US Foods 2024 Diner Dispatch Survey Uncovers Surprising Shifts in Diner Preferences
Results Reinforce the Importance of the In-Restaurant Customer Experience
“As a leader in foodservice and a proud partner of our customers, we are excited to share the diner trends currently shaping the restaurant industry,” said
The in-restaurant customer experience continues to play a key role in driving profitability and customer loyalty. Despite lingering impacts of inflation on diner behaviors, results showcase an increased preference for dining out at a restaurant. Survey highlights include:
- Dining-out triumphs takeout with atmosphere and socializing driving this preference: 55% prefer dining at restaurants over ordering takeout or delivery versus 43% in 2023. The atmosphere the restaurant provides and time to socialize with others remain the top reasons diners prefer to dine out when comparing 2023 to 2024 data.
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Monthly spends have increased: The average monthly spend dining at restaurants in 2024 was
$191 versus$166 in 2023, some of which could be attributed to inflationary changes in menu pricing over the last year. - Gender spends have flip-flopped: Women spent 33% more on average per month than men in 2024 versus men spending 19% more on average per month than women in 2023.
- Casual dining is king and on the rise: Casual dining continues to be the most popular restaurant choice when dining out, climbing up to 69% in 2024 from 63% in 2023.
- Patience is prevailing: At restaurants, diners are willing to wait up to 26 minutes without a reservation, compared to only 20 minutes in 2023.
- QR code menus fall even more out of favor across all generations: 90% prefer print menus over QR codes versus 74% in 2023. Dislike of QR codes is growing across all generation segments, with 95% of baby boomers increasing their paper menu preference in 2024 versus 86% in 2023, and 90% of Gen Z preferring paper menus over QR codes in 2024, up from 69% in 2023.
Helping operators find the right solutions to navigate a variety of industry opportunities, including those found in the 2024 survey, is at the heart of the recently launched, US Foods MORE platform. The platform is designed to provide operators with expert support including a solution to navigate the downward impact of inflation, while providing opportunities to capitalize on the dining experience. The MORE platform support includes:
- MORE QUALITY products that consistently deliver outstanding flavor and performance, while minimizing waste and labor.
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MORE SUPPORT from a dedicated team of
US Foods experts who can help an operator enhance their overall customer experience with staff training tools to reduce wait times and dining room layout suggestions for enhancing social interactions while dining. - MORE TOOLS like US Foods Menu, a program that enables operators to easily update printed menus and enable QR code linking.
- MORE DELIVERIES to enable more flexibility, frequency and responsiveness so the operator has the products they need when they need it.
To view all survey results, visit: www.usfoods.com/our-services/business-trends/american-dining-out-habits-2024.html
Survey Methodology
In April of 2024,
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With a promise to help its customers Make It,
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241008659223/en/
Media Contact:
773-580-3775
Sara.Matheu@usfoods.com
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