends faster
Ixchel: Finding Jalisco in South Korea
Culinary variety affords success for both new and established outlet concepts
A consumer thirst for drink customisation is being met with competitive fervour
abCoffee : Growing coffee consumption in a growth economy
Daybright : Chick-fil-A stretches its wings into beverages
Incremental success means expanding outside traditional mealtimes and formats
Consumers bemoan rising costs but still choose instant gratification
Grubhub offers to “Eat the Fees”
Caution critical as the price ceiling for online delivery may come quickly
App fatigue means foodservice operators must fight harder to secure share-of-screen
Starbucks Rewards: Revitalisation by reflecting consumer feedback
McDonald’s Ready on Arrival: Leveraging loyalty for just-in-time fulfilment
Foodservice loyalty success requires proactive and deliberate transformation
Future implications
Opportunities for growth
Consumer Foodservice
Consumer foodservice is composed of cafés/bars, full-service restaurants, limited-service restaurants, self-service cafeterias and street stalls/kiosks.
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