2022 Top Trends in the Hospitality Industry
Throughout the pandemic, a lot has changed in the restaurant industry, with more changes still to come.
The pandemic has brought many challenges and innovations, many of which have permanently changed the foodservice landscape. As we approach the end of 2021, we’re looking forward to predicting the biggest trends of 2022 and future changes in this space, based on our first-hand knowledge of the industry.
Optimized Delivery
The rise in takeout and food delivery brings new advances to the act of delivery itself. There have been many efficiencies made in this space over the past year that will continue; restaurants are configuring their spaces to create devoted delivery pick-up areas and developing apps that allow for virtual concierges that deliver food while delivering groceries or dry cleaning. Uber is even working on drone food delivery which will present a whole new service iteration in this space.
Functional Foods
Functional foods will continue to gain traction into the new year as consumers are increasingly interested in purposeful eating. CPG brands and menu items of all sorts have exploded in this category, such as protein potato chips, probiotic cereal, CBD-infused sweets, adaptogen coffee and more, which have gained popularity for their health and wellness benefits as people begin to eat for more than just hunger.
Growth of Fast-Casual Restaurants
The fast-casual restaurant model has fared far better than others throughout the pandemic, with robust takeout and delivery programs already in place. 2022 will likely see this trend continue, as these operations are more resilient to change and support the flexible needs of consumers over higher-scale restaurants. Fast-casual restaurant menus also usually better align with consumer preferences towards comfort food items and burgers in particular right now.
Levelled-Up Packaging
With the incredible upward trend of takeout and delivery, many restaurants were pushed or encouraged to improve their takeout packaging; with fine dining establishments now offering top-notch steak dinners to go, the package it is delivered in matters. We expect to see a continued revamping of packaging, from tamper-proof packaging and seals to more durable materials, insulated boxes to keep food warm and personalized notes or postcards from the restaurant explaining how to enjoy the meal.
Experiential Restaurant Dining
After months of dining at home and cooking for yourself, consumers are eager to return to restaurants and explore new experiences. They had a taste of DIY meal kits, virtual wine pairing classes and other digital experiences put on by restaurants through the pandemic and are keen for the same engagement in real life. We will see a rise in activity/experience-focused restaurants and bars in 2022, such as lawn games, trivia, live music and more.
Restaurant Merch
Most restaurants had to source new revenue streams to get by during COVID. Many developed branded merchandise for the first time, selling t-shirts and hats with their logo. This offered consumers a chance to support their favourite local establishments and rally behind Canadian restaurants in a totally new way – which we see lasting into 2022 as people realize the industry’s fragility and are keener than ever to champion their beloved spots.
Increased Digitization
Covid has accelerated the digitization of restaurants, making the use of QR code menus and digital contact tracing widespread. Operators have appreciated the saved time and money in collecting and sharing customer information in a digital format. Restaurants are more and more turning to cloud-based bookkeeping services, benefiting from increased efficiency, centralization and easily accessible information. The Fifteen Group is proud to now offer a fully cloud-based digital bookkeeping solution for our clients.
Cocktail Culture
Over the last 2 years, there has been a rise in "Cocktail Culture". Many new cocktail enthusiasts emerged with DIY cocktail kits and endless pre-made cocktails. People that had never had ‘their own favourite cocktail’ now have one or two ‘go to's' when dining out. This has led to restaurants having increased cocktail menus, often partnering with spirits brands for programming and shared experiences. As the market continues to grow in this segment, restaurants will continue to punch trends and bring some back from yesteryears. Espresso Martini anyone?